Full Speed Ahead: My Journey with Kit

In the morning, a neighbor named Mr. Thurgood comes by in his car. He tells me and Kit that everyone at the party agreed that they all owe us a swap in return for our smart idea and work with the party. So he is our swap! He’ll give us a ride to the train station. If we all leave now, we can catch the ten o’clock train back to Cincinnati.

Kit and I look at one another, and then we look at Mr. Thurgood and say that’d be great. We hug Aunt Millie and Miss Myrtle and say our thank yous and goodbyes over and over again.

I hug Buddy one last time, and sadly turn to ask if Buddy can stay here. He loves it here with Aunt Millie, Miss Myrtle, and Serena. Miss Myrtle and Aunt Millie nod. They smile and scratch Buddy behind the ears, so I know that he’ll be just fine.

Kit and I climb in Mr. Thurgood’s car, and we drive away. When we get to the depot, we buy tickets with money that Aunt Millie has given us. Mr. Thurgood sees us safely onto the train. As it pulls out of the station, I know that Kit and I are both thinking of our scary ride in the boxcar and how different it is now to be sitting comfortably on the train, looking out the window at the scenery flying by.

When we get to Union Station, my heart is heavy. I have a big lump in my throat as I tell Kit that it’s time for me to go home. Kit nods. She says she’ll never forget me. I thank her for everything. I’ll always remember how kind she and her family were to me.

We hug, and then Kit goes. I feel as though I am watching one of the best friends I’ll ever have walk away. When I can’t see Kit anymore, I click the camera and go home.

I find myself in my room. It is just as it was when I left it: a disaster area. Thrift-store clothes I’ve been meaning to redo are lying around half-finished. Tennis rackets and stuffed animals and jackets and books and dirty socks and sports bags are lying around everywhere. Suddenly I feel ashamed that I have so much stuff. I take it all for granted, and I don’t care for it properly. I have too many clothes and toys and gadgets to keep track of, much less want or need or use. I vow to be more like the people I met with Kit in Mountain Hollow, who were thrifty, practical, and creative about using what little they had to get what they needed. Maybe I can give some of my stuff away, or trade it with my friends, or think of new ways to use it. And my first step is to get organized. That way I can take stock of what I’ve got.

I hang up my clothes and tidy my bookshelves. When Mom comes in, she says it looks beautiful. I thank her, and tell her I’d like to try to take better care of my things from now on. I want to be neater, too, so she doesn’t have to waste time cleaning it. Mom says that’d be great. Maybe she’ll have to think of a service to do for me in return. Do I have anything in mind?

I think of the time I want to spend with Mom and the puppy I want so badly. I smile. I know I’ll think of something.