The Sky’s the Limit: My Journey with Maryellen

Maryellen’s mother asks if we want popsicles to celebrate winning the contest. She hands us each an orange popsicle from the freezer. She tells us to take them outside. The last thing she needs is sticky orange guck all over her nice clean kitchen. In fact, Mr. Larkin’s boss, Mr. Winkler, and his wife are coming tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner.

The next morning, I wake up to a delicious aroma of turkey roasting, pies baking, and yeast rolls rising. Mrs. Larkin must’ve been up for hours cooking.

When we come into the kitchen, Mr. and Mrs. Larkin are talking about when the Winklers will arrive. Mr. Larkin says they’ll be here late afternoon. Tom asks if he’s nice, and Mr. Larkin says he’s very nice. In a business-like way. Maryellen says he sounds stuffy. Bosses on TV shows are always stuck up and persnickety. Mr. Winkler’s probably a stickler for manners. Beverly says the Winklers are probably rich and fancy. Maryellen says if she wears jewels and furs, we can call her Mrs. Minkler. We all giggle.

Mrs. Larkin says we must all be on our best behavior so that we make a good impression. We should call him “sir” and call her “ma’am”. And we should keep Scooter out of the way. Mr. Larkin says that reminds him. The Winklers are bringing their dog. Mrs. Larkin rolls her eyes.

In the living room, Carolyn starts banging away on the piano and singing an Elvis Presley song. Mrs. Larkin asks Beverly to go ask Carolyn to stop. Mikey’s finally fallen asleep. His second molars are coming in, so he’s very fussy. Maryellen tells me that Carolyn has been swoony for Elvis Presley ever since she went to his concerts in Daytona Beach in May and July. She thinks he’ll be the king of rock ’n’ roll or something. I can’t help but smile.

No sooner has the music stopped than Maryellen’s oldest sister, Joan, arrives with her husband, Jerry. Carolyn, Beverly, and Maryellen come to say hello to them, so the kitchen is more crowded and chaotic than ever. Mr. Larkin, feeling sorry for his wife, suggests that we all go to our favorite place, the Cypress Gardens. Everyone cheers quietly, and Mr. Larkin tells Mrs. Larkin that she and Mikey can have some peace and quiet.

Maryellen reminds Mom that she loves the Cypress Gardens. There’s fantastic flowers. Mrs. Larkin said she can go another time. Maryellen will just have to enjoy the flowers for her. And the water-skiing show. I flinch at the word “skiing,” but reassure myself that no one is going to be asking me to ski. It’s a show, right?

Maryellen says that I’ll love Cypress Gardens. It’s paradise. I hate to disappoint Maryellen, and I would like to see Cypress Gardens, but it occurs to me that this is a good chance to repay Mrs. Larkin’s kindness. Should Maryellen and I stay here, get the house ready for Thanksgiving dinner, and take care of Mikey, so that Mrs. Larkin can take a break and go to Cypress Gardens?