The Sky’s the Limit: My Journey with Maryellen

It’d be too weird to stay in Cedar Top overnight, so I say I’d like to keep going. Mr. Larkin says it’s a tie, three to three, but as the driver, he breaks it and changes his vote. We go a little farther before stopping. Phew, I’m relieved.

As we drive through town, we pass Gran’s old house, from before she moved in with us. Wouldn’t it be nice to become friends with her, like Maryellen is with her grandparents? That makes me think I could make friends with Daria, too. It’s time to go home and try.

The road is mountainous and twisty, and soon Cedar Top disappears around a curve. I rack my brain for a way to leave the Larkins without worrying them. I put on my ski uniform this morning, ready for when the time comes.

Mrs. Larkin checks the map, Asheville is a big town with an airport, where we can spend the night. I take a deep breath. It’s time to go home. Maryellen asks why, and I tell her I miss them. I ask Mr. Larkin to drop me at the airport so I can use my return ticket home.

Maryellen squeezes my hand in both of hers. Mrs. Larkin says they hate to see me go, but if that’s what I need, the airport is on the way.

Soon, we arrive at the airport. Mr. Larkin pulls up to the curb, and I hug Carolyn, Beverly, Mr. and Mrs. Larkin, and last of all Maryellen. She says she’ll miss me, and I tell her I’ll miss her, too.

Mr. Larkin starts to lead me in, but I’d rather say goodbye outside. As the Larkins get back into the station wagon, Maryellen and I wave until the Airstream is a silver dot, and when it disappears, I click the stopwatch button.

For a second I feel like I’m flying, then open my eyes on the awards platform, surrounded by worried looks. I tell them I didn’t win, hand back the watch, and explain I didn’t cheat either. The judge shakes my hand, thanks me for the truth, and calls it an honest mistake. It’s a relief to be cleared with the judge, Coach Stanislav, my team, my family, and Emma.

Later at home, Emma apologizes for accusing me of cheating and asks if I can forgive her. I hug her and say yes, adding that we should forgive Daria, too, since she didn’t mean to break the laptop. I tell Emma we should talk to her, she and her mom are with Gran now.

We go down the hall, and when we enter Gran’s room, she and Daria’s mother, sorting a box of bones, look up. I ask to borrow Daria for something fun, and Gran smiles and says that would be great. Daria gets up smiling in a way I’ve never seen. I take her hand, and it reminds me of little Mikey’s plump hand.

Emma follows us to the bathroom, where I fill the sink with soap suds, smear them on my face, and make up a rhyme. Daria and Emma join in, and soon we’re all laughing so loud that Gran and Daria’s mom come to see. They see our soapy beards and laugh, too. Inspired by Mikey, I laugh and tell them to call me “Soapy Sophie.”

Gran hugs me. I can see we’re becoming good friends. She catches my eye in the mirror and winks, as if to say, “Nice work.” I think she’s a little proud of me.