The Sky’s the Limit: My Journey with Maryellen

And that is how we all end up at The Seaside Diner on Thanksgiving Day, being serenaded by Elvis on the jukebox, and eating turkey-and-all-the-fixings platters. All but Mrs. Winkler, who ordered spaghetti, and Jerry, who has a cheeseburger and fries. Mrs. Winkler says it’s the best Thanksgiving dinner she’s ever had. She doesn’t really care for turkey.

Mr. Winkler suggests that the two of them dance. Mrs. Winkler says she’ll look like a robot, but she stands up. She laughs her braying laugh and admits to all that she can hardly move, she’s so sunburned. She was a New York nitwit who stayed on the beach too long. Now she’s as pink as a flamingo. Maryellen whispers to me that that must be why she seemed so stiff back at the house. It wasn’t snobbery; it was sunburn! Maryellen says that we really misjudged her. We assumed she and Mr. Winkler would be snooty like the bosses and wives on TV shows. We jumped to a conclusion before we’d even met the Winklers.

Maryellen’s comments make me think of how hurt I was when everyone at the ski race jumped to the conclusion that I had cheated. It’s a terrible feeling to be judged unjustly. Then, Maryellen suggests that we dance, and before we know it, I’m rockin’ ’n’ rollin’ with Carolyn, Joan, and Jerry to the music on the jukebox. Mrs. Larkin dances with Tom, and Mr. Larkin with Beverly. But the most enthusiastic dancers of all are Mr. and Mrs. Winkler. Maryellen suggests we call him Mr. Twinkler-toes. Mrs. Winkler overhears and hoots that Winky Twinkler-toes is perfect. Something about the sparkle in Mrs. Winkler’s eye reminds me of Gran. I’m nagged by the thought: I misjudged Mrs. Winkler. Could I have misjudged Gran, too? When I get home, I should stop being such a resentful baby and giving Gran the cold shoulder. Emma and I should try to find out what Gran is really like instead of assuming.

After dinner, we all go back to the Larkins’ house for pie. Luckily, neither the pumpkin nor the apple pie have been devoured or destroyed. After we eat, the Winklers leave amidst lots of hugging and laughter, and everyone says goodbye with a cheerful feeling of having made friends. Watching the Winklers go, knowing they’re headed home, makes me miss my family and my home. Has the time come to click my watch and go?

And then, I glance at my wrist and realize I’m not wearing my watch. I hurry to the backyard, followed by Mikey and Scooter. My watch is not draped over the side of the sandbox. Panic rises in my chest, and I dig my fingers into the sand and dirt. I search in, under, around, and through the sandbox. Nothing.

I turn to Mikey and ask if he’s seen my tick-tock. He shakes his head. Where can my watch be? I was so glad to escape from Emma and the ski race disaster. And although I’ve had a wonderful time with Maryellen and the Larkins, it looks as though I might be stuck here, and I realize I don’t want to stay here forever. I want to be Emma’s best friend. I want to get to know Gran. I want to set the record straight about the ski race. I want to hug Mom and Dad. I want to go home.

And then, as if he senses I’m unhappy, Scooter rushes to a corner of the backyard, scrambles in the dirt, and returns and drops his treasure in my lap. A drooled-on, chewed-up, dirty bone. I recognize the turkey leg with its skin and meat eaten off. And then, Mikey goes over and starts digging in Scooter’s hole. I don’t have the heart to stop him. He enjoys messes so much. And then a few moments later, Mikey drops a treasure in my lap, too.

It’s the watch. Mikey says it’s my tick-tock, not Scooter’s. I exclaim and hug Mikey and all his muddiness. He’s my hero. I look at my watch. It’s filthy and scratched, but it’s still ticking. I hold it safely in my hands and know exactly what I must do.

I go to the Airstream, wash, and change back into my ski uniform. Then I go to the kitchen, where I find Maryellen helping her parents wash the dessert dishes. I take a deep breath. I thank them so much. I tell them I’ll never forget this Thanksgiving. Mr. Larkin jokes that he’s glad that we were all a part of it together. The more the merrier. I smile, and I continue to tell them that I’ll never forget how they made me feel welcome. The Larkins have changed the way I think about the whole world and everybody in it. But it’s time for me to go.

I explain that my family has decided not to move to Daytona Beach after all. So I won’t be seeing the Larkins again. Maryellen is so sad. She says that I can’t go. Mrs. Larkin puts her arm around Maryellen, and I tell her that I’ll always think of her as the nicest and most fun friend I’ve ever had. Maryellen says that she’ll always think of me whenever she’s about to jump to a conclusion about someone before she meets them. I have a big lump in my throat. So I just hug Ellie hard, and then, even though it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I let go.