Rehoboth, part 1

“Want to go to Rehoboth?” Dizzie’s voice came spastically over the phone. Sadie was caught of guard; she’d expected this to be a call for her mother.

“You mean the beach?” Sadie asked, still a little disoriented.

“Yeah, the beach! It’s summer! And I finally have my license! Vroom vroom, let’s go!”

“Umm… when?”

“Today! Now!” Dizzie shouted, her excitement like an infection. “And don’t tell me you have plans. You never have plans.”

Sadie was a little offended, even though it was true. She wanted to say something back, but she didn’t. “It’s a three hour drive.”

“So?”

“My mom doesn’t have a cell phone I can call.”

“Just leave her a note,” Dizzie said. “We’ll be back by tonight. See you in a bit, then?”

Sadie hung on to the phone with both hands, looking around the empty house as if somebody might be watching. “Uh. I guess so…”

“Cool! I’ll be there in ten minutes!”

Sadie waited for the dial tone to kick in before she set the phone back on its hook. Her brain felt like it was on pause. Towel, sunscreen, bathing suit, and what else? What would they be doing at the beach? Sadie used to like to play in the sand when she was little. She used to go to the beach a lot more when Dad was still alive. What do teenagers do at the beach?

When Dizzie arrived, Sadie was still writing her mother a note about where she would be and when she would be back. She left Dizzie’s phone number and would call the house when she got there and when they were leaving.

“C’mon, Sadie lady! You’re writing a note, not a novel. ‘Hey, mom. Heading out. Be back tonight.’ The end.”

Sadie paused. “Is anyone else coming?”

“Kira’s coming. Nobody else could make it, though. Chev’s working and Dakota’s visiting family in Canada,” she stuck her tongue out. “He’d probably burst into a fireball anyway, the kid’s so pale. But it’s better this way. Girl’s night out. Day out. Whatever.”

Sadie’s mom had taken a shining to Kira for whatever reason. Maybe it’s because she seemed so level-headed. “Okay. Let me just finish writing.”

“Cool. We can get breakfast on the way there.”

Sadie frowned at her friend. “It’s after eleven. I already ate breakfast.”

“Oh. Well, lunch for you, then,” Dizzie laughed. “I brought some snacks, too.” She bit down on her lip ring in excitement. “This is gonna be awesome!”

Sadie ended her note: “Please don’t worry too much. I’m in good company. Love, Sadie.”

“Okay,” she said. “I’m ready.”