leave the driving to us

Related INQ story here.

From The Everywhere Girl Diaries – a work of fiction

First week of July, year one

Dear Diary,

Mission accomplished!  We leave Friday!  OK, so maybe it’s not Europe and maybe it’s not a road trip in the Animal House sense of the term, but it is still a trip, and there is definitely a road involved – over 3000 miles of it as a matter of fact.

Everything fell into place, as it often does.  Ally’s Aunt Marjorie called from New York and wanted her to come and stay for the summer.  The argument was that Ally would have a chance to get familiar with the area and be ready to start at Julliard in September.  Ally’s mother thinks that Marjorie just wants help with the twins, but whatever the reason Ally has a job waiting for her at “the club”. We’re not exactly sure what this job actually entails, but we’re assuming it is a step up from the gas station attendant position Ally had until her recent run in with her almost boss.   All she did was suggest that he play classical music rather than 80’s rock and consider painting the men’s restroom a less aggressive color.   Based solely on these well intended suggestions, he fired her before she ever pumped her first gallon of gas.

Anyway, rather than fly, Ally talked her parents into letting her take the bus.  This was with the promise that she find someone to go with her.   And guess who that someone is!  Doesn’t it sound exciting?  Three days on a Greyhound bus crossing America?  What an adventure!  And, we’re getting a great student discount!

My parents agreed on the condition that I call each and every time I get off the bus and then again when I get back on.   This applies in every time zone and at any time of the day or night.  My mother has taped a huge US map to the dining room wall and plotted our route (along with arrival and departure times) across the US.

This is going to be so much fun!  And don’t worry diary, I’m taking you with me!