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Vacations Like This
-- EXCERPT: “What are you doing?” a voice boomed behind me. Elsie jumped. I kept my feet planted firmly on the ground because—well, because I knew I couldn’t stick the landing. My ice skating was still a little bit shaky. I turned around slowly and stared at Mack. “I’m getting into my new rental car.” Mack shook his head rapidly. “Not a good idea, Kimber. Not. A. Good. Idea.” “It’ll be fine. Not that it’s any of your concern.” “Kimber, have you ever driven in the ice and snow before?” “What a sexist remark!” “It has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with geography!” He pointed at the mountain to our left. “We don’t have those in Louisiana. We definitely don’t have ice storms.” Now he pointed at the icicle hanging from the yield sign. “You don’t know how to drive in the snow and ice. Heck, I don’t know how to drive in the snow and ice. Why do you think I haven’t rented a car myself? The town’s so small, just walk to where you need to go!” I glared at him and clenched my fist. My fingers bumped the panic button on the key fob, and the car alarm went off. I stabbed at the button with my index finger to turn it off. Refusing to look at Mack, I tucked my hair behind my ear, then marched toward the car. My foot slipped on a thick patch of ice, but I caught myself. I glanced around at the parking lot. Now that I looked at it, there really was quite a bit of ice. But I’m sure the car would have better traction than my no-tread tennis shoes. Elsie spoke up, the dirty traitor, “You know, Kimber, maybe you should wait to drive the car tomorrow. It’s supposed to thaw and warm up a little. Then you won’t have to worry about driving on such thick ice.” “It’ll be fine,” I assured her. I didn’t know that—not really. But I didn’t want to back down with Mack standing right there. It would feel wrong to agree with him. And he looked so stern standing there glaring at me. He’d make a great disapproving dad someday. I opened the door to the car and climbed in. Closing the door, I buckled my seatbelt before starting the car up. I jumped when a shadow fell over the driver-side window. Mack stood outside the window, knocking on it. Even knowing he was going to continue his rant, I rolled the window down. “Do you need a ride home in my new rental car?” I asked with a sickly sweet voice. Mack leaned down and rested his elbows on the doorframe and leaned into the car. “Kimber, please get out of the car.” “Mack, it’ll be fine. I don’t know why you care.” He practically rolled his eyes at that as if he had a right to be mad at me. He didn’t. “You’re making me out to be some super villain when I’m only here to do my job.” “Even villains have jobs,” I reminded him. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take this car back to the cabin so that I can deliver flyers with it. I have a super villain to stop.” I rolled the window up and Mack was forced to step back. With a smirk and a little wave, I put the car in reverse, but I was distracted by Mack shaking his head looking disappointed at me. I shouldn’t feel guilty. He was the one in the wrong. But while I was busy thinking about his misplaced disappointment, I stepped on the gas and shot backwards out of the parking space. Mack’s eyes widened, and I frantically stepped on the brakes. Nothing happened. The car drifted to the side, but it didn’t stop. I glanced behind me and realized that I was heading straight for a light pole. I stomped on the brakes again, but the car was already in motion and going with the momentum of the ice rink that was in the parking lot. I was going for gold. If the judges didn’t give me a 10/10 for my flying spin I was going to be upset. I screamed and cranked the wheel of the car. It didn’t go where I steered it. It was as if my toe pick had stuck in the ice and the hard surface was zooming up toward my face. 
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