Jo's Second Friend - Prolouge

JO!” A woman’s voice echoed through the hallway. “Jo! You’re going to be late! Your plane leaves in 2 hours. If you don’t hurry up, you’re going to miss camp!”

“Coming, Mom!” A young 14-year-old girl with short ebony hair shouted exasperatedly; She was extremely nervous. Summer camp in Minnesota sounded exhilarating, especially to someone who had been home-schooled their entire life. Josephine Wilcox shook her hair back to reveal tawny eyes quivering with excitement. It was only after she had one foot out of the door that an expression of dawning comprehension and utter horror showed on her face. “Mom - where’s my bracelet?”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, first we’re late for the plane, and now we’ve lost this piece of…” Jo’s mom’s voice trailed off into the living room. Jo was now biting her lips with anticipation. For what seemed like an eternity, high heels could be heard clapping quickly against the hard wooden floor. “Found it, sweetie, now let’s go!” Clip, clop. Clip clop. The screen door swung open with a creak and slammed behind them.

Paperwork, security, Jo’s mind was a blur. She could only think about camping in a cabin, hiking in the wilderness, and maybe even making her first friend. Second, she thought. Grandpa was my friend, wasn’t he? Her mind waved that thought away, like a hand waving away a mosquito. Jo had seen in all the movies what friends did together. They painted each other’s toenails, gossiped about boys, and braided their hair. There has to be something else, though, Jo thought. There has to be something else about friends…