Gina and Colby

CHAPTER 1

Geneva, Illinois

Colby Landis and his best friends, Mike and Jim, dragged themselves up the driveway to Colby’s house. Just walking up the small hill presented a challenge to the three friends who were tired and crabby from lifting weights, running and doing other conditioning stuff for football. The late June day was blazing hot, in the mid-90s, with high humidity. Colby led them to the side of the house and removed the brass nozzle attached to the garden hose. Then he turned on the water faucet.

Colby, a big guy, loved football and even enjoyed the conditioning that he did during the summer. He stood about 6’-4" and weighed more than 220, despite having just turned 15 years old. He played defensive end and linebacker, but the coaches had been thinking about teaching him to play in the offensive backfield, too.

Despite their exhaustion, they were excited about the upcoming start of the school year, even though the beginning of their sophomore year was still two months off. Besides being fine athletes and leaders, all three were good students, and Colby felt proud about this past year, earning mostly As and Bs in his classes.

The cold water from the hose next to Colby’s house was refreshing and improved their moods as they took turns drinking. They wet their heads, toweled off, and headed into the house.

As the boys entered, they found Colby’s family sitting in the living room engaged in a very lively conversation. It was obvious they were very excited about something. Her eyes sparkled when she saw him, and his sister’s grin spread across her entire face as if she was going to burst with excitement.

What’s up? asked Colby, puzzled. It had been an ordinary morning when he’d left two hours earlier.

Some exciting news, said Mom.

Yes, indeed, said Dad. Tell him, Marina. You’re the one who set this all up.

Colby’s sister laughed, and then she blurted out the news. Mom and Dad are going to take us to Florida. We’ll spend at least a week in Disney World and one day we’ll even go to the ocean.

Colby could see everyone was thrilled, including his buddies Mike and Jim. Well, almost everyone: Colby did not react with pleasure at the news.

Cripes, thought Colby as the conversations tumbled all around him. I don’t want to go to Disney. It’s a place for little kids and grandparents.

Not only that, his friends were all here, in his hometown of Geneva, Illinois. These were the guys he hung around with, went to school with and with whom he planned on playing football.

He interrupted the happy chatter. That’s the last place I want to go! he announced to his family. They stared at him and their mouths dropped open in surprise. It’s the middle of summer! Nobody goes to Florida in the summer!

Mike, his best friend, managed to recover from the shock. Jeez, he said. Since you feel that way, you ought to stay home. Dr. Landis, can you take me instead of Colby? Now, the living room full of people broke into laughter at Colby’s rant.

Are you nuts? asked Jim, chiming in. Disney is really cool in the summer! The group chuckled at the unintended contradiction in his sentence. Well, I mean I’d give anything if my parents announced we were heading to Disney when I walk through the door later.

But I’ve got all this stuff to do around here, moaned Colby. You all know I’m trying to get in shape for football!

His sister glared at him, her look daring him to object to their plans. I’ve been working on this all morning, Marina challenged. I’ve arranged everything: rooms, airplanes, transport to and from the airport, rental car and meals. And you’re really saying you don’t want to go?

They made Disney for little kids, he persisted. It was great when we were real young, Marina, but…

It’ll be even better now, insisted Marina, two years older than Colby. We’re going to have a terrific time. Now that we’re older, we can go places in the park on our own.

Yeah, but… began Colby, but his family and his friends hooted him down. Ah, nuts, he thought. Well, it’s going to mean something to them, he thought to himself.

Are you really not wanting to go? questioned his mom.

Why? he asked.

"Well, we could save a lot of money if you don’t go, she replied. In fact, we could save a ton of money on food alone. You eat like you were a horse training for the Kentucky Derby, and food costs a good deal at the Disney restaurants, so…" Again the group laughed aloud.

As a matter of fact, now that you mention it, I’ve got an old feedbag my grandpa used for the horses on his farm, Mrs. Landis, offered Mike, teasing. I don’t think a bag of oats would be real expensive. He could stay with us.

Colby realized everyone was having some fun with him. It isn’t funny, he said, trying to give an explanation for his frustration. I made a commitment to the coach and the team. That means working out and training, trying to get in shape for football.

Yes, well you have made that clear. I tell you what: I’ll run with you every morning,of you want, Dad assured him. Colby almost started to argue the point, but then he stopped and thought about this. Dad ran 4-5 miles most mornings before he went to work. Then he lifted weights, did pushups and sit ups—yeah, Dad stayed in pretty good shape. If he ran with him every morning, he would still be in decent condition by the time he got home, just from the running, maybe even the weight room in the hotel, and all that walking around the parks, like Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and–- what was the other one?

We’ll be able to go to Animal Kingdom as well, Colby, said Mom. Oh, yeah, Animal Kingdom, thought Colby. It wasn’t built when we were last there. As a matter of fact we’re going to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s next to the Animal Kingdom Park.

Despite himself, Colby began to realize that this vacation did sound like a lot of fun, far more than he was willing to admit. To be honest, he loved Disney and cherished the memories of going to Florida with his family when he was younger.

But Colby decided to continue his complaining. I’m a sophomore in high school now, he whined out loud. I’m getting in shape for football in the fall. I have more responsibilities. I was on the ‘A’ freshman team last year, and I think I can start for the sophomore team if I work hard.

Well, when we get home, you will still have at least six weeks before school and football start, said Dad. You don’t have a commitment that can’t be put on hold for about a dozen days with your family.

Colby didn’t want to let it go. He started to speak up again, but Dad said, Colby? It’s time to stop and shut up.

Colby was a little shocked. Mom and Dad had never told him to shut up. He obeyed—well, first he asked a question:

When?

In a few days, said Mom. We’re leaving early Friday morning. Go and start packing.

CHAPTER 2

New Jersey

The sun had just come up, and Mom had come in to wake her daughter. Gina Rizza yawned, wishing she could go back to bed, but knowing she didn’t have much time before her family had to leave. She took a shower, fixed her hair, and then put on her exotic and controversial black clothes and radical make-up.

She closed her suitcase and fastened the latches. She lifted it off her bed and pulled up the handle, then tugged it toward the steps which led downstairs into the living room of the only house she’d ever lived in.

Gina? came a small voice from the room next to hers. Gina suppressed a sigh.

What, Kenzie? she scowled. Her little sister spoke up.

Can you help us? asked Kenzie.

Gina turned into the bedroom which the twins, Maxwell and Kenzie, shared. The seven year old twins looked up at their big sister, a bit fearful. Help with what? she asked. At once the kids took on expressions of disappointment. A voice in her mind told her that if someone had spoken to her like that when she was seven, she’d have been scared. She moderated her tone.

I’m sorry, guys, she said. I didn’t mean to say it that way. What do you need?

Max spoke up. Can you help us with our suitcases?

Sure, she said, trying to make the tone in her voice convey kindness. She thought to herself, "Why can’t Dad do this?

The answer came from a voice in her head reminding her: Because he got hurt last year at work. He damaged his back and his lungs so badly that he won’t be able to work again. Because he’s trying to do his best to protect you and your family within the limits of what his body can do. Because he’s depending on you to help. Because you love your younger siblings and want to help out where you can.

Right, she affirmed out loud, as if addressing someone in the room.

Dragging their suitcases downstairs took a few moments. After Gina helped her little brother and sister, she went out to sit on the front porch. Her house faced east, and she could see the sunrise over the ocean. The clouds were part of an exquisite dawn: reds, pinks, orange and many other colors for which she didn’t have names.

It occurred to her that this top step had been a private retreat of hers for years. When she was little, she would sit here to play with