Summer Adventure

“How did you know?” I asked, not sure I wanted the answer. I thought I had been careful. I thought she had been too distraught to pay attention to the few letters I had written. She smiled and laughed.

“It’s not like it’s been a big secret, Jessie.” I raised an eyebrow, wanting an explanation over what I had thought was a big secret. “You’ve always wanted to write and travel, travel and write. This internship is perfect for you.” She stood up and began straightening the counter. “We’ll be fine here. Riley is almost out of school and can help out more. Go, take this internship.” I watched as she busily cleaned the diner’s counters, knowing that I had hurt her as I had been trying not to do.

I stood up and took the rag. “It’s no big deal, Mom. I can easily find this job again in a couple years. Besides, this will give me an opportunity to go to school this summer and work on my degree. Summertime is the busy season here, so it would make sense to find an internship in the fall or spring.”

“Like you did last year?” she asked then sighed. “Jessica, this has been the only internship that you have gotten so far and you’ve applied to several. Yes, you may get another one in the fall, but it isn’t guaranteed. Take this one. Learn from the experience. Then you can get a better job after graduation.” She began locking up. “Besides, if Riley is working, I bet one or two of her friends would want a job and then I’ll have plenty more help than I need.” They walked out of the diner and towards home. “Don’t say anything to Riley yet. Let me talk to her first. When do you leave?”

“I have a preliminary article due on Monday about our town and it’s summer celebrations. Then on Tuesday, I will be heading to Portland. From there, I will go across towards New York. I meet the rest of the team in New York before we head to Europe.”

“And it is paid?”

We arrived home and sat on the porch of our house, talking about my internship. “Yes, I get a stipend for travel and accommodations and then paid for eery article that I write that is a featured article.”

“And how many are going?”

“There are four of us – two boys and two girls from various parts of the states. We travel solo until we get to New York. Then we travel together to and in Europe.”

Mom smiled. “That sounds like a grand adventure. I’m proud of you Jessie. I know that your dad would be too.” With that, she headed in. “I’m going to bed early tonight and will just talk to Riley tomorrow.” The door shut quietly behind her.

Staring out at the town, I thought about the upcoming months, worrying over whether I’d get along with the other writers and especially what I would do if my articles didn’t get chosen to be featured. But I definitely agreed with my mother. This was the opportunity of a lifetime and I wasn’t going to waste it. With that, I decided to get started and walked back to town to talk to the local librarian, or as we all knew her as, “Mrs. Gossip.” I needed to brush up on local traditions.

My adventure awaited.