laptops binoculars and specimen jars But I don’t mind I think kids my age are lame I’d rather hang out with adults Tonight I’m doing laundry and packing my duffle bags for our next research trip We’re heading to Puerto Rico so Mom can study the elusive Antillean crested hummingbird Mom is really excited about this trip especially since it is the middle of winter here in Chicago She told us to toss our swimsuits and flip flops in our bags we’re going to a tropical paradise Dad of course doesn’t plan to spend much time on the beach He wants to visit museums and soak up history When he isn’t teaching or reading he’s in a museum archive He loves museums so much he was even locked in one overnight because he didn’t hear the closing time announcement The museum guard thought everyone was out and locked up for the night And there’s Dad reading about the Korean War completely clueless It was pretty embarrassing to read about him in the newspaper the next day You don’t know Marisol that we won’t need long underwear Tomas whined in my face as we packed our bags Tomas Stop Listen to yourself We are going to the tropics not Siberia My brother gets a little stressed whenever we pack for a place we’ve never been before He likes to be prepared and plan for every little detail Tomas pushed his round eyeglasses up his nose He scratched his forehead Even though we’re twins we look nothing alike Tomas is short and kind of round His green eyes are alert and
cautious I’m tall and as Aunt Bernadette says athletic Tomas’s dark hair is puffy and curly Mine is dark and straight Total opposites but we always have each other’s backs Tomas ran his fingers through his curls Fine How about jeans A pair Two Sure In case we go out to eat or something We both giggled at the idea We never went out to eat The research camps were usually hours from civilization We had to eat whatever was at camp plain rice peanut butter sandwiches dried fruit and nuts
I’m sneaking candy bars in my bag Tomas loved sweets and missed his American candy bars when we were in a jungle or desert somewhere Don’t do it Mom will have a fit She’ll accuse you of trying to attract bears or something I chuckled I don’t care I am tired of canned beans and dried prunes Tomas didn’t usually challenge Mom and Dad’s rules but this time I think he meant it I am a growing boy I need those calories Tomas stretched his arms and patted his belly Fine Pack those candy bars in your bags Then when a bear eats you alive I will tell you I told you so Marisol how do you plan to tell me that you told me so if I am in a bear’s belly I tossed my bed pillow at Tomas’s face Shut it smarty pants Tomas ducked and the pillow slammed Dad in the face
