This book is for
Carrie Danziger,
who is a little sister
and a big sister.
Contents
Title Page
Dedication
1 Packing and Unpacking
2 Plane Games
3 Good-bye!
4 Karen’s Plane Trip
5 Granny and Grandad
6 On the Farm
7 “I Want to Come Home!”
8 When the Rooster Crows
9 Tia
10 The Vegetable Garden
11 Rain, Rain, Go Away
12 The Invention Sisters
13 A New Friend
14 Popcorn and Potatoes
15 Karen in Business
16 New Babies
17 “I Don’t Want to Come Home!”
18 Karen’s Gifts
19 The Champion Flier of the World
20 Welcome Home, Karen!
Fun With Karen Activity Pages!
About the Author
Also Available
Copyright
Packing and Unpacking
I heard a humming noise outside our house. I ran to my bedroom window and looked up. A plane was flying overhead.
“Airplane!” I cried, even though no one could hear me. My little brother, Andrew, was playing at a friend’s house. Mommy was downstairs. Seth was at work. (Seth is my stepfather.)
Usually, I do not get too excited about airplanes. But in just a few days, I was going to be flying on one all by myself. I was going to fly to the state of Nebraska to visit Granny and Grandad. (They are Seth’s mother and father. They live on a farm.)
“Hey, airplane!” I called out my window. “Soon I will be riding on one of you. We will zoom through the sky together!”
I turned around. I went back to my bed. I was doing something very important. I was packing for my trip. A suitcase lay open on the bed. I was not going to leave for awhile, but I wanted to be prepared.
“Goosie,” I said to my stuffed cat, “I will bring you to the state of Nebraska with me. But I will not pack you yet. You would not want to be stuck in a suitcase for four days. Besides, if you are all packed up, how can I sleep with you at nighttime?”
Goosie did not answer, of course. But I talked to him anyway. I am Karen Brewer. I am seven years old. My brother is four, going on five. We both have blond hair and blue eyes and some freckles. I like animals, real ones and stuffed ones. Both kinds are good for talking to. I think this is because they cannot answer back — unless you imagine that they can talk.
“Goosie,” I went on, “I hope you are not nervous about flying to the state of Nebraska…. You aren’t? Good. Neither am I. I have flown lots of times before. I have never flown alone, but I do not think that will matter.” I put a Monopoly game on top of the things I had already piled on my suitcase. “And I’ve been away from home before, too. I even went to overnight camp. Of course, Kristy was there, and so were her friends.” (Kristy is my big stepsister.) “But I do not think I will mind staying with Granny and Grandad by myself…. For two entire weeks…. Will I?”
I looked at my suitcase again.
“Oh, my gosh! I almost forgot my roller skates!” I added my skates to the pile. Then I added five books, my new troll doll, and a bottle of bubble bath. I tried to close the suitcase.
I could not do it.
“Uh-oh,” I said. I peered under the Monopoly game. Maybe, I thought, I do not need to bring all of my shirts with me. And Maybe I do not need a towel and a washcloth. I bet I can borrow those things from Granny.
I took a whole lot of stuff out of the suitcase. I threw it on the floor. Ah. I could close the suitcase. But now I did not have any shirts. I put four back in. I took out the troll. I took out Monopoly and my roller skates. The suitcase closed, but there was not enough room for Goosie.
“Need some help, Karen?” asked Mommy. She was standing outside my room.
I shook my head. “No, thank you. I want to do this myself.”
“Did you remember pajamas?” asked Mommy.
“Oops,” I said.
“Socks?”
“Uh-oh.”
Three days later, my suitcase was packed.
Plane Games
Before I left for the state of Nebraska, I had to say good-bye to a lot of people. Why? Because I have two families. Both of them live here in Stoneybrook, Connecticut. Mommy and Andrew and Seth are the people in one family. The other family is much bigger. The people in that family are Daddy; Elizabeth (she’s my stepmother); Nannie (that’s Elizabeth’s mother); my stepbrothers Charlie, Sam, and David Michael; my stepsister Kristy; and Emily Michelle, who is my adopted sister.
The reason my mommy and daddy live in two houses is that they are divorced. First Mommy and Daddy got married. They had Andrew and me. Then they decided that they did not love each other anymore. They still loved Andrew and me, but they were not in love. So they got divorced. After that, they each married again. Mommy married Seth, and they live in a little house. Daddy married Elizabeth, and they live in a big house. Most of the time, Andrew and I live at the little house. But every other weekend, and also on some holidays and vacations, we live at the big house.
Usually I do not go to Daddy’s on a Thursday. But on the Thursday before my plane trip, I went there for supper. After supper, it was time to say good-bye to everyone.
I started with Emily. “Bye-bye!” I said.
Emily smiled. She waved her hand. “Bye-bye!” (Emily is only two and a half.)
I hugged Emily tightly.
“Don’t hug me!” cried David Michael. He is seven years old. “Paws off!”
“Okay, okay,” I replied. “ ’Bye, David Michael.”
“ ’Bye, Professor.” (“Professor” is David Michael’s nickname for me. He calls me that because I wear glasses.)
By the time I had said good-bye to every-one else, I was crying.
“Don’t be sad,” said Kristy. “Think about tomorrow night.”
“Oh, yeah!” The next night my two best friends were coming to Mommy’s house for supper. Nancy is my little-house best friend. She lives next door to Mommy. (She and Granny are pen pals!) Hannie is my big-house best friend. She lives across the street from Daddy. I was looking forward to our supper party.
* * *
“I can’t believe you are leaving tomorrow,” said Hannie sadly.
It was Friday night. My supper party had begun. Seth and Mommy let my friends and me eat at the picnic table in the back-yard by ourselves.
“I know,” I said to Hannie. “And I will be flying all alone.”
“Are you scared?” asked Nancy.
“Nah,” I said. “Well … maybe just a teeny, tiny bit.”
“Guess what,” said Hannie. “Nancy and I have presents for you. They will keep you from being scared on the plane.”
“Presents?” I exclaimed. (I just love presents.)
Nancy and Hannie ran into my house. When they came outside again, they were each carrying a book. They handed the books to me.
“These will keep you busy,” said Nancy. “Look. Crossword puzzles, dot-to-dots, word searches, mazes. Tons of fun stuff!”
“Thank you!” I said.
My friends and I looked through the books. I felt happy and excited. But when Hannie and Nancy had to go home, we all cried.
Good-bye!
On Saturday morning I woke up early. I put on my very best party clothes: a blue dress with lace at the neck and all around the bottom, white tights (even though the weather was hot), and my shiny black Mary Jane shoes. Then I fixed my hair in a ponytail. I tied it with a bunch of blue ribbons. Since I wanted to look extra nice on the plane, I added some jewelry. I put on all the rings that I have gotten
at the dentist’s office. Then I put on five plastic bracelets and a little gold necklace. I looked in the mirror. Perfect.
As soon as breakfast was over, Mommy said to me, “All ready, honey?”
I nodded. “Yup. I have my suitcase and my fancy purse and the Fun Bag.”
Seth had given me the Fun Bag. It was a tote with the words FUN BAG printed on it. Inside, Seth had put crayons, a coloring book, pencils, and a drawing pad. I had added a Bobbsey Twins mystery and the books from Hannie and Nancy. (Plus a compass in case the pilot got lost.)
“Do you have your glasses?” Mommy asked.
“All packed.” I was wearing one pair of glasses. I had put my reading glasses in my pocketbook, plus my spending money, and some stamps in case I wanted to write letters or postcards.
“Time to go, then,” said Seth.
* * *
It took a long time to drive to the airport. On the way, Andrew and I played I Spy and the license-plate game. Andrew won at I Spy. I won at license plates. (This may have been because I can read and Andrew cannot.) But I was the one who first saw the license plate from Mississippi.
“Are we almost there yet?” Andrew began to whine.
“Believe it or not, we are,” answered Mommy.
We arrived at the airport an hour before my plane was supposed to leave. “What are we going to do for a whole hour?” I asked.
“You’ll see,” said Seth.
First we had to check my suitcase. I could not bring it on the plane with me. It was too big. But I could bring my purse and the Fun Bag.
Then Seth said, “Let’s look around the airport.”
I have been to this airport lots of times. But I had forgotten how much there is to see. Andrew and I watched some planes take off and land. We looked in a toy store. We bought crackers from a vending machine.
Soon it was time to wait for my plane.
Mommy and Seth and Andrew and I sat in a row of plastic chairs. A flight attendant came and talked to us. “I’m Gayle,” she said. “You must be Karen Brewer.” (I nodded.) “I will be your stewardess today. How would you like to be the first passenger on the plane?”
“Yes!” I said. I jumped up. I followed Gayle. Mommy and Andrew and Seth followed me. I really was the first passenger on the plane.
“Here is your seat,” said Gayle. She showed me how to buckle my safety belt. Then she showed me how to put my things under the seat in front of me.
Gayle left my family and me alone for a few minutes.
“Well,” said Seth, “I guess it’s time to say good-bye.”
“Okay.” I said good-bye to my family. I wanted to cry. But I told myself not to. You want to look grown-up, don’t you? I thought.
Andrew cried, though. “I want to go with Karen!” he shrieked. (Mommy and Seth had to drag him off the plane.)
“Good-bye!” I called after them. “I’ll call you tonight!”
Karen’s Plane Trip
“Please prepare for takeoff,” said a voice on the intercom.
“Still buckled up, Karen?” asked Gayle.
“Yup.” I liked having my own personal stewardess.
The plane rolled down the runway. It went faster and faster. Then its nose tilted up. We were in the sky. I gazed out of my window. Below me, the ground looked crooked. And everything grew smaller and smaller and smaller. Soon the plane was very, very high in the sky. Clouds rolled by the windows. Now the voice on the intercom said, “You are free to move about the cabin.”
I knew what that meant. We could walk around the plane. But when we were in our seats, we should buckle our belts. I got out the Fun Bag. Then I pulled down my tray. I wanted to color and maybe do a few puzzles. I also wanted to let some of the passengers know that I was seven years old — and flying alone. But the man next to me was reading a book. And the woman next to him had opened her briefcase. She was looking through papers, and writing things on a notepad.
I could tell that they did not want to be disturbed.
I reached above me and turned on my light. I noticed that next to the light was a big yellow button with a picture of a person on it. Just to see what would happen, I pushed the button. A tiny red light came on, and I heard a ping. But nothing happened … until Gayle leaned over the man and woman and said, “Did you call me, Karen? Are you all right?”
Oh! The button called a flight attendant.
“Um,” I said, “um … I’m a little thirsty.”
“Beverage service is about to begin,” Gayle told me. “Can you wait a minute?”
“Yup.” I settled back in my seat. I felt very grown-up.
* * *
Boy. The people on the plane sure kept me busy. Before the drink cart even started down the aisle, Gayle came back.
“Would you like to see the cockpit?” she asked me. “And meet the pilot?”
What silly questions. Of course I would.
Gayle led me to the front of the plane. She opened the door to the cockpit. I looked at the dials and switches. I said hello to the pilot and the co-pilot. Then the pilot gave me … another activity book! And he pinned a pair of flying wings to my dress.
When I returned to my seat, I was just in time to get a drink.
“Orange juice, please,” I said to the flight attendant. When he handed me the cup, I handed him a quarter. For a tip, since the drink was free. But the man just smiled and said, “Thanks, but you keep that.”
Then lunch was served. Another flight attendant walked along the aisle. She was pushing a cart full of trays. She handed one to me. Then she asked the man and woman next to me if they wanted lunch. But they said no and kept working.
Darn. I’d been hoping we could talk while we ate.
“How much is lunch?” I asked the stewardess. I reached for my purse.
“Oh, it’s free,” she said.
Goodness. If it was free, why weren’t the man and the woman eating?
I ate my lunch slowly. Then I colored for awhile. Then I read for awhile. I was right in the middle of a chapter when my eyes began to close. I fell sound asleep.
Granny and Grandad
I did not wake up until Gayle touched my arm and said, “Karen. Karen? We’re about to land.”
“Oh, no!” I cried. “I missed the rest of the plane ride.”
Gayle smiled. “Well, you’re rested up and ready to meet your grandparents.” She hurried down the aisle.
I glanced at the people sitting next to me. The man had put his book away. The woman had closed her briefcase.
“Hi!” I said to them. “I’m seven. I’m visiting my grandparents all by myself. I live in Connecticut.”
“That’s where I live,” said the man.
“Hey, do you want a souvenir from our plane trip?” I asked. “Just a second.” I reached under the seat. I pulled out the Fun Bag. Then I found three pictures that I had colored. I gave one to the man. I gave one to the woman, too. Even though she had not said where she lived. She did tell me that the picture was lovely, though. So I signed both pictures.
The plane landed with a bump. “We’re in Nebraska!” I cried.
When the plane had stopped, Gayle came to my seat. “You get to be the first passenger off the plane,” she told me.
She led me up the aisle. “Good-bye!” I called to the man and woman. “Good-bye!” I called to the flight attendants. We passed the cockpit. “Good-bye!” I called to the pilot and co-pilot. “I’m glad I didn’t need my compass.”
I held Gayle’s hand tightly as we walked into the airport. The terminal was very crowded. How would we ever find Granny and Grandad? But suddenly — there they were. They ran to me. Their arms were wide open. We hugged each other. Granny cried.
“I’m so glad to see you!” she said.
Gayle talked with Granny and Grandad for a few moments. Then we said good-bye. “Oh, Gayle! Here’s a picture for you.” I handed her the last of the pictures I had colored. “I signed it, too.”
“Thank you,” said Gayle. Then s
he added, “Karen, I don’t think I’ll ever forget you.”
Granny took my Fun Bag, and Grandad led the way to the place where we picked up my suitcase. He lifted it easily, and we stepped outside.
“Gosh, it’s hot,” I said.
“Welcome to Nebraska,” Grandad replied.
“Do you live right around here?”
“Nope. We have a bit of a drive ahead of us. Okay, here we are.”
I looked around. We were in the parking lot, standing next to a very ugly, rusty pickup truck. Part of it was painted white, part was painted green.
Grandad opened the door. He tossed my suitcase behind the seat. Then he and Granny and I climbed inside. We sat squished together. I was in the middle.
“Where’s your car?” I asked. It must have broken down. My grandparents must have borrowed this truck.
“You’re sitting in it,” said Granny.
Yuck. I was not so sure I liked Nebraska.
But then Grandad said, “Wait until you see the farm, Karen. All the cows, some hogs, and Pearl and Sheppy. They’re our cat and dog. Plus, you can ride on the tractor.”
“And help in the vegetable garden,” added Granny.
Well, those things sounded like fun.
“There’s even a girl just up the road who’s about your age,” Grandad went on. “Her name’s Tia. I think you’ll like her.”
Okay. Maybe Nebraska would not be so bad after all.
On the Farm
I was wrong. Nebraska was awful. Well, at least Granny and Grandad’s farmhouse was. It was gigundo yucky. Maybe the farm was okay. But not the house.
We were driving along a flat road. I did not see many trees. Suddenly Grandad said, “There it is, Karen!”
“What?”
“Our farm. It’s straight ahead. See the silo? And the barn?”
They were way off in the distance. But I could see them. As we drove closer to the farm, I saw other things. I saw the tractor. I saw a field of cows. I saw some gardens. I saw a pigpen and a chicken coop.
Then I saw the house. It was white. It needed to be painted. The front porch was sagging. Some shingles were missing.