paranormal usually ended in arguing and Googling for evidence Dad Drew said I can see the Philippines He pointed toward an island in the distance That’s not the Philippines you dork Alex said rolling her eyes Alex don’t call your brother names Mom said Yeah Drew stuck his tongue out at Alex The Philippines is a little farther away Dad said You said it was close enough to visit Grandma close enough that we might be able to see it Drew said Okay I think I exaggerated a little on that one What’s that then Drew asked Must be Kauai Dad said We’ll get there sometime soon What about Grandma Drew said Yep We’ll see if we can get over there too It’d be a shame not to visit when we’re this 7
close She would probably never forgive me if we didn't Dad said Alex turned the lava rock over in her hand Why can’t I keep this What’s the big deal Her dad folded his arms across his chest Better safe than sorry honey We’re visitors The beach doesn’t belong to us The rock felt light the weight of a quarter or even a dime though it was more the size of a golf ball Alex listen to your father Mom said She was applying sunscreen to her fair-skinned nose and arms Alex stared at the rock in her hand How could a tiny rock be bad luck Alex Alex jumped and dropped the rock Fine she said Dad shook his head Mom got up and shook the sand out of her beach towel Are we going to see a real volcano Drew asked distracting Dad Maybe Dad finally unfolded his arms When we get a free day we could fly over to the Big Island 8
Yay Drew said The last great volcanic eruption was in 2008 when Kilauea erupted and it’s still spewing lava into the ocean When we visit the Big Island you can see where lava ran onto the highway and stopped right in the middle of the road Alex was used to her dad going on about geology and seismology tectonic plates and volcanic eruptions so she put her headphones on and turned up that song about breaking up with a first love and leaving home Drew got bored with Dad’s lecture too and went back to playing tag with the waves Mom and Dad cuffed their pants and walked through the low tide carrying their sandals in their hands Alex picked up a few other rocks and tossed them into the ocean one by one She threw the last as far as she could She scooped up another handful and realized she had picked up the lava rock again She glanced up No one was watching her She slipped the rock into her pocket It was so light she could barely even feel it was there 9
2 After the sunrise they walked home Drew also had the day off from school it was a teacher's workshop day or something so Alex and her brother had a whole day to bum around Alex was meeting Sienna and Maia at the beach later Maybe she would show them the lava rock Have a good day kids Dad said as he and Mom left for work As soon as they were gone Drew snatched Alex’s headphones off the kitchen counter Mind if I borrow these Ugh Okay But don’t wreck them I won’t Sheesh Drew rolled his eyes 10
