Author's Note: This story was written for a Short Story competition where the entries had to be 1,000 words or fewer, where the theme was words that begin with J that are not usually capitalized. All characters are at least 18 years old.
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It was all my little brother's fault. He's a foot taller and twice my weight, but I am a year older, so technically he's my 'little' brother.
The University of Delaware was my 'reach' school but I got accepted after I completed two years in Community College. I had been planning for this move the entire summer. I was so excited to start this new chapter in my life that I stayed up late the night before to pack the car. And pack mom's Camry I did!
The trunk was filled to capacity. My prized ficus plant could only fit in the front passenger seat, along with several boxes of shoes. That left the back seat free for Danny and me, along with my backpack, pillows, and a few other odds and ends.
We left the house for the four-hour trip, and everything was going fine until that first rest stop. Mom needed gas and Danny was hungry. That boy was always hungry. He asked if we wanted anything and I ordered a large iced caramel mocha latte from Dunkin.
I watched Danny as he carried the latte, along with a huge McDonald's bag and a 32-ounce Mountain Dew. As he handed me the latte through the opened window, the bottom of the cup hit the top of the window pane, and he dumped the drink right in my lap. To add insult to injury, as he tried to grab the cup, he lost control of his own drink, which toppled over into the back seat as well.
"MOM!" I cried out, as I spread my legs and tried to avoid the waterfall of cold beverages, which soaked my shorts and pooled on the passenger's side of the back seat. Danny apologized profusely as I jumped out of the car, calling him every name in the book.
Mom popped the trunk and grabbed one of my bath towels and started cleaning up the mess. I grabbed a change of clothes, and Danny wisely stifled a laugh as I waddled into the ladies room.
When I got back to the car, Danny was sitting on the dry left side of the back seat stuffing his face. "Ut-Uh," I scolded, "I'm not sitting in the wet spot." Mom explained that the seat was too soaked, so I'd have to ride the rest of the way on Danny's lap. "Why are you such a clutz," I admonished him, as I climbed onto his lap, holding my skirt down to keep from flashing him.