A little while later, we stepped into a clear field and I saw the campers and recreational vehicles. A tall boy to the right of one vehicle was throwing rocks at birds.
"Addison," Ian called.
The boy stopped and looked our way. "Hey," he called back, but continued to throw rocks.
The door of the RV opened and a heavy girl not much taller than I was stepped out. Her light brown hair was chopped short in a crude pageboy. She wore a gray athletic shirt and jeans that hung, loosely off her wide hips. As we drew closer, I saw she had acne over her chin and cheeks. Her eyes were a vague blue, but lost in her round face because her cheeks were so plump. She had thick lips, too.
"Hi, Flora," Ian said. He addressed her with as much excitement as I had ever heard him address anyone.
Why did he like this girl so much?
Her brother stood smiling at us. He had a long, beaklike nose, thinner lips, and a very sharp jawbone. His clothes, a pale 2-ray T-shirt and jeans, seemed to just hang on his frame. He had long arms and very long fingers, and clutched another rock in his right hand.
"I nearly got one." he said.
Flora smirked at him. "Their eyesight is so much keener than ours, Addison. You'll never surprise them with a rock. Give it up,,'
"I nearly got one," he repeated.
Flora looked at me. "You're Jordan, then," she said.
"Yes, I'm Jordan."
She studied me a moment, just the way Ian did from time to time, and then she turned to him. "There's a creek about a hundred yards north. We follow that and it will bring us to that small patch of wild berries I was telling you about."
"Where at "
She showed him her small camera. "It has a five-to-one goom, so we could get some good shots without getting that close."
"Let's go," Ian said anxiously.
Flora looked at Addison. "If you come along. Addison, you have to be quiet. No whistling and singing stupid dirty songs to impress anyone, okay?"
"Whatever," he said, and tossed his rock at a pair of sparrows that lifted off the branch the moment he threw it. He looked at me. "I nearly got one before," he said.
Flora and Ian started away and I hurried to stay close to them. Addison trailed behind like someone not sure he was going to accompany us. Something attracted his attention and he went off to the right for a moment and then, when I looked back. I saw him resume following us.
Flora and Ian were already in a discussion about something called indigenous plant life.
I was beginning to wish I had gone with Mama and Daddy on the boat.
Then Flora fell back to walk alongside me. "I understand you had your first period already," she said.
Ian didn't turn back even though he must have heard what she had said. I glanced at Addison. He was five or so yards behind us, still tossing rocks.
"Yes," I said.
"You could have an orgasm, you know," she said. "Sometimes it just happens, even when you're sleeping, and sometimes, you can't help but bring it on yourself. It's better you know all about it so nothing frightens you. I don't imagine your mother will tell you about it. Mine didn't."
Despite what she said, it sounded frightening. "Does it hurt?" I asked her.
She shook her head. "On the contrary," she said. "You're going to like it. Some girls like it so much, they're like rabbits," she told me.
My eyes could have been on springs. That was how much I felt they had bulged.
She laughed. "Don't worry," she said. "I'll clue you in on it all. Hey," she called to Ian, "go to the left up here. The stream is just ahead." She ran to join up with him.
Addison drew alongside me and nudged me. "My sister thinks she knows everything," he said.