Justin’s feet hammered the track, his stride long and even. 

One lap, Justin thought. One lap left in my last race for Clarkston Middle School. Justin noticed a whisper of movement behind his left shoulder. Another runner threatened his lead. Justin cleared his mind, kicked hard, and flew across the finish line. Cheers erupted as his teammates punched him in the shoulder. He enjoyed the moment until a deep voice called his name.

“Justin! Good job, buddy. Linda and I are proud of you,” Dad said, one arm draped around Linda’s shoulders. “I’m sure Stacey is too.”

Justin’s stepsister, Stacey, shrugged.

Justin scowled and kicked the grass at the edge of the track. I can’t believe Dad is making me leave early to go to the cabin, he thought.

“Stacey’s anxious to see the cabin for the first time, so grab your stuff and let’s go.” Dad turned and led Linda and his stepdaughter across the field.

Little sisters are such a pain, Justin thought, as he tugged his Clarkston Eagles sweatshirt over his head. Who’s Dad trying to kid? Does he really think he can create an instant family—after only 3 months?

Justin slung his navy bag over his shoulder, eyed his friends, and trudged after the trio. 

The next morning Justin walked out of the cabin and sunk onto the porch swing. The water in the lake shimmered. Mom had loved mornings like this, he thought. Man, I sure miss her. I can’t believe she’s been gone two years, already. I can still feel her arms wrapped around me in a morning bear hug. I wish I had let her do that more often. If I had known . . .

Linda strolled out onto the porch and sat down next to him, breaking into his thoughts.

“Great day to water-ski,” she said.   

Justin glanced at her.  “It’s a little cold, don’t you think?”

“Maybe,” she said, “but it could be fun anyway.”

Justin pictured himself zooming around the lake. He felt the pull of the ski rope in his hands and heard the slap, slap, slap of the skis hitting the water. His pulse quickened. Mom loved to ski, too, he thought. His shoulders slumped.

“No thanks.” 

“Justin, we’re really trying . . .”

“I said ‘no thanks’,” Justin repeated.

Dad stepped onto the porch and stood next to Linda. “We need to talk. I know you’re mad, but we’re trying to make it better. We had the campfire last night, fishing this morning, and now water-skiing. Why won’t you join us? You used to love the cabin.”

“Yeah, I used to,” Justin said. “Things are different, now.” Like, Mom is not here.

Dad sighed. “Ok, Justin. You win. I’ll admit it. We were wrong to make you leave before the end of your meet, but we can’t change that, now.”

Justin turned and stared at Dad. “What? You think this is about the track meet? Don’t you get it? Can’t you feel Mom here, too? How can you expect me to fish and water-ski and pretend to be happy with a . . . a fake family?”

Justin stormed past a surprised Stacey. He ran from the cabin, from the suffocating sadness. He ran past Stacey’s new swing that now hung on Mom’s pine tree. He ran until his legs trembled and his body threatened to collapse. He ducked into the forest and sank to the ground. 

How do I let go of the memories, Mom? How can I accept this new family, this new life without you? Justin rolled over on his back and stared up at the leaves.
 
After a couple of hours, he got to his feet and wandered back through the woods. As he approached the cabin, Justin heard a crash and a scream. He sprinted out of the woods and recognized Stacey hunched over on the dock.

She probably just stubbed her toe, he thought.
 
Justin headed back to the cabin, but stopped when Stacey moaned and began to cry. He hesitated.

What if she’s really hurt? Justin took a deep breath and whispered, “Help me do what’s right, Mom.”

Slowly, he turned.

Justin approached Stacey; he realized that her foot was trapped in a crack, her ankle twisted.

“Stacey, don’t cry. I’ll get you out,” Justin said.

“Go away!  You don’t care about me,” Stacey wailed.

“That’s not true,” Justin said, as he knelt and examined Stacey’s ankle. Oh, this is bad, he thought. “I was just upset.” 

“You called us a fake family,” Stacey protested.

“Haven’t you ever said anything dumb when you were mad?  Hold still, okay?” 
 
Stacey whimpered and howled as Justin worked her foot free. He jumped up, struggled to get Stacey into his arms and staggered to shore.

“Would I do this if I didn’t care?” Justin groaned.

Linda met them near the cabin. She carried Stacey inside and settled her on the couch. Justin paced.  

“Are you all right?” Linda asked.

Justin waved off her concern and said, “We need help.  Where’s Dad? The truck’s gone.” He stopped and turned to Linda, his eyes wide. “He went to look for me, didn’t he?”

Linda nodded. “He took the cell phone, too.”

Justin sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “There’s a party store across the lake. They have a phone.”

“How do we get there?” Linda asked.

“I’ll drive the boat. You stay with Stacey.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Linda said.

“I’ve driven the boat by myself before. I can do this.”

Linda hesitated. “I don’t know.”

“I need to do this,” Justin said.

Linda squeezed Justin’s shoulders and nodded. “I trust you.”

Soon, Justin cruised through the water on the family boat. The frothy spray splattered his face and arms and it felt right. I know you’re here, Mom. I know you just want me to be happy. Stacey’s a good kid. Linda is okay. Could I be happy again? If I try . . .

Justin docked the boat at Terry’s Market and raced to the payphone. “Yes, hello? My little sister needs help.”

Later that evening, Justin sat with Stacey on the edge of her hospital bed. “Sorry I was such a jerk earlier.”

Stacey looked down at the blue cast on her ankle. “Do you really still feel your mom at the cabin?”

“Yes, I do. I’ll never forget the wonderful times I had with Dad and Mom. Those are some great memories.”

He looked up to see Dad and Linda in the doorway.

“Yes, they are, Son.”

Justin took a deep breath. “I think it’s time to start making some new memories.” He looked at Stacey and added, “With my real family.”