The next day after dinner, Beth got up and put her dishes in the sink, and asked to be exused. Kathy looked over to Beth's dad, Pat, and winked, then turned to Beth. "No, you have to pack up all of your clothes first. Remember, we're leaving early tomorrow morning."

Beth gave them a confused look, and added "Well, can I call Ike? I'd like some guy company." Kathy laughed. "No, hun, just get it done, k?" Mary and her sister shared a "well be that way" look, and the 4 of them trooped to their rooms.

"Why do you think Mom and Dad wouldn't let us see the Hansons?" Ami asked, stuffing a shirt into her suitcase. "Probably adult anxiety. Believe me, I'm used to it." Beth replied. Everyone laughed good-naturedly.

"How about one or two more songs for vacation's sake?" Mary asked. Melissa agreed. "Yeah, pop in Save Ferris, Beth." As soon as she pressed play, a blast of trumpets came out of the cd player.

"Aha, I'm the only one that can sing it right!" Beth yelled, jumping up on the bed. "I was sitting and waiting, just to think, comtemplating my life when I heard the phone......" she belted out, holding an invisible microphone close to her lips.

"Damn girl, you can hold that note forever!" Taylor tried to yell over the music, laughing. Mary ran over and pressed pause. "Hello boys, what can we do for you?" Beth said, plopping down on the bed.

"Wellllll....", Jeff said mysteriously, "It's a surprise." Melissa raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?" Zac laughed. "Yes, really." "Well I demand to know what this so-called surprise is." Mary demanded, a smile pulling at the corner of her lips. "Okay, this is how the drill goes. Meet us on the beach by the ice cream stand in 15 minutes."

Beth and Ami looked at each other and almost doubled over laughing. "You didn't answer Mary's question." Beth said, grinning. Ike looked at her with his 'haha very funny' look. "Well, if you don't want to, you don't know what you'll be missing." he replied, casually walking over to her. "Okay! Okay!" she yelled, holding up her hands. "I give." "Good. All set guys?" Ike asked The other 3 boys nodded, and Beth sighed under her breath. "This", she decided, "Is going to be a very interesting night."