FamilySecrets1

China has a secret surveillance system in her room. Jane doesn't want to move again, but her parents reveal they are moving to Paraguay. Jane is upset and locks herself in her room. Jeremy is excited about the move. Arnold talks to Jane's grandmother on the phone. Jane refuses to talk to her parents and calls them the worst parents in the world. Arnold realizes he needs new glasses. China sat in her armchair in her room above the garage. No one was allowed up here. That was her one rule. They just thought she was eccentric. She pressed a button, and a wall panel slid back and revealed a state-of-the-art electronic surveillance system. The monitors showed everything, and the listening devices could pick up every conversation in the house. But she had to be careful. It was easy to forget what she was and was not supposed to know. So far she had run this operation flawlessly. Now it was time for the next phase. She smiled. Her family was in for a surprise. It was not an ordinary day in the life of Jane Bertoni. There was no school today, and after breakfast she stayed in her room talking with her best friend Blanche. I can't believe this is happening, Jane said. My parents are thinking of moving to another country, again. She played with her long dark hair as she talked, running her fingers through her bangs. I don't want to move again right now. I like living in Chicago. I don't know what to say, Blanche said. I like my name the way it is, Jane said. Whenever we live in another country, my name is changed to Juana, Yani, or who knows what. And I like my friends and my school and my stuff here in Chicago. Jane, don't worry so much. If it really happens, then you can worry, Blanche said. You don't take it seriously enough, Blanche said, Jane. I don't want to move. We'll both turn sixteen this year, and I want to be in Chicago for that. Jane's father, Arnold, knocked on the door of her room. He did not come into her room. Jane, you've been in your room all morning, he said. It's time to eat, and your brother is already at the table. Your mother and I need to talk with you. We have plans that affect the whole family. Coming, Dad, Jane answered loudly. Then she spoke to Blanche in a low tone. I told you my parents have plans. We're moving again. I know it. She sighed deeply. Talk to you later, she said. She created a hashtag handle called Sweet Sixteen in Chicago. I'll send you an update on Twitter. Stay calm, Jane, Blanche said. Nothing can be that bad. Your parents are amazing. They have fun jobs. They're writers and they like a little bit of mystery. Blanche sighed and then said, God gives bread to those who have no teeth. What's that supposed to mean, Jane thought as she hung up the phone. She ran down the stairs. When she got to the kitchen, she saw that everyone was already seated. She sat down without a word. Jane, why the sad face, her mom, Annie, asked. You've been in your room all morning. There's no school today. What's the problem? Silence. No one spoke. Her brother just sat there with a crazy grin on his face. Arnold coughed to clear his throat before he started to speak. He took off his glasses and put them on the table beside his plate. Well, I imagine by your faces you already know that there is something important that we have to say. We're going to move again, Jane and Jeremy said at the same time. Yes, we are. We are moving to Paraguay. Annie reached out her hand and Arnold took it from across the table. Jane sat there with a scowl on her face but Jeremy's face lit up and he hit the table with his hand. I knew it, he said. Arnold's glasses fell on the floor. Jeremy picked them up quickly and put them back on the table. Well, at least you're excited but please, Jeremy, watch my glasses. You know I can't see much without them. Arnold picked up his glasses and started to clean them with his shirt. This trip is very important to me. He paused but both Jane and Jeremy just looked at him. He cleared his throat and continued. I may not have been born in Paraguay but I'm excited about going back to my roots. Is China coming with us? Jeremy asked. No, Annie said. Grandma's too old to travel now. We will have your cousin Charlie and his wife stay with her while we're gone. I don't want to go anywhere, Jane interrupted. My life is here. I'm from Chicago and I'm in Chicago now. I don't want to go live in another country again. Jane, it's not forever, Annie said. We've lived in other countries before. We always come back. The experiences we've had in other countries we'll remember for a lifetime. Annie got up and started to serve the food as she talked. Also this time we're going to the country where your grandma was born. We'll stay in the house that belonged to your grandfather. I don't care about an old house in the middle of nowhere, Jane said. That house is very special, Annie said. It was inherited from a very famous ancestor over a hundred years ago. He was a scientist. His name was Simon Bertoni. He made a lot of money and somebody set up a foundation to continue his work and fix up the old house. Isn't that incredible? Annie looked at Arnold. The foundation has invited us to go and live in the house and write our next book about Paraguay. Jane was silent. Suddenly she got up from the table and without speaking ran to her room. She went inside her room and slammed the door. Scene one, Jeremy said. The drama queen locks herself in her room. She escapes through the window and runs away from home. He snapped a photograph of his dad with his new camera. Then another one. And another one. Enough, Jeremy. It's not funny, said Arnold. The last time your sister did that, he paused and touched the back of his head with the palm of his hand, but was interrupted by Jeremy. We missed our flight, dad, I remember. We all remember what happened, Annie said. We don't have to bring it up again. Scene two, we all go looking for Jane and we miss our flight. We have to call in the police and the navy and the helicopters. That's enough, Jeremy, Annie said. I heard you, Jeremy, Jane shouted from her room, and stop uploading ridiculous photos of me on the internet. She opened her door and slammed it shut again. They aren't ridiculous, Jeremy shouted back. They're hilarious. Jeremy, what did I say? This is no time for jokes, Arnold said, rubbing his eyes. I just don't understand girls, Jeremy said loudly. His head tilted toward the stairs. Then he turned back to his dad. I love traveling, dad. I love mysterious old houses. I love new adventures. Besides, who wants to deal with Miss Wilkins every day? She's the worst teacher in my school. If we have a chance to go to another country and another school, I want to go. Please. He put his hands together as if he was pleading. Who's the drama queen now, Annie said, smiling. Suddenly, the phone rang. Arnold walked over to the phone on the wall and picked it up. Hello, he said. Arnie said a soft but high-pitched voice on the phone. Yes, mom, it's me. How are you, Arnold answered. I'm fine, fine. Have you talked to the kids yet? Yes, we have, replied Arnold. And how was it this time? Well, it depends, Arnold said. I can guess. Jane is angry and probably locked up in her room. I hope she's talking with Blanche, or do I have to worry about her running away again, Chyna asked. Not for now, mom. Just a few shouts and some banging of doors, but nothing else, Arnold said. And you? How do you feel about this trip? Many memories. Do you want to talk about it? Mom, please, not today, Arnold said, and rubbed his chest hard with his fingers. Let me talk with Jane for a minute, Chyna said. Maybe I can get through to her. Arnold went upstairs and knocked on Jane's door. Jane, it's your grandmother on the phone. She wants to talk to you. Why doesn't she just come down and be part of the family, Jane said. You know she can't move around like she used to, Arnold said. The telephone just makes it easier for her. Jane opened the door, grabbed the phone, and slammed the door shut again. And don't stand there waiting, Jane yelled from the other side of the door. I will not talk to you. You are the worst parents in the world. Woo-hoo, we're leaving in two weeks, Jeremy shouted from downstairs, and then ran up to his room. Shut up, you little dwarf, I don't want to know, Jane yelled. Arnold took a deep breath and started to go down the stairs, holding on to the railing. I think I need new glasses. One of the lenses cracked, Arnold muttered as he took his glasses off with his other hand. He almost stumbled, but then caught the railing and got safely to the bottom of the stairs.