On the Brink of Paris by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel Read Free Book Online

VOMITATIOUS RIDE : Space Mountain
    BEST INSTANT CONNECTION TO CHILDHOOD : Bonnie running toward Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship in a decidedly Tinkerbellian fashion
    BEST PICTURE : Charlotte clapping hands over eyes outside Phantom Manor and feigning horror
    WORST SCHEDULING DECISION : Consumption of chili dog and extra-large fries twenty minutes prior to boarding Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril Ride
    MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT : Too many to specify
    NUMBER OF SLOANE RANGERS SPOTTED : Nine
    LEAST USEFUL ARTICLE ACQUIRED : Three-foot-high stuffed Donald Duck won at arcade by Lewis
    INTELLECTUAL PEAK : Spontaneously recalling seven miscellaneous facts about the Gold Rush while strolling through Frontierland
    TIMES SEPARATED FROM GROUP : None!
    NUTRITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT : Consuming Mickey Mouse–shaped lollipop measuring nine inches in diameter in under seven minutes
    VISITS TO LADIES’ ROOM : Fourteen (three for hand and face washing only)
    FRENCH WORDS SPOKEN : One (if “ooh-la-la” counts)
    MOST IRRITATING INCIDENT : Janet insisting on calling Sleeping Beauty’s Castle Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant
    MOST TERRIFYING SIGHT : Bud and Chaz trying to flirt with Snow White
    MOST SOBERING MOMENT : Madame Chavotte boarding the Dumbo ride behind Tim
    IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS LEARNED : See “Worst Scheduling Decision”
    PARISIAN GEMS AND NUGGETS RECORDED : Zero
    I dozed off once or twice during the train ride back to Paris. Jet lag, it turns out, has absolutely NOTHING on Disney lag. For someone who’d allegedly spent the entire day in recreational activities, I felt like a swimmer who’d just doggy-paddled across the English Channel. My overfed stomach was pooching out against the waistband of my jeans like I’d swallowed a beach ball. At least Jake wasn’t around to see that. My feet throbbed. My eardrums hurt. And I seem to have left my sense of balance back on Space Mountain, because every time I closed my eyes, I felt my head spin.
    But I will admit in secret, Dear Readers, that I kind of enjoyed myself.
    Janet was chattering away to Bonnie, who was listening with what appeared to me to be a Profound Level of Tolerance. Charlotte had somehow acquired a copy of The Wall Street Journal , but she seemed to be finished reading it. At least I assumed that was the reason she was holding the paper on her lap and staring at me for great lengths of time.
    â€œWhat?” I asked her. “Did I fall asleep again? Oh, God, was I drooling?”
    â€œNo drool,” Charlotte replied.
    Yay!
    â€œSo what’s on the books for tomorrow? No wax museums or Hard Rock Cafe, I hope. I can’t handle any moreof the Simple Tourist Life. My stomach is about to explode!”
    â€œI worry about you, Lily,” Charlotte said.
    There is little worse in life than when your best friend starts channeling your mother.
    â€œIs this about the chili dog and the lollipop? Because I’m really fine now. Honest.”
    â€œI’m serious,” Charlotte said.
    Of course she was. Charlotte was always serious.
    â€œWhy would you be worried about me?” I asked.
    â€œBecause, Lily Blennerhasset, you’re scatterbrained. You aren’t always going to have a personal assistant to fill you in on what’s happening. Your life isn’t always going to have easy-to-read instructions printed on the side of the box. Take a little control over the details of your life. You’ll need them when you’ve become a Great Writer.”
    â€œIs that all? Jeez, Charlotte, you scared me for a minute. I thought maybe I had a new nose growing out of the back of my head, or something.”
    â€œIt’s never too soon to start, Lily. Read a map. Reference a guidebook. Locate your information pack.”
    I gave Charlotte my brightest smile. “When I could never possibly improve upon the organizational skills of my best friend, the keen and coolly brilliant Charlotte