I screamed. For some reason, I thought the lion would go away if I yelled. It didn't. Weird. My eyes were shut closed, but with all my strength I opened one eye. I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding. Instead of a lion, there stood a tiger. Correction: beautiful tiger. He was a beautiful white tiger, with beautiful black stripes, and best of all, beautiful electric blue eyes. Yup. He was definitely beautiful... I shook my head. This is a tiger!!!! My instincts kicked in. I slowly climbed down the tree. Was it evenly possible for a tiger to live in the forest? Was it even possible for it to exist in this part of America? I mean, I lived in Florida! Florida. But no. There was most definitely a very much real live tiger underneath me. I jumped down the tree. The tiger turned towards me, and I stared into its eyes. For some reason, it didn't look like it wanted to attack me. I knew he did not want me to hurt him. I just knew. How? Even I don't know. I took my hand out to pet him. He purred, no pulling away. As if in a trance, I followed the tiger around. Soon, I became fond of him.
         I glanced at my watch. 7:00?!? Where had the time gone?!? I frowned. "Sorry little guy," I stated, apparently talking to a tiger. "Guess I have to go now. I'll come back tomorrow." With that, I took my belongings and left, vowing to be there tomorrow.

The next morning, I woke up when the bright sun blinded me. I frowned. I had overslept! I was supposed to get up before the sun. Five thirty at most. Stupid tiger. I quietly stepped out of the bed, worried about what Katy might say on me getting up late. I climbed down two sets of stairs down to the kitchen. Instead of the wrath I expected Katy to unleash, she smiled. Okay. Now I was afraid.

Katy smiled at me once again. "So," she started off casually. "You know, we are going to......to a cruise all summer long?" I smiled, unable to contain the excitement. I've never ever been on a cruise. Maybe the Matthews weren't half bad... I smiled once again. "A cruise?!? I've never been on a cru-" Katy interrupted. "So we decided to keep you at a summer camp," Of course. I wasn't going in a cruise. They were. Yup. Still not a part of the family. Katy broke the silence. "Here is the packet of summer camps. Joshua wanted to send you to a particular... Boarding camp.... But I decided to let you decide," How nice. Note sarcasm. "There weren't many to choose from, a short list really, considering the short notice." She handed me a thick bundle of papers, some thing I would not have called 'short'. Then something she said clicked. "What do you mean short notice?" I asked, bewildered. She sighed. "Oh, you know... The cruise starts.. Tomorrow." Tomorrow?!