The Beach

There are no words to describe what I'm feeling right now.  I leaned my head side way to get a look at the dashboard to check the time for what feels like the millionth time on this trip.  I wish mom would just park the car already. Even though it's been the most exciting day I've had in a while but it's been a long day and I've got to get out of this hot and stuffy place.

"Why can't they make bigger spaces?" Mom mumbled frustratingly at the wheel as she passed yet another spot.

It wasn't that the spaces were too small for her 1984 Toyota Cressida, it's because she didn't know how to back-in parallel park.  Apparently, her friend, Simon, up in the front didn't want to help either.  He just kept giving her suggestion and didn't want to take action and help.

Mom turned on her blinker, another round, here we come, I let out a quiet moan.  Hot flash anger ascended in me as I drummed my fingers impatiently on the door handle.  My left arm remained sweaty and pinned down by the arm of the giant baby snoring soundly in the middle.

"Maybe you should just try parking in the parking lot." Simon suggested.

Uh oh, he went one suggestion too far.  All day long, he's been making suggestions to my mom.  Don't leave the AC on in the car, it will ruin the engine.  Keep the speed at 65, it'll save some gas.  I could feel mom's just about had enough.  Her grip of the wheel tightened and her eyes stared straight ahead, maybe too straight.

She was like a volcano about to blow, a grenade with the cord pulled.  Don't blow, mom. Don't blow.  I tried to send the thought to her when our eyes met in the rear view mirror.  It didn't work.

"If there are no parking out here, there definitely not going to have any parking in the parking lot." She snapped.

Simon and everyone else in the car immediately silenced.  As she made her way to the end of the block again.  Instead of turning on the right blinker, she turned on the left and swerved into the left lane.  She stopped at the light with her blinker still blinking.

I didn't dare ask any questions since she is so close to losing it.  I frowned as I stuck my head forward and looked to my left.  There wasn't anything to turn left to.

We were under a sky-walk and to the left was lined with sidewalk.  Where is she going to turn left to? Has she gone crazy with anger?

The light turned green and she slammed her foot on the gas pedal and the car shot forward.  She quickly stepped on the brakes again at the approach of the next light.  Her left blinker remained blinking and no one in the car dare to ask her why.

When the light turned green again, she released the brake and let the car slide forward. About three feet later, she stopped again.  What now? I wondered and leaned against the window to stare at the green light.

Soon, the light turned yellow and the incoming traffic slowed.  Then mom did something I never thought she would do on such a narrow road.  She turned the wheel several rounds and stepped on the gas.  In a matter of seconds, we were on the other side of the road.

My heart pounded with fear and adrenaline as executed the turn.  It was the most thrilling thing I've experienced on this trip by far and it took my mind off that we've been circling the block for 45 minutes looking for a parking space.

After the turn, she resumed her position in the right lane and lightly dipped on the gas to cruise the car smoothly on the road.  That smooth driving was soon interrupted when she suddenly slammed her foot on the brakes propelling me forward.  Thank god I wore my seat belt.

This time I knew why she did, she's found a large enough parking space.  She turned on the right blinker to signal the cars behind her as she slowly steered the car into the space.  I took a relieving breath as I pressed the release button on my seat belt with my free hand.

I opened the door and got out, sliding my left arm from under the snoring kid in the middle.  I could not believe what happened just now didn't wake him.  He let out a sound that resembled a pig as I slid my left arm from under his arm.

I rolled my eyes and stepped onto the sidewalk.  My sleeping legs wobbled beneath me while my arms numb and sweaty swung freely beside me.  A second later, I lifted my arms and stretched to the sky, shaking off the numbness of sitting in a car for the last 2 hours.

"This is Huntington Beach.  Everybody, please follow me." She called after everyone got out of the car.

I started walking behind everyone as mom's mood lightened and began chatting with her friends.  When we hit the sand, excitement began coursing through me again as I took off running toward the water.  I've been waiting for this moment all day, ever since mom said we were going to beach this afternoon.

When I finally reached the water, I saw how beautiful and endless the ocean was.  I finally made it.  I stretched my arms into the sky and whispered, I am here.