Summer Reimagined

The First Day at Nantucket

At 8:30 AM I wake up to my phones alarm blaring and seagulls squawking outside my window. Not a great start to the day but it's my first full day and I need to make the best of it. Waking up on the floor isn't too great.

I walk downstairs to see that the movers are moving all of our furniture inside. Yes, I will have a bed tonight! They move a nightstand, bed frame, mattress, and a new dresser to match the rest of the houses new furniture, and not just the one the old owners left.

Surprisingly, I love the furniture my parents have picked out for me. They just perfectly match the aesthetic I am going to go for in my room. Dad helps me move everything around exactly where I want it. Later Mom also takes me to get things to decorate it

What I (the author) imagine this room looking like:

After a couple hours decorating I decided that I should probably go down to the beach. I haven't seen it yet! As soon as I step outside of my house I hear all of the neighborhood kids screaming and giggling playing whatever innocent game is popular now. I miss those days of pure innocence. I would give anything to go back to then. I start to ignore my thoughts and walk down to the water. It is a hot hot day and the sun is burning my pale feet. I really need a tan. I should go swimming and tan at the beach. When I reach the shoreline I let the water run over my feet and I feel better than I have in a long time. But I am lonely. Really lonely.

A couple hours later while I am making lunch to eat on the patio by the pool Mom and Dad ask to have a conversation with me over lunch. I of course agree to a conversation and for some reason am not nervous. I quickly finish up lunch and take it out to the patio. Today's menu is orzo, watermelon, potato chips, and brats, Dads favorites. I pull out a chair and sit down while my parents help themselves. After 10 minutes of quiet eating and conversations about weather my Mom speaks,

"So me and your Dad have been talking and we think that your rebellious tendencies back in Illinois were out of control, and they will not be continuing here in Nantucket."

I wonder what they mean by this, do they not know I already have a system in place for myself? Dad continues,

"So we have a set of rules for you this summer."

"Three to be exact!" Mom adds.

"Number one, no drugs or alcohol of any kind. Number two, no boys. Number three, no phone all summer. You can stay in contact with your friends through letter and email."

Most of these rules I made for myself. But I am shocked, no phone ALL summer! Most boring summer in history here I come, this summer might suck after all. All I can think is I want a drink. I want to be honest with them about all the intrusive thoughts of self hatred I have been having lately and how i'm ready to try to be better. But my pride is in the way.

"You can send a mass text to all of your friends right now announcing you will not have your phone for the summer. I know you are probably upset but this summer is for being a better person and part of that is unplugging." Dad says.

"Maybe your right."

I send the text, hand off my phone, and go up to my room to calm down. I am ready to stay in my room for the night. I start to unpack some of my clothes because the moving truck came sooner than we thought. It is taking a toll on me all these changes in such a small amount of time. I have barely had time to process all of this. While unpacking I pull out a carton of cigarettes hidden there from last summer. It takes everything in me not to light one. I flush them down the toilet one at a time. "I am in control of my emotions." I say aloud.