Learning

~The Beach Photo~

Another flashback! Cool! I hope you have all enjoyed these chapters so far. We're halfway to 100 reads so not bad. Now, on with the story!

Ahsoka Tano laughed as she felt the sand tickled her toes as she raced through the sand. She loved the beach, the sea, the fresh sea air. Everything. Her parents had taken her here for a picnic this weekend and Ahsoka was having the time of her life. A bucket and spade swayed from her fist as she flopped down on the grainy, yellow sand and started to make a sand castle. "Awww!" Ahsoka cried as the castle blew away in the breeze.

Hosin walked over to his daughter and patted her head. "Don't worry Hija, the sand here is extremely dry and weak. If you go further down to the sea it'll be wetter and easier to mold." He looked out to where the tide was far out to sea. "Vamos, que el mar está muy lejos de aquí. Te ayudaré a construir un castillo de arena." Hosin picked Ahsoka up as she squealed and carried her to where the sand became darker and wetter.

Ahsoka looked back to where her mum was happily waving at them and she waved back. Ahsoka loved both her parents dearly. She turned in her dad's arms where he sat her down on the sand and started to collect the damp sand. "It's a bit messier but the sea water allows the sand to stick together better. That's it, scoop it up. Muy bien Hija, now quickly flip the bucket over. Good, now pat the top of it with your spade and pull the bucket away." Ahsoka followed his instructions and revealed a dark brown sand colour sandcastle.

"Yay! Gracias Papa." She cheered as she looked mesmerized by the creation. "What else can you make out of sand?" Ahsoka looked around to where other children were creating shapes and creatures out of the sand.

Hosin looked over to where she was. "Well it's exactly the same but those kids have had their parents buy them different molds that allow them to create those pictures. Come on, the tide's going to come back in soon. We do not want to get caught in that." He grabbed her hand and pulled Ahsoka to her feet while she looked forlornly at her castle.

She tugged at his hand. "What happens to my castle?" Ahsoka turned back to collect her bucket and spade.

Hosin sighed. "Well either you can knock it down, squish it or wait for another kid or pet to do so. Either that or the sea will come in and wash it away." He gestured out to where the waves were growing and Ahsoka shivered. "Exactly, we don't want to be caught in that. Many people are fools and think they can beat la madre naturaleza but they're wrong." Hosin's eyes became cold and steeled as he looked out to sea.

Ahsoka knew why although she pretended that she didn't. She hadn't meant to know but a few years back her dad had become very sad and Ashla explained to her that his brother had been lost to sea. Later Ahsoka overhead him telling her not to tell her because she was too young to understand. However Ahsoka understood a lot more than they gave her credit for. Especially when they shout. Things had actually been okay since the arguement on his birthday.

Ashla cane over to them and hugged them both. "Did Papa show you how to make un castillo de arena?" She smiled at Ahsoka who nodded a lot. "Well that's good, Hosin, you're phone rang a few times. Someone's very excited to talk to you." Ashla laughed and Ahsoka laughed along, it would be a few years before she understood what her mum had meant.

Hosin obviously hadn't laughed but he didn't stop smiling either, maybe just for Ahsoka's sake. "Okay, thank you mi amor, I'll answer it in a minute. We should probably have lunch now right? Ahsoka, ¿tienes hambre?" He knelt down beside her as they reached the picnic blanket.

Ahsoka smiled. "Si! What are we eating?" She excited walked over to the basket that contained all their favourite foods. "Ohhh! Chips! Yay! Mama, can I have them?" Ahsoka pulled out a small container that contained fish and chips which they had bought an hour ago.

Ashla nodded to her daughter as she pulled out a salad. "Of course dear, your father is just going to answer his phone know bit he'll be back in a few minutes." Ashla glanced at Hosin who went silent but stomped away up the stairs to answer the phone calls.

Ahsoka frowned at the coldness that had settled over them which reminded her of what happened at the cinema. Someone had also called her dad then as well. "Mama, who keeps calling Papa? Someone called him at the cinema as well." She took a forkful of chips as Ashla slowed her own eating pace.

Lowering her salad from her lap, Ashla looked directly at her daughter. "It's complicated Ahsoka, your Father is a very busy man and has a lot of people wanting his attention. Sometimes attention-seekers who think they take presidence over us. Hosin struggles to find a balance between his two worlds but he loves you greatly. We both do." She looked bitter at her words and Ahsoka immediately went closer to her mum for a hug.

Ashla laughed and cuddled her child as seagulls flew overhead and circled her food. Hosin came back looking happy but when he saw them his eyes became clouded and forehead creased. "Hey, everything's fine. Just a work nuisance. Hija, can I have some of your chips?" Hosin lowered himself down by her food and started to eat a few.

Ahsoka shrieked loudly in protest, claiming that they were hers and he had no right to them. Her voice also increased in volume along with her accusations do Ashla was forced to quietly yet efficiently hush her child. "You know what, since we're all here now and we've had something to eat, we should all take a picture! Ahsoka, how does that sound?" Ashla smiled at her while Hosin pulled the camera out of the bag and started to set it up.

Ahsoka grinned. "That sounds like a great idea Mum! Come on Papa!" She skipped over to the middle of the blanket with Ashla laughing as she came and sat on her left. Hosin chuckled as he set the self timer and sat down on Ahsoka's other side, leaning across so to hug his wife. The camera went off and Ahsoka cheered. "Let me see!" She demanded at her dad who collected it. He showed her the picture and she smiled. "We look like a really happy family." However she failed to notice the strained smiles and worried looks her parents had.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter for I did but I apologise if it is slightly shorter than usual. I'll update again tomorrow. Bye, bye.