Sixteen-year old Harper Brooke, who has never experienced love, has a crush on Steve Andrews, the tall and handsome boy who just moved into the house opposite hers. A twist for her or a tragedy for Steve struck.
Due to a national lockdown, his divo...
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Of course, Paul and Jenna figured something was wrong with these three teenagers. Dull eyes, sitting apart, exchanging minimum words, a bitter silence often replaced by music or video games; the worst has to be no comments about the bland chicken she has cooked for lunch.
Jenna let out a little hiss. She has forgotten to add salt. The kids, on the other hand, ate without a single complaint.
Lost in their world
Despite being responsible parents, they came to a mutual agreement about something they had been speaking about a day ago and announced during lunchtime.
"Kids, we get it. You are all bored of staying in the house," Paul exclaimed, grabbing everyone's attention.
"We have noticed," Jenna added, increasing the tone and the tension around the table. "Hence, we decided and agreed for everybody's benefit. Paul, will you share the good news?"
"Yes, honey, we are going to the beach."
It took a moment for the information to sink in. Paul and Jenna grinned despite the kids' confusion. Harper put her spoon down and spoke.
"We are not allowed to leave the house, Dad. The beach is crossing the limit here."
"Mr. Brooke, even adults are forbidden there. Only grocery stores, restaurants, and emergency services are open. Recreational places – if patrolling police stumbled on us, we are all doomed."
"Dad, is that the best joke you got?"
"Oh, he is serious," Jenna claimed.
Harper shook her head, ranting.
"Mom, I honestly cannot believe my eyes. You're siding with Dad's idea of taking us to the beach during a pandemic."
"In that case, you had not paid enough attention. I said we decided, as in Paul and I decided for us all to go to the beach."
"What-"
Paul interrupted Steve and elaborated, "It's not a public beach. It's secluded little to no visitors, you can say. Either people are uninformed about it, or no one goes there as sharks come close to the shore."
"Wait, are you talking about Ventroy Beach?" Harry asked.
"You got it." Paul smiled. "And I can assume that Steve, you have never gone there."
He shook his head.
"Well, nobody goes there on normal days. There's a high possibility that no one will be there during this partial lockdown. We'll have a two-hour picnic and return home. For the first time, Jenna agrees with me."
