Thrifty

15

The bar is tropical themed. It's got palm trees planted all over with lights hanging off them. The walls are painted with green leaves and flowers. The women serving are dressed as if they are in Hawaii. "Jeremy!" I look to see my grandpa sitting as happy as a clam as he chugs a beer bottle in his hand. I walk over and join him. A pretty Latina came to take my order.

I showed her my I.D. "A margarita please." My grandpa laughed. "What?" I feel my cheeks burning. "I love you Jeremy, but we are very different when it comes to alcohol." I puffed my cheeks and he laughed again. He looked around the bar. "Where's your mom and grandmother?" I smiled sheepishly. "I, uh, ran away from grandma when she wanted me to go swimming with her." "Ah", he said in understanding. "I know your grandmother can be a lot, but she means well."

The Latina returned with my drink and placed it on the table. "Thanks." She smiled before going to another table to take orders. I sipped the margarita and sighed contentedly. This is the life. "Don't get me wrong grandpa. I love you, mom, and grandma but I sometimes I want to do my own thing, you know." He took another drink of his beer and checked out a few waitresses. "I get it. I was a young man at one point in my life. Although, things are very different from when I was your age."

As he told me tales of the old days I listened and drank my margarita. When I was almost finished, my grandma loomed behind him, and he didn't have a clue she's right there. "And Mary May Olsen, she was a beauty. It was between her and your grandmother. Boy was it a tough decision. I came this close to marrying Mary when." He was cut off with my grandma holding him in a headlock. "But you chose me in the end, and we've been happily married for forty years. Isn't that right?" He's struggling in her grip. "Yes dear. Very happy."

He rasped out. As I was attempting to sneak away, my mom came out of nowhere with her hands on her hips. "Jeremy Donald." I smiled sheepishly. Grandpa is still struggling in grandma's grip. "Leave the boy alone. He doesn't need to stay with us old farts all the time."

Grandma tightened her grip, and his eyes are bulging. "This is a family vacation, and we are spending time together whether you like it or not." Grandpa and I share a look of dread on our faces.