Waves - Book #2 [completed]

15 ~ Dépaysement

a/n:
I'm really nervous about this chapter. Eeek ...

~~~

Dépaysement
(French)
noun
The restlessness that comes with being away from your country of origin and feeling like a foreigner.

Once again, I'm perched in the too small for my ass backseat of Danny's car. He's driving and Rathi is humming along to a cheesy, high-pitched Indonesian song that sounds like it's been produced in the seventies. Her hand weaves absently through Danny's hair, ruffling it even further.

"You sure I'm not intruding?" I ask for the umpteenth time, leaning forward to stick my head between the two front seats.

"We're sure," Danny sighs. "My parents look forward to meeting you after all this time."

"But I didn't even get them a gift," I argue.

Danny shoots me a wary glance in the rearview mirror. "My parents don't celebrate Christmas. They just invited us for dinner. Told you that three times now."

"I know," I huff. "But wouldn't, I don't know, bringing a plate of food or something customary?"

Rathi laughs, interrupting her humming for a moment. "You can piggy-back on the Baklava I made, Mase."

"But-"

"Shut up," Rathi drawls amused.

"Okay." I slump into my seat again and settle for looking out the window. But there isn't much to see considering we're on a small highway that's hedged by shrubs and bushes in the middle of nowhere. So I'm quickly dragged and lost in my own thoughts.

It's been quiet the last two weeks after the karaoke night. And humbling. This entire trip so far seems to want to humble me, bring me back to an average person's level. I had to finally cook for myself because I got tired of ordering pizza – the only food delivery service in town – or eating at Rathi's restaurant. First, because it's not a restaurant. The location in Connor Head is more of a hole in the wall slash permanent food truck situation with only a few small tables. And second, because Rathi or Joe always make me help out there since they're understaffed. Be it stirring a curry or chopping veggies. Then, because my two hosts are gone most of the time, taking care of their entrepreneur businesses up in Queensland rather than playing housekeeper. So, I had to clean the entire house on my own. That includes the bathroom.

I want to say I'm proud of my accomplishment, I am. I have a certain appreciation for people doing that work daily now. But on the other hand, I do not need a repeat. Who would've thought Australia would make me grow that much in such a short time? I bet mom would be proud.

I kept my jogging regimen and worked out more. And somehow moving my body and doing mindless tasks like cleaning, helped my brain to defog. I started scribbling out tunes and melodies that just came into my mind and that I then followed up on with my trusty old Ramirez guitar. It's been years since I've been inspired to write songs. I don't have the fitting lyrics yet, but I'm sure they'll come soon enough. I'm quite happy with what I've come up with.