Whatever, Cowboy.

Variety Vacation_19

"Austin. The hell are you doing?" Zayne asked from the first floor. "We're ready to go."

"Oh! Okay, sorry. I was just packing some more stuff." He replied quickly, reaching for his charged phone, his headphones already connected.

"How come Alex is coming but that country boy ain't?" Zayne, Austin's favorite cousin, quarried. Zayne is only a year older than Austin, a construction worker with a lovely girlfriend named Samara.

"I didn't ask him. Also, I don't see how Alex and Tyler would both be allowed to go on vacation with us. You know my parents, Zayne, they don't know about Alex."

"Well that's bullsh-"

"I better not hear that type of language coming from you, Zayne Anthony Williams." Aunt Suz argued from downstairs. Aunt Suz is Austin's dad's sister and she's famous in the town for her gymnastics medals. Nowadays, she is a well known body builder.

"Perdón, Mami." Zayne shouted down the steps.

"How's your dad?" Austin asks as the two boys head for the front door.

"He's good! Got cleared for release on the 28th. Healing pretty fast."

Uncle Shawn was born in Canada and then moved to Mexico. He's not native born, but linguistically, he's a natural Mexican. Shawn taught Zayne Spanish at the same time he'd been taught English. Unfortunately, Uncle Shawn got in a traumatic car crash two years ago, got knocked into a coma, and woke up last month. He isn't the same but it isn't as bad as other stories.

"Aiy, come here, Chica! Give your older couz a hug."

This vacation wasn't going to be anything special, the standard week long, near the beach trip. Austin, Arizona, Austin's mother and father, Austin's aunt, and Zayne were all going on this vacation but Alex was a tag along that Arizona pleaded for.

"Vamos, mi hijo." Aunt Suz ushered Zayne to the car.
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"Tyler, you and y'er friends gon' be alright at the beach?" Malorie asked with concern for her son.

"We'll be alright but are you sure you don't wanna tag along, Mama?"

"No, go be a kid, hunny. Enjoy life while you can."

Tyler and his friends had planned this trip for nearly a year, all of them collectively saving for the stay. Tyler's truck was all packed and the front seat was filled with snacks and hoodies.

"You have your keys?"

"Yes."

"And your phone?"

"Yes, Mama."

"Clothes and swimsuit?"

"Of course."

"And you have extra money, both, on that fancy card as well as in your wallet?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Malorie stumbled off the porch toward her son and gave him a strong hug. She wouldn't see him for a week and she hadn't done this before but letting Tyler go would have to happen eventually. Tiny steps seem to be the best way for her to do so.

"I love you, Ty."

"I love you too, Ma."

"Be good on the roads, no fights."

"You got it." Tyler started the truck and back out of the driveway, Malorie waving goodbye as Tyler drove off.