Seaside Attraction

3

    She slowly arranged and packed her hair behind her in a band and tried to be comfortable in her seat while Caitlin set the cups at the counter for Maya to attend to the little kids and their parents.
    She then grabbed two cups of chilled juice in a tray then walked over to hand one over to Summer who quickly took a few long gulps.
"Be careful." Caitlin called out to her daughter, giving her a small wink before going to sit opposite her stepsister, Summer.
    She gave a smile.
"A real beauty you are,Summ."
    Summer gave a small nod, looking uncomfortable but she did her best to sit still.
"You said you wanted to discuss an idea with me. Of course,go ahead. I'd love to hear you."
    Summer smiled a bit and nodded her head.
"Well...." She began. "I've gotten an off permission from Mr Jakande."
"Oh my, that's so kind of him."
"Yes. And he did agree to help with my taxes and salary for two months."
"Oh Jesus, who can do that this days? That's so kind of him. God bless him also. I'll get to thank him when we're done."
"And...."
    Caitlin nodded and gave Summer the message to keep going.
"And so, he advised me on getting to....you know, work with communicating with people."
"Yes, I vote that too."
"So, I've decided to try the shores with you and Maya...."
"OH MY GOSH, REALLY?" Maya surprised them by yelling from the counter as she turned fully to look at them, her eyes blazing wide with ecstasy.
"Oh,Maya. Don't you want to please the customers? You were eavesdropping!"
"Gosh, I couldn't help it,Mom."
     Summer didn't even realize that she was smiling a bit now. Caitlin and Maya noticed but refused to say a word in acknowledgement. This was what they so wanted from her.
"I would be so happy to work alongside Aunty Summer . And in fact, Aunt Summer, I'll make sure that you enjoy your time with me. I'm so happy...."
"Any news I can join to celebrate in?" A baritone unexpectedly interrupted and Maya twirled back to focus, close to laughter.
"Oh...." Maya exclaimed. "So sorry that I didn't reply fast...."
    But Maya had to pause when she noticed her customer bending over and sneaking a peek at her Mom and aunt behind her. Maya blinked and looked back to see Aunty Summer look so uncomfortable, her face away from everyone.
"Jeez...." He slowly exclaimed, looking dejected at Aunt Summer's attitude towards him. "That hurts. Hello, still."
"Oh. Hello there,sir." Caitlin replied, pleasantly. She waved.
"Yeah." He mumbled." And, Viola girl?"
    Maya blinked in surprise.
"Hunh?"
"Get me my peppermint and strawberry flavor thing."
"Yes, sir."
"One bowl for me.... "
"Oh, sure.
    He placed the amount plus too much tippings on the counter.
"....And the rest is for all my beautiful ladies."
"Oh, thanks a lot! Mom!"
    Caitlin smiled brightly and waved again, delighted.
"That's so kind of you, sir. Thank you so much. God bless you...."
"Don't mention it. And I'm Bryan by the way."
"Thank you so much,Mr Bryan." Maya added, excited. "Please, come again."
"Sure."
    He disappeared.
    And for a moment, there was silence. Caitlin was smiling while Summer dumbly straightened her hair with her hand..
"That was beautiful." Caitlin commented." Let's scoop, everyone...."
"No." Summer said uneasily. "We should keep the money. I....I mean, you both can enjoy the treat.... I'm full."
"Oh. Come on " Caitlin drawled, playfully. "Don't be scared so easily. That was a kind gesture from someone we've never ever known."
"I know him, Mom. He surfs at the sea and he made...."
    Maya paused in her explanation and that got Caitlin inquisitive.
"What, Maya?"
"Nothing."
    Maya went ahead and scooped icecream for the new set of children that walked over and ordered noisily.
"So...." Caitlin continued. "We'll have some icecream."
"I'm not having it."
"Please, Summer. This is your start and it's best if you taste how better a free cup would be when it's gotten from someone else."
    Summer blushed.
"Oh, stop."
    Maya glanced back to look and then focused back on her customers, her eyes twinkling while Caitlin laughed softly.
"Please, for my sake."
    Summer was quiet for a moment and soon, she gave a quick shrug.
"Okay."
"Great!" Caitlin exclaimed. "Maya? Bring it on."
"Sure, Mom."
"So, what were we talking about....?"
    And the discussion went on beautifully with Caitlin's millions of tickling remarks.

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    Maya sat at the desk in her clearly-belongs-to-a-teenager bedroom. Her laptop was before her and an opened diary was beside it. She smiled and uncovered her pen before beginning to write something.

Why Aunty Summer needs my help.

1) So she can marry someone really handsome one day.
2) Because she is as beautiful as the summer and I can't wait for her to get ready to be flaunted to my mates.
3) Because she's going through terrible things and I'm so sorrowful that I pray for her to get back to normal again.
4) She has a kind smile that everyone needs to find out about very soon.

    Maya paused and sighed. She paused and tried to think. Something clicked in her head and she quickly went back to writing.

5) She doesn't deserve all the bad things that happened so I must help....

    Maya's phone rang and she froze then slowly peeped in to check. Once she saw who it was she squealed and quickly slapped a hand to her mouth.
"Maya?" Caitlin called from the living room.
"I'm okay, Mom." Maya quickly replied.
    She blinked and with slightly shaky hands, she picked her phone and carefully placed it to her ear.
"Uhm.... Hello?"
"Hey, baby Maya."
    It was a thick, masculine voice and it sounded so quick that you had to relax your ears to listen.
    Maya, on the other hand, was already blushing and her voice had reduced a notch. She was pronouncing words carefully.
"I'm not little." She said.
"Can you help me with my assignment? I'm busy today. We have a basketball game coming up. I totally forgot."
"Uhm.... Actually...."
"Come on, beautiful little girl. You know I'll treat you nicer each day."
"I'm not little."
"Big child, then."
"What are you going to give me in return?"
"A very big Di...."
"What?!" Maya gasped.
"What?"
"What did you just say, Dominic?"
"Spoilt child, what do you think I said?"
"I heard you mention...."
    Silence.
    Maya scratched her neck.
"Maya, you're a bad, little child."
"I'm not."
"I said a BIG DICTIONARY OR A BIG DATE."
"What?! Me?"
"Yes.... You've been helping me a lot this days. So, why don't I just reduce my ego and take you to the kids section, order you pizza and milk and Barbie dolls and teething rings, what do babies like....?"
    Maya suddenly looked sad while Dominic kept chuckling on the line.
"Stop it, Dominic."
"What?! Aren't you excited?"
"I'm not a child...." She muttered.
"You are."
"I'm not."
"So.... Are you helping?"
    Maya didn't say a word.
"Baby girl?"
"Stop calling me that!" Maya surprised herself by exploding.
    There was silence. And surely on the other line, Dominic was completely surprised. Maya was kind of timid around him and of course, no one could imagine Dominic being snapped at. Even the teachers didn't do it often.
"You know you're the one who publicized that name. Even when I'm outside, you just say it out convincingly that everyone'd believe I'm really childish...."
"Stop it, Mama...." Dominic laughed, nervously.
"It's better you call me Mama than call me that trash."
"Okay. What about the ass thing?"
"I'm not helping."
"But, I was joking."
"That was in the beginning. Now, it's a normal thing to belittle me."
"I'll talk to you later, Maya. Just help me with the assignment."
    The call ended and Maya's face had finally turned really sad and tearful. She put her phone away and put her head down on the desk.
"Why does he just like making me look very childish? Instead of him to acknowledge that we're no longer in preschool."

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    Bryan walked down the rows of shops in town, searching for where he'd buy a drink. He passed a toy's shop and walked past a boutique. He checked through a cinema and finally found what he was looking for.
    Meanwhile, Summer was standing inside with Caitlin at the counter while they weighed and scanned their purchase. Caitlin was happily talking to the attendant and taking her pack. Then, soon, Summer began to step back for her stepsister to push her cart by when she stepped on someone.
"Oh my, so sorry." She gasped as she started turning to see five cans in a red basket and then, looking up to behold that crazy guy staring at her with deep green eyes and a crinkled brow.
"You've broken my legs, ma'am."