"Mom. the sandwiches are still on the table. Should I bring it now on the van." Telling my mother as she pushes the cooler outside the door.
"Yes baby, Please do take it now. Thank you!" My mom, red-faced and grunting, continues to push the cooler, filled with everything we need in our camp on BlackVille Mountain, towards to our new purchased van at the far edge of the aisle of our garden.
One, Two, Three, Four..... as I mentally count the sandwiches. I don't know why I do it. Maybe just to make sure that everyone gets their sandwiches.
After putting the sandwiches inside the van, I help my mother push the cooler.
"Oh! Thank you darling." My mother said as I position myself beside her.
"Oh my god! This is heavy, Mom. Are you sure we are going to use all of these things."
"I don't know, darling. It's better to bring more. Just to make sure. As I said always an ounce of prevention is a lot better than a pound of cure. You must be ALWAYS ready."
"Okay Mom, I'll keep that in my head ALWAYS."
"I hope so. You sweet little boy."
"Mom, I am not anymore a LITTLE BOY."
My mother grin. "I know. You already have Jessica, right?" My mother said teasingly. "By the way, I invited them and they agreed to come.I told them to ride with us, but they told me they know the location. Maybe they are already there. I saw them packing their things so early."
"What?! You invited them!!!" I said sounding surprised. I stop pushing the cooler because of what I heard
"Yes. What's wrong with that. Jessica is your bestfriend and they are neighbor as well. So, there's nothing wrong with it."
"Alright." I said, defeated. Oh my god, Jessica is with us. I will have time for her.8)..She is my first love (and I am sure she is my last) and best friend. I am not able to invite and talk to her after the incident when I told her that I LOVE HER. Oh my god. Thoughts push aside, I continue pushing the cooler.
My feet always slip as I push,and I could feel the sweat pouring from my forehead into the corners of my eyes, making them sting.
DAMN.
It is so hot . Far so hot for an early summer morning of April. That's for sure. Even our neighbor's dog, Jack, is hiding in the shade and panting because of doing nothing but sleeping.
At last we finish putting everything in the van including the super-heavy-damn-cooler. My arms are already hanging out of my body because of it.
What a relief...
I can feel the hotness of the sun enters my body, starting from my face down to my feet. I love it. I love doing things like these. I am lucky. I belong to this perfect family. A family who loves a lot of adventure and of course, bonding.
I can still recall our tour to Hong Kong. Going to Disney Land. Riding the rides. Watching Mickey Mouse and the other Disney characters as they dance on a parade. Watching fireworks at night. Hearing each other's sweet laugh. Feeling each other's hugs and kisses. What a perfect moment I experience with my family.
My pleasant thoughts are spoiled by my mother's exhausted voice.
"By the way, where is your father?"
"I don't know mom. Maybe he is with Mark." My little very handsome brother is one of the treasures of our family, especially to me. Being an older brother to my younger brother makes me feel important, loved, and valuable because of the feeling and the fact that someone needs you. I really love my brother.
"I'm here honey!" My father shouted with his loving voice to my mother. I don't know how my father do it, and why is the heck that my father's voice like that. In fact, it is one of the melodious voice I ever heard from a man.
My father walk towards us carrying my little brother Mark on his arms. By the way, my brother is 4 years old and I am 15. Yeah, I know what a gap of years between the two of us.
"Where have you been?" My mother asks my father, somewhat sarcastically worried.
"Sorry, my junior needs to pee. So sorry, honey. I'll just kiss you for the payment of not helping you." My father pouting his lips ridiculously to my mom.
Mom and I laugh on how my father do it.
"Never mind. Ohh..how about you driving? Love lots honey."
"Okay and I love you too, honey." My father replied.
"Everything is now ready for the ride and for the camp." My mother said with a lot of energy.
"So let's go." I said excitedly, ignoring the feeling of hesitation to go as if something wrong will happen.
We all enter the van. I sit at the back with my brother, while my dad is on the driver's seat, and mom beside him.
The engine starts...
The van is now moving towards the street , and towards to a new adventure....
And to a new horrendous life...
