Blurry eyed but elated, I scrambled down the ladder and placed every monopoly piece in it's rightful place to start the game. I was the extravagant cruise ship that I always dreamed of sailing on, Jay was the dog and Scout was the converse-like shoe.
Don't ask me how Jay seems to always find a way to leave us all entirely perplexed and win the game. Having to cross rows and rows of mansions on the elegant Oxford or Mayfair squares and pay millions to the owner-who was ALWAYS Jay-was just depressing. After Scout and I tried but failed to accept our defeat and breakfast was laid out, we found ourselves on the river mouth sighing upon the rocks and rushing into the Columbus blue sea.
Wetsuits don't help. The water remained stone-cold as ever. We didn't seem to mind though. Each question in the conversation outweirded the one before as we slowly made our way further and further against the tide. Some parts were deeper than others so we admittedly fell a few times, much to the amusement of each other.
Hours seemed to pass as the blues of the sky reflecting on the water darkened in shades. At some point, we decided to head back and join Scout and his new friend near the shore. I was sure that we'd have to someday come back and explore further until we found somewhere so beautifully inciting and ours.
Scout's friend was called Lucy and she had a wonderful smile that lit up everyone around her. Between all the unavoidable teasing of him finding a girlfriend, we actually had the best time just laughing and building a bridge out of rocks on the river bend. Jay offered me a piece of bubblegum, it was my first one and I had to remember not to swallow it.
Everyone ran to the gargantuan rock at the end of the beach that my Taid's (Welsh for grandpa) ashes were scattered next to and melted into the waves to forevermore be prayed to and listen to the next generations that are trying to find there place in this world. I think that's what we were trying to do.
I always imagine him looking down on us and smiling to himself at how hopeless we can be sometimes when the words that we should've said were just written out in the stars.
That's how I feel sometimes with Jay. That I want to say something but the right moment just fades away instantly and it's lost in the hidden conversation. I have to say that if you want to say something, life is too short to hide away. They are not going to always be there so look them right in the eye and just say it. Don't give yourself a chance lost to regret.
We engraved our initials in the sand and ran through the sun-dappled waves. The whole afternoon was one of my favourite days. Ice cream tastes even better when you're having fun. Bubblegum and sprinkles will always be my absolute favourite flavour, along side Candy Floss or Caramel.
"Bubblegum surprise."-Opal
"What's the surprise?"-Jay
"No bubblegum!:)"-We shouted in unison and kept laughing even when no one else did.
Lucy and her older brother, who was also called Jay, were staying right next to us. The Charmers lived in the sophisticated city of Oxford with the magnificent University, that my Mum had the privilege of attending. They also owned the place. It was so hilarious watching lil Jay trying to outdo big Jay at Cricket down on the golden sands. Big Jay thought we were brother and sister at first then ''special friends'' as he liked to call it.
The sun shone down on the monopoly board game and set as we said goodnight to Lucy and Big Jay and went inside. Dinner was delicious, I don't think you could ever go wrong with a classic Spaghetti Carbonara and New York Style Cheesecake for dessert.
I always try to read for a bit before I go to bed which is a great way to wind down and fall asleep. After brushing my teeth, I 'gracefully' attacked my sleeping bag. I fell slowly then all at once, today, yesterday and maybe everyday for the last 6 years.
"You asleep?"-Jay
"Yes, fast asleep"-Me (Opal)
"Well you don't need to be so pedantic!"-Jay 🤔😂
"You don't need to be so pusillanimous"-Opal
"Oo sorry"-Jay
"I forgive you, but don't try to outdo me at English. You're not Peter😂, he tried and failed." -Opal
Lol #peterrageeeee-Jay
Innit, he thinks he's such a badman-Opal
Anyway goodnight- Jay
See you tomorrow-Opal
And just like that they fell. Asleep.
'
YOU ARE READING
Finding home
Teen FictionMaybe Opal and Jay are just pieces that fit together. Home can be a person, not always a place. When we lose our possessions we can find more in someone whose always been there, right next to us. Whether it's in Wales, school, clubs, New Years Eves...
