Metanoia

3: Worn Beach House

I run a little while longer down the beach, reaching the beach side house, home. It wasn't a huge house, actually quite small, the dark and faded wood on the side of the house that matched the boardwalk we had right down to the sand. I make my way down the smooth wooded boardwalk to the sand covered deck of the house, stomping my feet in hope of getting sand off my bare feet before opening the screen door to the house, and walking in.

"Mamá!! Estoy en casa!!" I called out loudly throughout the warm and worn house, propping myself against the doorframe and wiping my feet off from most of the sand so I don't track sand through the house.

"Ah, hello Mijó. How was your run?" I heard my mom say in the direction of the screened in patio next to the kitchen, looking up to see her sitting in her favorite chair folding laundry.

"It was nice, refreshing actually." I said in response to her with a smile, walking into the screened in room where she was, lifting my shirt to wipe  the sweat off of my face before letting the fabric fall against my torso again. "I met someone new, his name is Keith." I added on as I leaned against the chair where my mom was sitting.

"Oh really? Isn't that the boy who just moved into the town? I'm sure he was nice." She said in her sweet tone, a soft laughter erupting from her as I wiped off the sand and moisture from my face. Yes, this might be my sisters clothes that I took from the laundry earlier, but the loose and minimal fabric is easy to run in! "What was he like? Maybe we could invite him over." She said with her signature smile, I know that she likes to invite people over even if this house was already crowded as it is.

"We didn't talk much. Maybe if I see him more and we talk more, or you can make the family some of your famous enchiladas!" I said with a smile smile, kissing her cheek quickly before starting the walk to my and my brothers shared room. "where's the rest of the McClain crew?! It's so quiet!"

"Well, Rachel and Veronica are out with a few friends, Sylvio and Nadia are outside playing, Marco is sleeping, as usual." She said with a huff and roll of her eyes. However, she smiled when her cooking was complimented. "And Luis is out with Lisa on the beach. I'm happy it's quiet though. I got alot more done."

"Well, I'm going to go shower and then I'm going to go to the arcade, is that ok? You'll have more alone time!" I called back to her as I walk into the bathroom, closing the door and getting undressed from the clingy clothes. Due to the thin beach house walls, he'll be able to talk to his mother as he's showering as if they were still in the room, the bathroom and the patio being next to eachother.

"That's fine Lance! And don't get the floor too wet in the bathroom!" I heard her call back as she started to hum a bit while she was getting a few more things done around the house. I know that she values the quiet, treasuring as much as she could get. Since, being honest, Quiet wasn't the most common thing in the McClain household.

I shower quickly so I can get to the arcade before it gets crowded, cleaning the sand and sweat off so I didn't stink like I use to when I was five and refused to bathe, and so I wasn't uncomfortable with sand in my shoes because of the sand that stuck to my feet. I turn the water off and steps out, drying myself quickly and wrapping the towel low around my waist.

"Ok! thanks mom!!" I said in response to her after I stepped out, thinking that she may not have heard me if I responded while the water was still running.

"You're welcome! Don't be out all night though!" She called out to me, noticing that she had to deal with a few sand trails that my siblings, and may or may not me, have trailed into the house. I walk into my room and hear a quick and angry line of Spanish coming from my mother, probably scolding Sylvio and Nadia. Maybe it was their fault that the sand was trailed through the house?

After closing the door, I take the towel from around my waist and put it in a quick wrap around my head so my hair didn't drip all over the place as I pick out clothes. Maybe I'll just go for what I normally wear, picking out a colorful bright space themed tank top that had the NASA logo big in the middle as well as blue sport shorts. Taking the towel out of my hair and actually drying my hair, leaving the towel on the floor and my hair an absolute mess for now as I slip on my clothes quickly, a finishing touch as I put on my favorite necklace that had a shark tooth on it and small wooden beads. After quickly putting on my worn down vans, I leave my room and head for the door.

"Be home by at least eleven today, okay Lance?" She called out to me as I walked to the exit of the house. She did set a pretty flexible curfew for me and the rest of the family, even if we were only a few minutes late, it was fine.

"Yep! I'll probably be home before dinner though." I grab my bag that was spread across the floor by the door and swing it into my shoulder before walking out the screen door and leaving the house, "BYE MAMÁ!" I called back into the house for her before picking up my worn down beach bike that was sprawled in the yard, getting on and peddling down the sidewalk of mainstreet of the beach side town.