A Year In Fort Lauderdale

I Arrive In The Venice Of America

Chapter One

I've always wondered what it would be like to grow up where palm trees sprout as easily as flowers, temperatures lower than sixty degrees are rare, and kids are raised in the waves and the sand. I was not raised that way. I grew up in Olympia in the state of Washington where pine trees flourish. It's rare the weather gets above eighty degrees and going to the beach means driving the car onto the sand and watching the water from inside because the wind is too harsh to sit outside comfortably. My family and I took a trip to Lincoln City, Oregon one year and on the nicest day we went to the beach. The weather was only in the high seventies but because it was sunny, I got sunburned.

This memory sticks out to me because as I ride in the back of a taxi heading to my aunt's house in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, I realize this place is a lot sunnier than Lincoln City. If I got a sunburn from the tiniest bit of sun there, I fear what kind of burn I'll get here. I decided to inch away from the car window as we turn and the sun lands on me.

"Cash or card?" The driver asks from the front. His voice is rough and sounds as if he's smoked his entire life.

"Uh," I mutter, shuffling through my wallet. I didn't realize we were nearing my aunt's house, the last house on the lot. "Cash." He pulls up to the driveway and shows me the amount on the meter. I grab the amount of bills needed with a tiny tip and hand them to him through the little window. "Thanks."

Just as I shut the door he speeds off, leaving a trail of exhaust behind him. I cough and wave my hand in front of my face. I sling my backpack over my shoulder and grab the handle of my suitcase, then turn to look at the house. It's a tan house with dark orange tile roofing. There's a large stone driveway leading up to the house and a small gate just before the walkway to the front door. The house is a stark contrast to the green palm plants and vibrant colored flowers that are placed all around the house, and her yard just to the left of the house is a lush green. Her house is beautiful.

I start making my way to the front door, which swings open to reveal my cousin. "Teegan!" She yells and rushes over to me, plowing through the iron gate in the process. Without slowing down, she envelops me in a hug that makes me wish for the breathable cold air.

"Hey Cassidy," I manage to say without air.

She pulls away. "I go by Cas now; it's a lot more mature."

My cousin has changed quite a bit since the last time I saw her. Her and my aunt used to live in Olympia with my family until my aunt's boyfriend left them a few years ago. That's when they decided to move and start a new life here; I haven't seen them in a long time. Cas and I are the same age so we were really close friends and it was a little hard on me when they decided to move away. Cas's pale skin was replaced with a light brown tan, accenting her honey colored eyes and deep caramel brown hair. The sun has also given her a brush of freckles across her nose and cheeks. She's always been very naturally beautiful and it seems like the weather here has only enhanced her beauty.

"Cas, you look great," I compliment.

She smiles, revealing her very white teeth. "I just bought this outfit! Isn't it cute!" She shows off her yellow floral loose fitting tank top with her white jean shorts and tan sandals. She has the perfect look for this place.

"It's so cute," I agree, a little jealous of how well she's doing. "Can we go inside? I'm kinda burning up out here."

"Oh, yeah!" She exclaims, realizing my pair of jeans and long sleeve t-shirt. She pulls me to the door and inside the house.

The floors are white marble and the walls are a light brown with white trim. The house is a very open concept layout with a brightly colored kitchen of reds and yellows and greens to the left of the large room. The main living space is off to the right of the kitchen and made up of tan leather couches and a colorful rug in the very middle. A large television sits on top of a light would table, a reality TV show playing. A small dining table sits next to the front window with colorful plates set up on top of it.