Fiction.

Chapter 13: Beach Bunnies.

Chapter 13: Beach Bunnies.

I had to walk from my house to Huntington Beach, not the place but the actual beach. Peasnie and I were going to the beach with my friends. It’s the first day of summer holidays and what’s a perfect way to start it then to go to the beach?

I pushed Peasnie down the street in her stroller. Brian walked with me; he had his towel lazily draped over the back of his neck. He wore his swim trunks and a murky green tee shirt. I had to bring a little bit more than just a towel, I had to bring Peasnie’s baby bag that had her towel, water for her, sun screen, diapers, wipes, a second pair of clothes, some toys for her to play with, her soother, and her little life jacket because we’re going to Matt’s house to swim after we go to the beach.

I wore a white tee shirt with my lack swim trunks. I’d gotten my hair cut so now it was flat and slightly curly and I didn’t wear my glasses today, in fear I’d accidently break them. My mom would kill me if I broke another pair of glasses. I’ve broken two pairs of glasses already. She’d kill me if I broke the ones I only got a few weeks ago.

I walked with Brian and Peasnie. Peasnie was five months old, damn she’s getting big. She’s twenty two pounds and thirty inches long. She’s crawling around alot more now; it’s insanely hard to keep up with her. She crawls around everywhere and she’s already trying to stand up. I have to chase her around the house when she’s on the loose. She defiantly looks like me; she has pasty white skin that has some colour in it. She had round cheeks and big blue eyes. Her curly hair was blonde and long, it was darkening though.

Peasnie jabbered in the stroller to me and Brian as we walked, she had to wear a hat and I already put two layers of sun screen on her. She wore a little pink hat with her pink frilly bathing suit; everything she owns is either pink or black. All the pink is from me and my mom while the black is from my friends and my dad.

 I already got her ears pierced; her little aquamarine studs were placed in her ears when she was three months old. Surprisingly she didn’t cry, she squeaked and jumped at the sound but not a single tear was shed.

She was laid back and just talking to us. Brian talked to her with a happy tone. I smiled and looked down at her.

“Peasnie,” Brian called for her, she looked up at him with a slobbered smile. She knows her name and that’s really good.

“Can you say ‘Uncle Brian’?” He asked her sweetly. I smiled and kept my gaze down at her. She made a squealing noise in response to him.

“Na, her first words are going to be daddy.” I told him off in a friendly way. Brian laughed loudly and shook his head. Peasnie was watching us carefully with squinted eye. I had her pair of pink sun glasses hooked onto the collar of my shirt.

“Watch, her first words will be lyrics to a song.” He added a very good point, I’d be proud if they were. Either way I’ll be proud of her for talking.

“I can see that happening.” I replied with a laughing voice. She squealed loudly when we saw Matt and Zack standing at the entrance to the beach, they smiled slightly at Peasnie. Zack instantly took Peasnie from the strolled and carried her on his hip. Pushing the stroller through the sand wasn’t easy.

We picked a spot near the water, but not too close. Peasnie was slightly freaked out by the sound of the waves; she didn’t know what was going on.

Zack sat her down on his towel and let her smack his hands playfully. I lay beside her on my towel with a smile. She seemed to like the beach, even though we haven’t been in the water yet but she’s tried to eat the sand already. What baby doesn’t try to eat sand? I think it normal, she liked to drink water and that’s good.

“Do you think we should introduce her to the water? It’s getting pretty hot.” Matt asked sullenly. I nodded and sat up.

“That’d be a good idea.” I replied and got to my feet the guys followed. I tossed my shirt onto the towel, the sun on my skin was nice. Peasnie watched me carefully with big eyes. I got her little life jacket and strapped it on her, making sure it’s strapped on right. Honestly I had no clue. I furrowed my eye brows at inspected it carefully.

“Is this thing on right?” I asked myself.

“Is it snug?” Matt asked curiously. I shrugged and looked at him.

“Do the buckle up between her legs, that way she can’t fall out.” Brian’s logic was brilliant.

“Good idea, but I shouldn’t do it up too tight ‘cause I don’t want her to get a rash.” I replied sullenly. I smiled and did the buckle up between her long legs. Peasnie was looking at us like we were crazy. She didn’t seem to be enjoying the life jacket but it’ll keep her safe and she’ll thank me when she doesn’t drown.

I picked her up from the towel, putting her hat on the towel and followed the guys into the water. Peasnie whined slightly as the water splashed us, it was cooling and nice. She hung onto me tightly; her tiny fingers clung onto my shoulder tightly as she hugged me. I never knew how powerful a hug could be before Peasnie was born. A few weeks ago there was a huge thunderstorm and it woke her up in the middle of the night. I picked her up to reassure her; she grabbed onto my shoulder and held on tightly. It made me feel wanted needed. It was such a moving moment when her tiny arms hung onto me asking me to make the bad thunder go away. I held her in my arms until the storm was over but even after that she didn’t let go of me. It’s a nice feeling.

I went into the water, waist deep. Her legs were engulfed in water. She hung onto me tightly but she wasn’t freaking out as much, she didn’t like it was the waves came and splashed her face. I smiled and splashed upwards towards her, she laughed loudly. I bent my knees slightly, putting more of the small girl into the water. She willing tried to get out of my arms and splash around. I put some water on her head, she liked that. The guys swam around us and made jokes. Peasnie couldn’t stop laughing when Zack would blow bubbles at her. She was going mental.

I carried her back to shore and set her down on the sand but she was still in the water. She splashed and squealed loudly before making a break for it. I walked beside her as she crawled on the shore line. I think I have a beach bunny on my hands. She loved the sand, she loved the water.

“Where are you going?” I asked her as she kept crawling quickly crossed the wet sand. I walked slowly beside her. She kept squealing loudly at me, she liked talking. She and my mom would talk for hours.

I haven’t heard from Rosie is weeks. I didn’t care; I had to focus on my life, not hers, another reason why I’m spending the day with my friends. So I’m not sitting at home thinking about her. I’ve been getting good at not thinking about her. This is the first time in six weeks that I’ve thought about her. I’m just going to keep focusing on my daughter and my music.

“Hey Jimmy, if she picks up any more speed you’ll have an Olympic champ on your hands.” Brian called from the towels. I nodded and laughed loudly at him. I picked Peasnie up and turned her around so we were now heading back to the guys. She didn’t care where she was going, she just liked the freedom. Zack and Brian cheered her on as she quickly crawled up to the towels.

I sat down on the towel with her on my lap; I wrapped her little ducky towel around her to dry her off. Zack put her hat back on her head and smiled at her. She leaned into my, resting her head on my chest and sighed heavily. I put her beside me, my arm hooked around her as I lay in the sun. Matt brought his wireless radio so we could listen to music. She loved the music. She laid down, leaning on me. I smiled and rubbed her arm lightly. Overall the day has been good. I had fun with my friends. I’m glad I don’t need to give up my teenage life in order to be a dad.