BEING HALSEY

CHAPTER 45

" So you're going?" Polly asks and flops on the bed.

" I am, there's no school, I'm off from work and it's not everyday you get to travel to a big beautiful place like that."

" Oh really..."

" Mhmm." I nod and shove more clothes in my suitcase.

" What about hotel bookings, have you already booked one? Is that place even safe?"

" Gee relax Mom, I trust Tray. He'll take care of that. "

"Okay." She nods.

" I need a small favor from you."

" What?"

" Stay with Pip."

***

The flight to Bitter End island was long and exhausting. The plane had video game screens for every seat so you can imagine how Tray was happy. He played the entire time while I slept on his lap.

I did some my research on the island and discovered it has hidden treasures, an exotic jungle terrain, huge waterfalls, mountains and a national park. We landed at exactly two o'clock, retrieved our bags and found a taxi.

The heat is unbearable, I'm melting!

Tray takes off his sweatshirt and stuffs it inside his backpack. We then hail a cab for the ride to our hotel.

" How far is it?" Tray asks the cabby.

" All the way across the island." The cabby gives us a gold-tooth smile and starts the engine. " Sit back and enjoy the view." He adds.

We follow his advice and relax as he drives swiftly, the Caribbean breeze cooling our boiling bodies. We pass through huge cruise ship docks, old houses with stripping white paint and tiny narrow streets packed with jewelry shops.

" Cool right?" Tray asks and slings his hand over my shoulders.

" Beautiful." I smile back.

The cab drives past narrow roads dodging cars, scooters, goats and tourists. Half an hour later, we pull to a mini-mall. We're starving so we decide to eat first then head over to the hotel to clean up and sleep. We walk pass stalls selling coral jewelry, coconut wall hangings and sun hats.

This is place is Paradise!

" Wow," Tray says and turns his head around as a couple of girls in bikins walk past us, sipping smoothies.

" Excuse me?" I cough.

" Sorry." He chuckles.

I roll my eyes and push the glass door.

" What will you eat?" He asks as I sit on one of the red plastic chairs.

" A cheeseburger with some fries and a smoothie."

" What flavor?"

" Piña colada?"

" Okay." He nods and walks over to the counter.

***

The Cruz hotel has a wooden sign hanging over the main front door. It sways gently in the breeze along with the palm trees that shades the entrance.

" Sweet," Tray says and takes my suitcase.

" We're going dancing tonight." He adds.

" Dancing? No way."

"No way? Don't tell me you were planning to sleep."

" I wasn't planning, I was going to sleep."

We walk past a statue of a mermaid and enter the hotel lobby. In the rear is a bar and restaurant with reggae music booming out of the speakers. We walk to the reception desk, get ourselves a room next to a hot tub that's on the roof and walk down the hall.

***