The Richardsons

Video #3

"Because of my family's wealth and business, every weekend, we go on a "business trip" as a family. We leave Friday night and come home Sunday. Wherever we go depends on my father and his business, and we could go anywhere, from England to Japan or maybe here in America."

Business trips, it's like vacations for Alexa and I, but times of unrest for mom and dad. I do feel bad for both of them, but they say that they're ok.

Rule of thumb from mom and dad: if you can travel to it by car, that means that you don't need a fancy plane to go everywhere. I also know this because they yelled at Alexa for wanting her own private jet for her 14th birthday.

What's this weekend's destination?

I head down the stairs at my parent's call and find them both in the living room. Bags are all packed and Alexa stumbles through the door after me.

"So, where are we going this time?" Alexa sighed.

My father looked at his phone.

"We're actually going for two reasons, to do some business work and to check out a new house that Pablo just had built."

My eyes widened up.

"Pablo? Uncle Pablo?"

My dad giggled.

"Yes, Uncle Pablo will be there!"

"Yay!"

Pablo Jimenez is one of my father's business partners. Although just about a year or two younger than him, he has a very youthful personality and is full of wit. I also call him uncle because he's so close with my dad that they're like family. As a kid, I would play football with Pablo, while Alexa thought that was "too boyish" and she didn't want to get her clothes all dirty.

"That didn't answer my question." Alexa stopped.

"Oh yeah, we're going to Saco, Maine for the weekend."

Alexa rolled her eyes. This meant that we were going by car. She HATES road trips with my family.

"Wipe that frown off of your face, Alexa! You always act like this when we go to someplace near us!" My mother snapped at her gently.

"Jeez mom, no need to be so rude." Alexa calmed my mom down.

"I think we should all be ready, bags all packed? We're going someplace a little colder, so bring some jackets and stuff." My dad started to roll his luggage out to the car along with my mom as well.

My parents are the type of people that will tell you that we are going on vacation, they just never tell you where. But, I'm used to it. That's why my suitcase is full of clothes for all types of weather: rain, shine, snow, etc.

I grab my suitcase and head down to the car where my parents are waiting. Sitting behind my dad, while Alexa comes in and sits behind my mom. It's always that kind of seating, the unspoken rule around our house.

We back out of the driveway and head towards Saco, Maine. I've heard of Maine but never about Saco.

"So, what is the first thing people think about when they hear about Maine?" My dad asks.

"LOBSTERS!"

Wherever we go, we often do trivia on where we are going. It also helps sharpen our brains as well. My father learns about these places while my mother is handy with directions. Alexa just goes on her phone and starts taking selfies and whatever. Me? I look out of my window and watch the states change and mountains into forests and plains.

We arrived about 3 hours later, and pulling up to a house that is very unfamiliar to us. Alexa comes out of the car and becomes very surprised.

"Oh I thought this place was going to be a dump!"

It wasn't.

According to father, this house has 3 bedrooms, perfect for all of us, yet it looked like a mansion. This house is brand new, up for sale, and we are the first people that get to live in it. Normally, whenever we go on a business trip, a family lives in the house. So, what father does is that he invites the family to his tropical island resort in Oceania for the weekend. A 3 day and 2 night stay at a discounted price. When people get this, that means that we're staying at their house for the weekend, the regulars know the drill.

Pablo waited for us at the front door.

"Randy! Shannon! And the kids!"

He came running towards us.

"I'm so excited to show you guys my newest project! I feel like an innovator with this kind of style! Come on in!"

We follow Pablo inside and find a massive entranceway. The house was huge and expansive, and the three bedrooms were just right. My pet peeve in a house is when there are too many bedrooms, but my father says those are "hotel houses" or whatever he calls them. Like a shared house for multiple people.

The house was very nice and there were plenty of things to do, a gym for Alexa, a movie theater, a dock with a cabin not far. Pablo said that it was his apparently.

My bedroom is right next to Alexa's, the house is split into two wings upstairs. My parents took one while my sister and I took the other.

Normally, I try to room as far away from my sister as I can. She can be super loud, talking on the phone or FaceTiming her boyfriend and/or best friend and sometimes doesn't even get any sleep. Not even a wink. But, I just live through it, that's why headphones were invented, to block out the noise of others.

After a nice cooked meal by my mom, a few hours later, I turn on my video camera before bedtime and I give the house a tour, at night. I went around the whole house and saw everybody in action. I think that the more I film, the more that I could make this my hobby or maybe my job, be a freelance filmer.