Termination Clause

Part 8

Jimmy opened the car door and tossed his bag over to the passenger seat.  Few cars were parked outside the inn.  Jimmy took one final glance around the area before getting into the car and starting the ignition.

He exited the lot and began driving back down the dusty road towards the highway.  Few people were out on this morning, and a calm breeze blew through the open window of the El Camino.

"Today would be a nice day to visit the beach." Jimmy thought aloud.

He turned on the car's radio and drove onto the highway.

Several hours later, Jimmy became more alert as he turned onto an exit ramp.  He shifted in his seat and turned down the volume on the radio.

Beach Access 2 Miles.

This was it.  He had finally arrived at the beach after four and a half hours on the road.  It was 12:53 now and warm, yet pleasant.  Anticipation swelled within him as the salty smell of the ocean grew stronger.  He had finally made it to the beach.  It has been so long since he last stepped onto a beach.  This would be a wonderful break after all these years.

The past several years had in fact been quite tiresome for Jimmy.  He just turned twenty-five two months ago.  Only four years prior he was attending classes back at Duval University.  Then, the death of his parents led to his first job for his uncle.  Four long years of collecting money, dodging bullets, and, sometimes, sending off a few himself.

Yes, it had been quite a while since he last had an opportunity to relax.  He still told himself that he would go back to finish school one day, but Jimmy knew deep down that he was not entirely sure he wanted to.  After all, he had enough money now, but something still held him back.  Maybe it was just excuses, but, no; it was, perhaps, something deeper.  He was constantly changing his major while he was in school; the classes just did not seem to satisfy his interests.

Jimmy arrived at the beach parking and drove into the lot.  He got out and stretched as his blood fought to circulate through his body.  This tingling sensation was wonderful after almost five hours on the road.

Jimmy had taken off his jacket during the ride because the sun was warmer in this area.  He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his muscular torso and walked down the sandy pathway toward the crashing waves in the distance.

"Hi there," giggled a passing woman in a baby blue bikini.

Jimmy smiled and nodded as he passed by.  The woman stared after him expectantly as he continued down the path before she finally conceded his lack of interest and continued toward where she was headed.

"At last, the beach," sighed Jimmy.  "This is what I've been missing."

He looked up and down the beach, taking in all its magnificence.  The beautiful waters sparkled in the sunlight.  Some men and women jogged along the surf while others played volleyball or basked their bronzed bodies in the sun's rays.  The weather was incredible, and there was plenty of daylight left to enjoy it all.

"This is what I've been missing," Jimmy repeated to himself.