Storybook Island

+ Average, Average, Average...

We produced our Princess Passes with an annoyed glare, causing his demeanor to immediately change.

"Here you go, ladies, right this way!" He got the door for us, smiled, and shut it as we went to the elevator up to the suite. 

The moment we got in, cheesy elevator music played up until we stepped out. At that point, we turned past Uncle Charlie's office and knocked on the door to the suite. 

No answer. 

Another knock. Silence. 

Meghan shoved open the doors and ran to the cupboard labeled, 'Abby and Meghan'. She rifled through her half to find her swimsuit and ran to the bathroom. I knew she only wanted to swim in the hot tub. 

As for me, I went to find some chips and salsa from the kitchen and was sorely disappointed to find mild salsa. Everyone knows that medium is the best. 

With a sigh, I collapsed onto the sofa and pulled out my phone and opened Instagram. I scrolled through pictures of food, age-appropriate (not) selfies, girls prettier than me, girls way prettier than me, my best friend's post about a concert, travel pictures, advertisements, whatever the heck that was, couples kissing, and animals. The usual feed, nothing interesting. 

My phone dropped onto the couch as I tossed it aside with a small bounce and another huge sigh. Not even the internet was interesting. But what do you expect in South Dakota? Of all states, South Dakota. Do you want to know what is in South Dakota? Grass. Prairie Grass, and a whole lot of it. Mount Rushmore, but once you see it 10 billion times, it loses its charm. Rocks, big rocks that people stare at. And a lot of cold weather. 

Our annual high temperature is 50 something, as opposed to Indiana where it's 60ish or Arizona where it's in the 80s. Don't even ask how I know, my science class is pointless. The point is, there isn't much to look forward to in South Dakota. It almost always makes the top 10 most boring states in the USA lists online. Just look it up.

But the monotony of South Dakota was reflected in everything around here. Everything. The only place in South Dakota that wasn't dull, lifeless, and obnoxious is Storybook Island. 

That's why I love coming here. It's so colorful against the bland state that you can't help but fall in love. Unless you're one of the colorless people that live here. Those kinds of people loathe Storybook Island, they thought it was a waste of space that the county could have used to build the new school building. 

I always feel bad for the kids that had colorless people for their parents. They never found the joy of Storybook Island and that's just sad. 

My best childhood memories came from this place. I remember wearing a princess costume here and being treated like royalty. I remember swinging foam swords in Pirate's Cove alongside swashbuckling buccaneers. I remember gorging myself on the sweets, throwing up on a rollercoaster, and wanting to do it all again. I remember pillow fights with Meghan in the suite when we had sleepovers here. I remember casting spells with magic wands in the Wizard's Lair under the Wishing Tree. I remember wishing that I would never have to leave at that tree. Storybook Island defined so much of who I was, I was so thankful Uncle Charlie dreamed this up and made it a reality.

The door to the suite swung open and Uncle Charlie swept in, chuckling at something. He jumped when he saw me but softened his gaze. "Abby! What are you doing here? I don't pick you up at school for-" he glanced at his watch, "another hour!"

"Meghan and I walked over. She's in the hot tub." I answered, hopping up to help him with some bags in his hands. "Are these groceries?"

"Yes, they are. Why are you here though? Not that I don't enjoy your company."