Homecoming - Paul Lahote

Chapter 2: Beach Day

        I've been home for five days already and I haven't really left the house. My dad took off of work until Wednesday to spend time with me and make sure I was settled before he went back to work. I got here last Saturday and it's already Thursday, I need to leave the house. I got up from bed and walked to the bathroom so I could wash my face before I went downstairs. 

        When I reached the bottom of the stairs I could feel a nice breeze from outside. Even in Washington it gets warm during the summer and since its June I'll take the nice weather and try to spend some time outside. 

      I walked into the kitchen and immediately was met by Katie's smiling face. "Good morning. What are your plans for today?", I asked her while reaching into the fridge for the milk to go with my cereal. 

        "I have to run some errands, you can come if you want. Maybe we'll run into your old friends along the way" she had a similar idea to me, but I was thinking more about going to the beach. 

        "I think I'm going to go down to the beach for a few hours, going to soak up the sun while its out". She laughed at this remark because we both knew that the sun wouldn't be here for long. I quickly added, "How about I take Jackson off your hands for the day. We can spend some sibling time together." 

        "That sounds great", she smiled before taking another sip of her coffee out of her mug. As she was getting up to go get Jackson off the couch, I suddenly had an idea. 

        "Katie, do you think dad would agree to a cookout tomorrow night? He could invite everyone and we could all just have a good time together". She knew exactly what I meant when I said everyone. 

        "I'll make sure to get to extra groceries. Your dad has been spending way too much time working and hovering around you. I think a cookout is a great idea. I'll call everyone and let them know about it." She smiled at me just before she noticed Jackson trying to sneak away from his breakfast. "Jackson if you want to go to the beach with your sister you better eat some of your breakfast".

        He quickly ate all of his cereal and asked if she could help him get ready for the beach. They went into his room while I went to mine. I quickly changed into my black bikini and jean shorts throwing a thin white and black flannel over it. As soon as I gathered my bag with towels, sunblock, sunglasses, and Jackson's beach toys I made my way back downstairs. He was basically jumping off the wall to get to the beach. 

        "All ready bub?" I looked down at him and he shook his head extremely fast. Once he got dizzy, he plopped down on the floor as I turned to Katie one more time. 

        "We'll be at the beach for a few hours, probably until he gets tired. I'll have my phone on me if you need me." She nodded and turned to grab her purse. 

       "Do you have everything? His extra clothes, pampers, sunblock, sand toys?" 

      "Yeah I have it all. How long do you think you're going to be gone?" 

        "Probably just a couple hours, I'm going to stop by Billy's house to check in on him and see if he needs anything from Forks. I'm also going to tell him about the cook out so that he can spread the news. I swear that man spreads gossip faster than teenagers." As she said Billy's name I got a flash of the all too familiar man in the wheelchair with his long black hair and his deep voice. I was only brought out of my memory because Jackson was getting impatient to go play in the sand. I gave Katie a hug as I grabbed Jackson's hand and we headed down the familiar paths to the beach. 

        Once we reached the sand I laid out my towel and got out the sand toys for Jackson. I made sure I put extra sun block on him so that he didn't burn, but I just put a little on myself so I could let my skin get a little more tan than my natural color. I was laying down watching him play when a heard someone walking over to us talking to Jackson. Everyone knows everyone on the reservation, so its not an uncommon occurrence.