Summer in Florida, it just didn’t get any better than this. When I went downstairs, Mom, Dad, and Jason were already at the breakfast table. This was one of my favorite rooms because each morning the sun would shine through the French patio doors. Beyond those doors, I could see the deep blue ocean and the world of my summer fantasies. On this morning, however, I could not stop and enjoy the view. There were maps and AAA guidebooks spread out all around the room. Mom, Dad and Jason were checking and rechecking lists. I knew it! They were planning another history trip and probably another book. Well, they don’t have to include me this time. I can stay with Grandma for the week or two and still enjoy my newfound life.
As I plotted my own ideas, Mom noticed me. “Good morning, Jennifer. Sit down and have some breakfast. We missed you last night and have such wonderful news to share with you.”
“Really Mom, I have some great news for you guys too, but you can go first.” I thought that being so polite and willing to listen would work in my favor; however, the bombshell that she dropped put a quick end to my good news.
“Well, honey, the great news is that we are moving to Massachusetts.”
It seemed like forever before I felt my heart beat again. This just couldn’t be true. I must have jumped from my dream to a nightmare! That’s it! It has to be that I really am still sleeping and none of this has really happened. I mean, I could face that my time with Dave was only a dream, but there was no way that I could face that moving to Massachusetts wasn’t a nightmare. Dad’s words crushed the little thread of hope that I was holding.
“Well, Jennifer, isn’t this great news? Aren’t you going to say something?”
“Wow, guys, this is such a surprise! I, uh, can’t believe that you could make a decision about moving just like that.”
Jason said “What do you mean ‘just like that,’ we’ve been talking about this for months. The problem is that you never listen to us. All you ever think about is the sun, the beach and a good time with your friends.”
He was right, but he made me feel like my life was a waste of time, and so I let him have it. “At least I spend my time living! And for that matter, it’s with the living, not with dusty old books and papers in libraries, historical society buildings and museums. You live so much in the past that you don’t really have a life in the present!!”
The loud crash of Dad’s hand on the table nearly made me jump out of my skin. Then Mom’s stern voice said, “Both of you, that’s enough! We have so many important issues to discuss and plans to make without the two of you going at each other’s throats.” I knew that there was no way to make them change their minds, but I was desperate. I couldn’t just sit back and let my life be ruined, so I launched my attack.
“How can you just move to Massachusetts? We’ve never been there, we don’t have a place to live, you don’t have jobs there, and I don’t know anyone.” My tirade continued as I pointed out that Massachusetts has terrible winters and that their water temperatures couldn’t compare to Florida’s beaches. Besides all of those facts, I brought to their attention that I was starting high school this fall, which would be scary enough without having to start not knowing anybody! I paused briefly to catch my breath and then said, “On top of all this, you didn’t even ask if I had a good time with Dave last night! I have a life here you know and, I think I should have a vote in this matter!”
The scowl on Dad’s face told me that I had gone too far. After all, I’m only fourteen, not the head of the household. Who am I to tell my parents what we are going to do? Mom sensed his rising anger as well as Jason’s urge to tell me exactly what he thought. She calmly stated, “Jennifer, first of all, I hope you had a good game of tennis last night. It was nice of Dave to be like a big brother and spend some time with you. After all, Jennifer, that wasn’t a date or anything like that because we already told you that you will not be dating until you are sixteen!” As if those words weren’t enough to crush my spirit, she went on to tell me that both she and my father had taken positions at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and that Uncle Miles had been house hunting for us and found a beautiful home out in the country.
Mom’s lecture continued, and she informed me that our new town’s name is Assonet, and that is a village of Freetown. She seemed to have an answer for every one of my concerns. Apparently, they thought that I would have time to meet people my age this summer, so I would have friends when I start school in September. Even the weather wasn’t an issue for them. In her words, it was “something to which we shall all adjust”, and it wouldn’t hurt me to spend less time at the beach and more time learning about life, past and present. I knew that lecture was winding down when she said, “Lastly, you have your vote, however, you are outnumbered three to one. I suggest you eat some breakfast and then march up to your room and begin packing. We leave at the end of the week.”
Life was being cruel to me. I always wondered what my first romance would be like. I could now describe it in one word. SHORT!
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