Standing Out
Chapter 22: Away

I should have been excited, jumping with joy or something because I had just arrived at the beach. Instead, I felt dejected and lonely. Even Jeanne stopped talking to me. If I wasn’t on her side one hundred percent of the time, apparently we couldn’t get along.

I had a lot to think about. I no longer had Cindy and Sara to rely on and Jessabelle had drastically changed. As for Jeanne, I was just going to give her time because she would probably get over herself.

Mama broke into my thoughts. “Look, Mya! It’s the lighthouse!” She had become our personal tour guide. I wondered how many times she had been to Chincoteague, Virginia. “Do you want to go see the island ponies? We can go to the creamery as well, if you like.”

She was overwhelming me, but it was clear that she cared. Our family wasn’t well off economically this month, but my parents still wanted me to go to the beach to celebrate my life.

I know that Jeanne wanted to go wildlife watching, but I just wanted Mama to take me swimming.

When I am in the ocean I no longer feel human. It is almost like I am part of the water and the surrounding nature. As I bob up and down, I am whisked around like a feather caught in a refreshing breeze. It is freedom to me.

“Can we go swimming first?” Jeanne glared at me. Now she would have to wait until later to identify birds by their calls and coloration. She kept informing us that she needed to prepare for Envirothon, an environmental competition, several months in advance. Couldn’t she wait until vacation was over?

“Of course,” Papa smiled. We proceeded to drive to our temporary living quarters to get unpacked and get prepared for our beach outing.

I can remember everything as though I was rolling through an old film that has played back in my mind many times over. I can recall every detail about the place in which we had stayed because being there meant so much to me.

We had rented a house by the bayside and had our own private dock. It offered the relaxing atmosphere that I had craved for so long. The house was called the Great Blue Heron and was painted dark blue and white. It had a screened-in porch and an outdoor shower. There were three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a homey living room filled with seashell wallpaper and pictures of different birds, as well as a petite kitchen and dining room. Naturally, Jeanne got a bigger bedroom than me.

We had a huge yard, but it was hard to go outside without getting bit by mosquitoes. Fortunately, there was a guy that sprayed for them every evening.

Occasionally, mallards would lie down in the grass. From afar, they looked like rabbits.

Sometimes, when I went out on our dock to go crabbing, I would see herons out in the water. The dock was an especially beautiful place to watch the sunset. The vibrant colors would stem out in all directions, painting the sky in brilliant hues of orange, yellow, purple, and pink.

But when we first arrived, I didn’t really care about the extra amenities. I just wanted to swim.

After we got changed, put some sunscreen on, and got the car packed with beach supplies, we drove off to the national seashore. Papa bought a week pass, even though we only planned to stay there for three days.

It took us a little over fifteen minutes to replace a parking space because other cars kept butting in front of us, taking the spots that we had been waiting for. Eventually, we got lucky and got front row parking. Good things come to people who wait, I suppose?

Papa turned around to look at us. “Here we are everyone!”

I was beaming. I think that I had temporarily forgotten some of my earlier concerns.

Jeanne frowned. “Mama, did you bring my binoculars?”

“No, Jeanne,” she began slowly, apprehensive of an academic meltdown. “I think that you should spend your time with Mya today.”

Jeanne crossed her arms. That confirms it. She’s still spiteful.

Mama’s gaze hardened. “And by ‘should,’ I mean you have to.” Jeanne made a move to pick up her book, For Whom the Bell Tolls, instead. “You can leave that in the car.” Jeanne’s eyes blazed, but she listened anyway.

Papa opened the back of the car and grabbed the beach umbrella. Jeanne begrudgingly snatched the beach bag that contained extra sunscreen, beach towels, as well as a change of clothes, snacks, and water. Mama and I carried the beach toys.

As we walked up the seashore, the ocean came into view. The sight was breathtaking. The ocean glimmered as though it was covered in thousands of diamonds. The sand gleamed like radiant rubies.

Once Papa set up the beach umbrella and Jeanne put a towel down on the sand where we could sit, I made a beeline for the ocean.

I plunged into the water and I was enveloped by the sea foam. Waves crashed above me, whisking the hair off my face, making me tumble about. The cool water was refreshing, the sea salt was calming. I didn’t think about Cindy, Sara, or Jessabelle once the entire time I was there. I felt like I was truly home.

“Mya,” it was Jeanne.

“What is it?” I popped up out of the water.

“Can I swim with you?” I nodded compassionately. She was finally coming to her senses.

We spent the rest of the time laughing and frolicking about.

I had the greatest time of my life.