My Untasteful Summer Mishaps

(Braided Writing: take at least three different narratives, each of whom has his or her own story, and then interweave and converge at or near the climax of the book.)

Giovanna leaps off the connected tubes helping her older cousin to her feet before she turns around to grab the empty tube, that’s when her eyes land on a very noticeable rip on her older cousins’ swimsuit right on her butt. I hear a sudden erupt of laughter behind me, shooting my cousin a puzzled look over my shoulder. I follow her gaze and to my horror see my bathing suit torn right down the middle of my butt. 

Ian and Giovanna twitch in the harsh leather seats trying in vain to get comfortable, their bright red skin makes sickening sticky noises when they peel their legs up to let some air in under their legs. I squirm in the front seat the California sun beats against my legs irritating the itchy sunburn. Leaning forward I turn the AC on full blast as my mother chastises us for the hundredth time that we should have worn sunblock. 

Pam works her fingers massaging the olive oil deep into her granddaughter’s sunburnt shoulder blades, sighing deeply as she lets the last drop slip over her oily hands saying under her breath, “Now I’m craving a salad.” I let the olive oil glide all over my shoulder blades, the cooling relief brings forth a fresh breeze of comfort. My grandmother leans back and walks towards the small fan in the corner pointing it towards my naked oily body. 

Erwin carried the heavy yellow board up the wooden steps, at last at the 4th landing he peers behind his shoulder at his two-beat red children slowly climbing up behind him, chuckling while his wife took pictures of them. I step forward on shaky legs, holding my breath letting the water splash down, I hear my father yell out, “it’s not that bad it just looks like a death drop but it will be fun!” Gripping onto the handles I send the lifeguard a shaky head nod, the plunge erupts a Hollywood scream from my vocal cords causing the whole water park to freeze and stare at my dropping body skip atop the water’s surface.

Sean’s stomach climbs up his throat as he gains speed down the rickety blue water slide the tarp under him shoots off underneath his weight just as he rounds a harsh corner. I grip my fingers tighter against the slide’s walls, the water rushes against my thighs wanting to push me down the slide into the pool, my smile grows across my face when a deserted tarp speeds towards me, I roll my eyes as Sean comes grinning around the corner crashing into me. We share a mischievous look before we hear the piercing whistle sounds echoing around us, giggling like children we continue our childhood antics. 

One Unfortunate Night

Your fingers dig through my soaked long sleeve t-shirt, your body trembles wrapped up in my coat- like a baby in my arms. It was a bad idea; we were reckless and young and because of a bottle of whiskey, we thought we were invincible, that nothing could hurt us not even our past. I should have stopped us; I shouldn’t have opened the broken screen door, just because we wanted to revisit our past blissful memories, beside a lake that had raised our own complicated relationship. I shouldn’t have flirted with you in the first place, I shouldn’t have invited you to the cabin. But most importantly, I should have watched our steps before you fell into the frozen vast lake. The same lake where we once shared our first kiss under a star-filled sky ten summers ago, the same lake I professed my love for you under a bright full moon, much like the one above us now. 

You grow deathly pale matching the crystalized ice that blocks me from pulling you out right away. The deathly frigid water holds you captive, your eyes growing wide in terror below the clear surface. Your palms thump softly atop the frozen expanse above you, without hesitation I raise my fists bringing them down, each pound reverberating like a lone drum. A slight crack and split of the ice below my bloody fists bring a drunken sigh of relief before I thrust my arms deep into the lake pulling you out. 

The banging screen door can be heard through the mild blizzard swirling around our heads. Your face is growing pale. Your wet brunette locks cling to your face. The outline of those once pink flushed lips, turning to an ugly shade of bluish-purple. The same color of the hickeys I would leave marked up and down your neck. Shifting your body in my arms I try to cover your face, but the wind is relentless blowing from every angle. Stumbling, I try to follow our footprints retracing the path to our little hidden warm cabin. 

“S-s-stay with me-e.” I barely whisper but I know even if the howling wind wasn’t roaring in our ears, you’re slowly slipping away from me. Blinking my eyes for the millionth time, I feel the world sway around me. Our poison forcing my brain to shut down, to give in, and lay atop the numbingly cold white fluffy clouds surrounding me. To rest my sore frigid arms for just a second. My feet shuffle onward having a mind of their own before they come in contact with a large object, tumbling forward I face plant into a thick pile of snow. A spew of curse words spills out on my descent. 

Rising back up slowly my eyes shut tightly while I dig my bloody nailbeds deeper into the ground. And what can only be described as dinner along with the whiskey climbs up my throat painting a picture on the once blank white canvas before me. Wiping my dry mouth, I scan my wiry eyes for your body wrapped up in my coat. Spotting your figure, I trudge forward lifting you back into my arms. I start to take a step forward when I notice your stilled lips. Craning my head toward your lips my heart stops when the familiar soft breath doesn’t come. My heart hammers against my rib cage and I start to feel completely sober. I shift your stiff body in my arms pushing my numb purple fingers against your frosted neck. I wait and wait; each second your heartbeat doesn’t sound mine does double as if my heart was calling yours to awaken again.