The Beach House

The smiling sun burned holes in my curtains as I rolled over and groaned into my pillow. I nearly jumped as my night stand began to rattle violently,

“Ugh, Hello?” I groaned rolling over and snuggling into the covers, “Well, well, well, I see someone didn’t bother to call me last night, and waking up late this isn’t like you James, oh! I so knew it! You bagged the funny Jonas!” Katrina squealed.

“Kat, shut up!” I moaned rubbing my eyes, “No I didn’t do any of that, I just got back from dinner late last night,” I could almost see Kat smirk on the other line,

“I bet. Look I didn’t call to harass you; I called to wish your oh so wonderful little brother a happy birthday!” I shot up and checked the clock, 1:34 p.m.

“Shit! Kat I’ll call you back, you know what? Scratch that I probably won’t, I got to go!” I scrambled out of bed and fixed my night clothes up a bit and checked my hair in the mirror,

“Glade to see you’re up sun shine” my mother grinned as she cleared the table, “ugh I know I’m sorry, where’s Dyl?” my mother shrugged and went into the kitchen putting the dishes into the sink,

“He went out with the boys today, having some male bonding thing I guess,” I nodded and sat down at the table,

“All the boys?” my mother nodded and leaned against a chair, “All the boys, even your father and Paul, but luckily this gives us plenty of time to set up for his party.”

I bunched up my eyebrows and shivered, “Dylan’s having a party? Wow, and here I thought he didn’t even have friends” mom glared at me and brushed some of her curly hair out of her face,

“Nothing to big, just a little get together, he never asks for much so a little surprise wont hurt” I nodded and stood up, “So this means I need to help right?”

My mom smiled smugly, “Yup and Denise went out to get some decorations, I suggest you young lady getting up stairs and getting ready, you stink!” I playful glared and skipped up to the stairs,

“Oh and Jamie? Thirty minutes.”

I snorted and rolled my eyes,

“That’s a joke.”

--

Freshly showered and clothed I happily returned downstairs to fined my mom and Denise unwrapping paper cups, “Right on time James, you my friend get to wrap the presents,”

I nodded and grabbed some old Christmas wrapping paper we kept in the closet, “I’ll be downstairs kay?” Denise nodded and continued to chat it up with my mom,

Carrying a sack of presents and a mound of wrapping paper I sat down and turned on the radio,

I smiled at the song and began to sing quietly along,

It's been the longest winter without you
I didn't know where to turn to
See somehow I can't forget you
After all that we've been through

Going coming thought I heard a knock
Who's there no one
Thinking that I deserve it
Now I realize that I really didn't know
If you didn't notice you mean everything
Quickly I'm learning to love again
All I know is I'ma be ok

[Chorus:]
Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
It'll all get better in time
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time

“You have a lovely voice Jamie dear,” I warm voice came form behind me, I smiled and shifted my body around, “Thanks Denise, you need help with that?” She shook her head and lifted a tray of appetizers.

“I’ve got it, so I heard you where heading off to NYU for musical theatre,” I smiled and nodded, “It’s been my dream school since I was like five.” Denise smiled warmly, “Well I think you’ll achieve wonderful things there, Joe was telling me about all the performances you’ve been in and if I may say so it’s quite impressive.”

“Joe-Joe talked to you about my theatre career?” Denise nodded, “Yea apparently he found some videos in the T.V. room cabinet and couldn’t resist. You know he really raves about those videos, and well you as well” Denis grinned.

I smiled and continued to wrap, Videos? I quickly stood up and leaped up the stairs into the video cabinet, finding an old VCR I popped it into the video player and smiled.

Jamie’s ninth grade play, Once On This Island

I couldn’t help but feel like crying at all my old memories,

Forgetting about the new ones I would soon make.