A personal memoir by Thomas
One day, during the hot summer, my wearing sunglasses on the top of his head dad asked us brothers, “Hey, does anybody want to go to the park with me?”I knew behind those pearly whites, he just wanted my brothers and I to get off our rear ends. My brothers and I all thought it was a good idea, so we went with our dad.
The Catch. I had totally forgotten all about the catch. Every time we go with our dad to a place where we wanted to go, he always takes us someplace before it that he wants to do and will make our lives easier, even though it will be boring. I felt it coming on, although my window was open, and I did have mosquito bites all over me. When we drove, I looked backward out of the car, and noticed we had just passed a good park to go to. I looked back to the front of the car, and I saw a bookstore. Oh, but not just any bookstore, the green and brown bookstore, always known as Barnes and Nobles. It’s scented aroma’s that fill the air and numerous books just want to make you dive right in. I realized instead of turning right for the bookstore, we turned left.
How could this be possible? Suddenly, a whole mixture of odors filled the air: gasoline, soap, and dirt. Oh, and only one thing smelled as bad as this. It was like a 1992 gas station walked into an all night truck stop diner buffet’s boy’s bathroom. We entered the car wash.
My dad said, “Oh, don’t worry, you guys, this will be just a minute.” So we sat down on the hot dirty benches next to the other people waiting for their cars to be scotch-clean. Although, it was I who was the unfortunate one of us men in the group. The garbage can. It was I who had to sit next to the garbage can. This one wasn’t like any other; it was full of everything. Slimy goo, moldy potatoes, and I even thought I saw a filthy toe. I was so grossed out, I would have added to the combo my breakfast. But I didn’t so we waited and wait.
Waited, and waited, and waited. I looked down at my stomach. That thing was like a dog without his chew toy. I looked towards my dad. I asked, “Dad, can we go across the street to Barnes and Nobles to get something? I am a little hungry.” “In a little bit,” he said. It must have been two long hours of waiting and doing nothing before we actually got up and walked across the street to Barnes and Nobles. When we got there, I wanted a scrumptious cookie, a delicious lemonade, and a book. My dad said that it would have to be under $10.00. I found my book, The 39 Clues, Book 6, and was devastated out of my mind. It was $11.00. I went up to the coffee counter and bought myself a lemonade. At least in South Carolina, they have extremely good lemonade. Then, I walked up to the front, sat down, and waited for my brothers and my dad to check out their favorite books, so that we could walk back. Not over yet.
This was during the third, and hopefully final, hour. At that time, everyone was as mad as Bowser, when he is hit twice by Mario, and hasn’t yet him Mario back. We sat there. No noise. Nothing at all for the next two hours straight. By the end, everyone was as mad as the Red Lord without his morning bucket of eels. He got the car, and we got in, and drove all the way to the house. Madness.
Beds. They help you have a place to sleep on. Some are as comfortable as a cloud, or as hard as a rock. You know what they’re also good for? Holding a reasonable grudge on someone. I was so mad at my dad, when we got to the house, I ran up to my room, slammed the door, and laid on my bed. I was so mad, my dad tried to come in, and I said, “Go away, you jerk!” He came in, and sat in my bed next to me. We fought it out as hard as we could. We finally made a treaty. I could have my SO Delicious brand of ice cream with dinner.
So, all was well, the whole family living in South Carolina came over. That would be:
1. Aunt Kiki, who is amazing at baking cakes and cupcakes.
2. Uncle Josh, who is in the army like my dad.
3. Papa, my grandfather, who is loving and makes a mean fried chicken.
4. Mere, my grandmother, who was loving and made a mean meal every time we came.
5. My brothers and I, no comment.
6. My Mom and Dad, two loving parents, who I am jealous, because I won’t have as cool kids as them.
Even though it wasn’t the best day for a dad to take his sons to the park, and stop for a five hour break at a car wash, it was a day to be alive on.