Jordan once adored the beach, reveling in the soft sand beneath his feet and the soothing sound of waves caressing the shore. Every summer, his family would gather at his grandfather's beach house, and Jordan would eagerly anticipate the sun-kissed days ahead. He loved how the sand felt under his feet and the sound of the waves lapping on the shore. But something changed last year, and now the waves crashed against his soul like a cacophony of discontent, while the sand felt coarse and uninviting. The once-beloved summer now dragged on like a tedious eternity, each day a painful reminder of the joy he once knew. Jordan longed for the reprieve of autumn, when the oppressive heat would fade and the beach would reclaim its tranquility. He was once enamored with the beach, where the gentle lapping of waves and soft sand beneath his feet brought him serenity. But something shifted last year, and now the waves crashed against his soul like a jarring discord, while the sand felt gritty and uncomfortable beneath his feet. The once-cherished summer now lingered like a monotonous shadow, each day a relentless reminder of the joy that had slipped away. Jordan yearned for the respite of autumn, when the sweltering heat would dissipate and the beach would reclaim its peaceful embrace.
…
”Jordan come on, you can’t keep ignoring me forever..” Jordan’s mom pleaded, sitting directly in front of Jordan nevertheless he looked right past her. He was watching the sandpipers run along the shore looking for food but trying not to get wet. The sun was fully set but the sky was still a dim yellow.
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“Jordan please I said I was sorry” She continued. Jordan’s eyes travel back to her teared filled ones.
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‘Why is she crying? Her world isn’t falling apart like dominos.’ Jordan thinks to himself.
He glares at her. “For starters sorry isn't going to cut it and you said.. no, you promised that they wouldn’t be here, that it would be like normal summer minus two.” Jordan’s mom looks away. “And you lied, now it’s minus two but plus three!!” He exclaims.
“I know, '' she says softly “They aren’t staying long, it’ll only be for a week. It’s just to plan the weddin-” Jordan cuts her off “That’s another thing, you’ve known the guy for what? 4 Months? And you’ve already decided to marry him” He shouts, crossing his arms. “Did you even love dad?”
She opens her mouth to say something else instead she sighs, and Jordan knows he won this rally. “Dinner will be ready at 8” she stands up with another sigh.
‘Moms are the queens of sighs’ Jordan watches her, tears threatening to spill over. He was an angry crier, a trait he always hated.
“It’s Pizza” she continued, wiping the sand off her clothes. Jordan feels a rogue tear slip down his cheek and he wipes it away quickly. “Tía Lee isn't even making her traditional first night dinner?”
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Jordan's mom seemed done with Him. “Jordan Moreno you are being un mocoso ingrato!!” she snaps at him, his eyes go wide. “You better have your attitude fixed by dinner.” Jordan blinks back tears. “Do you hear me young man?” Jordan nods, not looking at her. “Jordan!” she exclaims clearly pissed.
“Yes Ma’am” he whispers softly. His moms huffs, throwing her arms in the air she turns and storms back up the wooden path to the house.
Jordan tucked his knees into his chest hugging them tightly, the sand felt cold and unfamiliar like everything else in his life. More tears slipped down his face, the sky had darken completely, the stars were twinkling brightly, Jordan always loved the stars the way they held the creations of universes and that they were the center orbit of all the plants. Jordan sniffles and looks at the shore line.
He stands up dusting himself off and sprints towards the beach. He gets to the shoreline where the waves kiss the shore, he takes his shirt off and throws it in the sand.
He runs into the waves. The water felt cold but refreshing, it was dark and fairly deep the further out he got, once water was at his chest he dove under. Jordan opened his eyes, the salt water making them sting. He looked at the vast void around him, the only light was the moon shining brightly above the waves. He could feel his oxygen running out so he went back above the surface and started treading water. He began to look around, the current pushed a little to the side and further out than before, Jordan could still feel tears falling down his face, he sighed.
‘I hate tears, they are annoying’ he thinks to himself as he goes back under, he swims closer to the shore he pops back up and wipes the hair from his eyes. As he swam closer and closer it became easier to touch the bottom, once he could fully keep his head above water and his feet firmly on the ocean floor he stopped swimming and started to walk back to the shore. He could see less lights on in his house.
‘Dinner must be ready because they have already finished eating’ Jordan ducks under the waves one more time before getting fully out.
He walks closer to his house and sees a figure near where he placed his shirt. Jordan comes to a stop, his heart skipping a beat as he weighs his options, he settles on the fact that he didn't need his shirt that bad. He quickly tries to walk around the person but they call out to him.
“Hey!” they shout upon seeing Jordan, he freezes for a moment then walks faster.
“Hey Wait!” The figure runs after him when they catch up they place a hand on Jordans shoulder, forcing Jordan to stop.
With his heart pounding he thinks to himself ‘This is the day I’m going to die, tell my family I love them, even if they are tonto most the time’
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“Is this yours?” The person asks Jordan to open his eyes, his mouth hanging open like his jaw was on a hinge,there were no words coming out of his mouth. Finally he manages to say something, “Huh?”
The person smiles even in the dark. Jordan can see it, their teeth are paper white. ‘Damn I’d kill to have that smile’
The person was still talking. Jordan catches the last few words “-your shirt?” He holds up Jordan’s blue tank top.
Jordan finds his voice and manages to get out “Si– I mean yes that’s mi cami– “ Jordan clears his throat aggressively “I mean my shirt, Yes” he smiles at the person awkwardly.
The person chuckles “Okay…” They hand Jordan his shirt “Well see ya” The person puts an earbud back in then jogs down the beach, Jordan's heart was still beating rapidly even after the person left and he was walking up the wooden pathway to his house.
‘That was the most Embarrassing and most scary social conversation I think I’ve ever had’ Jordan puts a hand over his heart, his fingers were cold so he lets his hand fall back to his side.
He opens the screen door after climbing the stairs from the pool to the deck up above. “I’m back” Jordan calls into the house.
“Hey Mijo pizza is on the counter, your madre is asleep and so are the others.” Jordan’s Tía sticks her head from her office. “estás atrapado conmigo por ahora!” She cups Jordan's face in her hands and kisses both his cheeks.
“Tía” Jordan groans but he's smiling. “Don’t you ‘Tía’ me mister I am your only Tía and you are mi sobrino i will shower you con amor hasta que te ahogues en mis cariños”
Jordan laughs “Okay Tía Lee” Jordan walks into the kitchen once his Tía had been satisfied with complimenting him on everything. He gets a paper plate from the cupboard then grabs two slices and sits at the huge dining table, alone.
If this was how the whole summer is gonna be then count him out. He remembers seeing a !Now hiring! sign at the boardwalk when his Mom was shopping for sunscreen, an idea occurs to him, he smiles and calls into the other room for his Tía, “Yea Mijo?” She asks, walking in.
“I think I may try to get a Job on the boardwalk, para la Universidad” He smiles at her nervously, she eyes him, “That may be a good idea, Nuevos amigos” She wiggles her eyebrows “Tal vez incluso una novia o un novio?”
Jordan covers his face in his hands “Tía” he whines his face reddening “What Jordan I’m supporting you, can’t I wish for some sobrino nieto y sobrinas nietas?” Jordan laughs, his face reddening even more, “What’s the laughing fest in here?” Jordan's mom asks to walk in.
Jordan stops laughing, he looks at his mom and mumbles “Nada..” “
“Jordan Moreno I took 12 hours to bring you into this world tell me” She warns, wagging her finger.
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His Tía dives in to try and save Jordan “Jordan wants para trabajar quiere dinero”
His Mom turns from Lee to Jordan. “Jordán.. ¿por qué? ¿por qué quieres dinero? Am I not giving you enough?”
Jordan sighs “Mami,” he whines “Solo quiero tener buenas referencias para la universidad, para tener una buena vida”
His mom sighs as well, Lee shoots her a look raising her eyebrows and nodding once motioning to Jordan, ‘He barely goes out,’ She mouths ‘Let him do it, he needs friends’
Jordan snorts “I can see what your mouthing Tía”
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She shushes him “You don't know what you’re talking about” she says waving him off, Jordan laughs.
His Mom smiles, “Bueno, Where would you work?” She questions him.
“That new Smoothie Shop on the Boardwalk.” He replies quickly with a grin.
“How would you get there?” She asks, folding her arms.
“Aye mami you're bombarding me, I would walk or Bike it’s a 5 minute walk from the beach, A 10 minute ride on bike,” Jordan explains.
“Okay Well what happens if they don’t hire you?”
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Jordan shrugs, “I’ll try to find another place, I’ve worked at a lot of food places, I also have a literature seal, in spanish and german,” Jordan’s Mom nods firmly “Bien” She starts to walk out of the room. “Buenas Noches mis amores” she calls over her shoulder, a few seconds later Jordan hears her door click shut. His Tía ruffles his hair, making it go in his face.
“You’re a good kid Jordan,you’re a good kid” she walks back into her office leaving Jordan alone once more.
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