It was the trip I didn’t want to tag along because I was lazy and mostly I felt awkward around people. It was a public holiday and I had plans including lazing around in bed with my nose in one of the latest novels. I didn’t need much excitement because reading made me feel that way.
“Come on, you have to follow us, Tiffany,” my brother, Joey begged me when I declined to go on that trip.
“What’s the point?” I asked.
“The point is this is a rare occasion. Each and every one of us are going to the beach. I think it has been a long time since we meet up as a family,” Joey explained. I sipped my hot cup of tea and sighed at his words. He went on, “We don’t get to spend time together anymore.”
That last sentence got to me. My family and I drifted apart, not because we had an argument but because we moved away from one another. My oldest brother lived overseas, my sister moved out when she got married, and my two youngest brothers were the only ones living with my parents. I moved into an apartment, so I could be closer to work. The last time we were all together were three years ago.
“Everyone? Are you sure Micah and Irene will be there? What about our parents?”
“They will be back. Please, Tiffany tag along,” Joey answered.
“What time will we be meeting? Not that I will join all of you,” I added the last part quickly, not to get Joey’s hope high.
“Breakfast will be served at 6.30 at our house and we’ll car pool to the beach,” Joey explained.
“I’ll see if I can make it or not,” I stated.
“Please just tag along,” Joey tried again.
“I can’t confirm. You do not understand because you are not working yet. I just want to relax tomorrow.”
“Ok then,” his voice became monotonous, and I knew he was disappointed. “Goodbye.”
“Bye.”
It was just past 8pm after that conversation with Joey. I was going to watch a movie, but that feeling to do so was no longer there. I sat in my empty living room, studying my family portrait on the wall. We wore matching colours of blue and pink, and we looked happy. I remembered that photo shoot as it was just days before my oldest brother went overseas.
I leaned back onto my grey couch and thought of my family. It was last year when I visited my parents and my youngest siblings. We stayed connected through social media but it wasn’t the same. We didn’t get to be in the same room, talking about our problems or laugh at some silly jokes. We were no longer carefree like when we were living under the same roof. The opportunity to get together with the whole family was indeed rare.
I switched off all the electricity in the living room and went to my room. I took out a blue backpack and started packing for the trip I didn’t want to go to. I pushed it aside once it was packed and thought of my childhood. I must have dozed off because when I woke, the roosters were crowing. I checked the time and jumped out of bed, knowing what I had to do. I hurried and drove to my parents’ house even without confirming my attendance.
“Tiffany is here,” Joey called out in an almost sing song tone when I rang the doorbell outside the house. He let me in and threw me a hug. I missed that. “I thought you weren’t coming.”
“Do you want me to go back home?” I joked as he pulled my hand, guiding me into the house.
We headed straight to the kitchen as my family had just started sitting down for breakfast. I greeted everyone and joined them. At first, it felt awkward but soon, it felt as if time stood still and I was still a child again. We left the house an hour later and drove for hours before reaching our destination.
“So why the change of mind?” my sister asked as I helped her out of the car.
“This,” I replied inhaling the salty air. “I came to a realisation that I miss my family and this is a golden opportunity.”
“I wasn’t going to make it either,” she laughed and rubbed her protruding belly which was carrying a life. “I miss our family being together.” For the rest of the day, we played in the sand, built sand castle and jumped the wave. We swam in the salty sea and had delicious lunch. When we got tired, we rested in the tent.
We had another family photo shoot before sunset. It was a perfect day that I had in a very long time. It definitely strengthen our relationship, and I didn’t regret spending the day with my loved ones. I wished we could do it over and over again.
Carina Lim bears different messages through her fiction. These messages could be useful in life. She can be contacted at mermaidgal103@yahoo.com
