In the Summer Time - Chapter 1: Most Mornings

Normally I would throw my tattered baby blue shutters open and immerse myself in the new day's light. I would lean out the window and take a huge whiff of the warm beach air. I would swing my arms out towards the cobblestone streets far below me. Then I would wait, listening to the crashing waves in the distance. I would wait for Laurie-Kate Bethany Smith and Jacoby Adam Rogers to come strolling down the bright path, holding hands and standing as near as possible to each other. Normally Laurie-Kate would hault in front of the cafe I live above and then the two love doves would turn their gaze upwards toward my window. Normally I would smile a brilliant smile and head to the back of my puny room to get changed into colorful summer clothes.

As soon as I'm dressed, I would dash down the steps to the cafe my adoptive family owns. I might wave 'Good morning' to Helen, my adoptive mother, then give my best friends a large bear hug once I've pushed myself through the breakfast rush crowd to the outdoors. Soon our trio would be skipping towards Sunny Day Beach or Sunny Day Hill, depending on the day's agenda that Helen makes. Normally the day would be perfect, for us three anyway, Laurie and Jake sticking close together, and me off to the side a little, enjoying my day of the perfect amount of solitude.

Normally I would come back to the cafe just before the lunch crowd and tie my freshly cleaned waitress apron on. I would serve a handful of customers then switch with Helen. Laurie and Jacoby would normally enjoy a discounted lunch for two while I worked hard to help keep our business up and running. At around one o'clock I would toss my apron on the back of a worn chair then me, Laurie, and Jake would stroll to another store or to the beach or something. Normally we would be back for dinner and we would allow ourselves to have second and third helpings of Helen's wonderful dishes.

At the end of our perfect summer day, our trio, and possibly Oliver and Isaiah, my younger brothers, would travel to the beach to watch the glorious sunset. Normally we would all look at the gorgeous colors in amazement as they slowly decreased. Then we would slowly walk back up to the house, dropping off Laurie then Jake on our way. I would normally trail up to my room, satisfied with another book-like day. Perfect scenes all around. Almost like a movie. Normally I would change into a comfortable tank top and shorts then slide under the cozy covers. Then I normally dream about the next perfect day that comes or dream about the perfect life of Summer Juliette Murphey.

However, this morning didn't start like most mornings.