In the Summer Time - Chapter 2: Stupid Summer Rain

I slung myself over the edge of my short-legged bed and let my "sleeping" feet hit the ground hard. Yanking them up from the strange substance on the floor, I began to realize what the annoying dripping sound was. Rain. I despised rain. It normally comes in the Spring and Winter and even Fall, but never in the Summer. I glanced up at the shutters and took notice of the violent droplets pouring in. It rapped against the sturdy wooden floorboards, making a rhythmical beat. I hopped across the puddles in my room as if they were lava lakes that you pretend to jump over when you're a kid.

I snatched my robe off the towering coat hanger where I pile my stuff. Once it was cozily around my body, I did a few more lava lake jumps to get to the door. Then I raced myself down to the cafe which had nice walls and ceilings that didn't leak. I shoved my way past the breakfast people and into the kitchen, surprising most people. Helen was serving customers when I entered the redecorated cooking area. When she spotted me she greeted me with "Nice weather, huh?" I caught the sarcasm in her voice and answered glumly, "I loathe every moment spent with rain," and with that our morning conversation was over. Laurie and Jake never showed up for the morning time. They had left me to soak alone.

Helen had always told me, "Summer rain means something eventful." I decided to live by that for the next few days just so that I could pretend that the day wasn't a disaster. I eventually changed out of the robe into Autumn clothes, considering the weather. I eavesdropped on several customers throughout the day to see what interesting things might happen. The only information I ended up with was that there were a few people actually staying in Sunny Day Beach Hotel and a Christmas parade possibility in December. Someone staying in the hotel was different but not very exciting in my point of view. How wrong I was! But anyway, business was slow and so was the rest of the day.

Laurie-Kate and Jacoby eventually rolled around when the raining slowed to a light sprinkle. My face lit up with pure joy when Laurie's beach blonde hair and dark blue eyes came into sight, along with Jacoby's cute jet black hair and sweet green eyes. We went up to my dripping room and Laurie and Jake began cuddling, smiling and warming each other. Jacoby's skin was soft and gives off a strong feeling of comfort and safety. I only knew that because "once upon a time" I was were Laurie was now. Occasionally, I have a sense of jealousy that rushes through my blood. The kind that wants to yank Laurie out of his arms then strangle her and leave her struggling for her breath on the ground while I immerse myself in Jake's wonderful warmth. I could never do that to Laurie-Kate but I can't help but think about the possibility of that happening.

After some time, I left my thoughts to wander aimlessly, just to see where they might end up. Unfortunately, they ceased at the topic of my mother... I was always told that she was dead and that some random man took me in for a while then abandoned me at the top step of the orphanage. Just like a movie. I was just a young child then. Only three years old. I lived in that dungeon of a place for four years until Helen arrived. She loved me from the moment she laid her plain brown eyes on me. I was officially Helen and Eddie's daughter at the age of eight. I remember them handing me a Bible, teddy bear, jewelry kit, two C.D's, and a bag of jelly beans. I was quiet in the car and at home for almost a year. On the way to my new beach home, Helen had told me the story of her dead daughter. This is exactly what she said:

"You know, I had a daughter once. She was a beauty. Long golden curls covered her small head. Deep sea eyes and baby butt skin. A voice like a mermaid. Her name was Renee, and I loved her to death. She died by drowning in the ocean. Coral wrapped around her foot and pulled her under the strong, rough rush of the sea. She was just a little girl! She didn't know what to do," Helen had tears streaming down her long face at this point, "She couldn't scream... The water was entering her mouth and I couldn't see her. I guess it's all my fault." Helen had put on a blank expression and turned her head after her outburst of depressing emotions.

Helen didn't like to talk about Renee after that. She hadn't even told Oliver and Isaiah when they were adopted. I guess she didn't think it mattered. But my story was/is a little different. When I was adopted I held on to my mother through something special given to me. Everyday I unfolded a medium-sized sheet of paper that revealed a drawing of me and my mother, which she drew by herself, signed it, then tucked it in a locket she put around my neck. The locket broke when I was about twelve but it didn't bug me any because I still had the picture.

My mother was beautiful! Gorgeous, wavy, brown hair and beautiful, lucious, green eyes. She looked mature but knew how to have fun. She seemed like the perfect mother. After several years of moping on the loss of my mother, I began to regain my pride and emotional strength. Now reaching reality once more, tears began to pour out of my eyes as I sat still on my rickety bed. As soon as Laurie and Jake shut the door to leave, I threw myself over on my stomach, face in my pillow, and squirmed around trying to get comfortable without getting leaked on. I knew it was still early and only right after dinner, but I was exhausted so I fell into a deep sleep filled with horrid images of my mother dying. I completely and totally blame it on the stupid summer rain.