Hey, everyone! Wow, I'm SO sorry for not writing ANYthing for a looong time. I've had serious writer's block, my computer crashed, and then I had to study for final exams. Hopefully you'll like this story…this chapter is short, but it's really just an intro. Well, have a GREAT summer.
Note: This story takes place on Earth! (Just for fun). Please review…if you REALLY hate this chapter, be nice about it anyway…lol.
Jim stood on the edge of the ship's bow, his back to the sea. In front of him were assembled sailors, all in perfect formation. Amelia all of a sudden appeared, dressed in a trim black admiral's uniform.
"Mr. Hawkins. Because you failed to eat my cake, I am hereby forced to shove you off of my ship."
Jim blinked at the strange statement, then involuntarily looked backwards to see the churning, gray water far beneath him. Amelia was striding towards him, her auburn hair looking darker than usual against the overcast sky.
"Admiral! What cake?" Jim choked out.
The officer's green eyes narrowed, and she placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Strawberries! Strawberries!" the sailors were yelling. Their voices sounded oddly metallic.
"Good-bye, Mr. Hawkins," hissed Amelia. She gave him a hard shove, and Jim fell, shrieking. The cold waves rushed up to meet him, and---
Jim sat up in bed, screaming at the top of his lungs. Water was streaming down his face.
"Good morning, sweetheart. You wouldn't get up, so I had to spray water on your face," Sarah said, smiling guiltily. In her hand was a watering can.
"Mom. Whatever happens, don't let Captain Doppler become an Admiral," Jim cried. The request was out before he could stop it.
Sarah smiled. "Well, that sounds better."
Jim blinked. "What?"
"Well, a few minutes ago you were shouting about cake."
The teen groaned. What a morning. "So you sprayed water in my face for what purpose?"
His mom looked excited. "We're going to the mall to get you a new swim suit!"
Jim deliberately took his time crossing the mall's parking lot. He wanted to register in his mom's head that he didn't want to spend hours at a time looking for a swim suit. Also, Sarah was wearing a neon pink shirt that was emblazoned (in black) with her inn's motto: Be Happy and Gay! The teenager had argued for a long time that the word gay had changed since the past few decades. Sarah's stubborn streak had won out, and she maintained that the word still described enlightenment.
"Jim! Please hurry up!" Sarah called. Grumbling, her son jogged for a few strides then resumed his shuffling gait.
"I already have a swim suit," the teen argued as they entered the mall.
"You've said that already," his mom replied, "but for this occasion, I want to get you a new one."
Jim perked up. "What occasion?"
Sarah smiled in a secretive manner. "I'll tell you later. First, let me get you those swimming trunks."
The teen was curious, and his mom did plan good surprises. "Okay. Can I buy you a new shirt first?" The expression he received quickly silenced him.
"Hmm. No, that's too foreboding looking," Sarah said, dismissing Jim's pick with a wave of her hand. The teen glared at the stack of discards that was growing on the ground. Already, his mom had called a perfectly straight Hawaiian patterned swim suit "too suggestive." When Jim chose one that was black with cool flame patterns, Sarah gasped, saying, "I don't want people thinking my son is a pyromaniac!"
Now, Jim just sat on wooden stool and let his mom bring her choices to him.
"Aww! Bugs Bunny!" Sarah squealed, flashing it in front of her son's face.
"Ma, I'm not ten anymore."
"Ohh. This plaid one is very distinguished looking. I love Scottish-styled clothes!"
Jim wondered what Amelia's reaction would be to that, seeing how the captain was very English.
Seeing Jim refuse yet another style, Sarah's face became more determined. "Wait here, Jim. I know you'll like these!"
As his mom walked over to another clothes rack, the teenager groaned for the millionth time that day. Since they had been in Macy's for two hours straight, Jim was getting desperate. Okay. I'll say yes to whatever she comes up with, he swore to himself.
Sarah reappeared, her hands behind her back. "Well, I know how you like black," she began.
"Yes…"
"So I thought these…Speedos…would be perfect!"
Jim gaped at the small black Speedo and screamed for the second time that day.
