The wind blew through my long blonde hair softly as I drove in my '67 Chevy Impala with the windows down. My RayBans sat softly on my nose while I sat comfortably in the seat of the car. My arm sat in the window opening and the soft tune of some Queen played from my radio. My brother, Michael sat in the passenger seat, reading a magazine, his curly brown hair rustled with the wind. In front of us, in the other car was my mother and my other brother, Lucy and Sam. The light blue Rover and my Chevy smoothly drove the winding roads and soon enough They come upon the large billboard that read "Welcome to Santa Carla".
"Look Mike, we're close." I said with crooked grin as I hit his arm softly.
Mike looked up from the magazine and saw the sign and smally smiled and he just so happens to look at the back and saw the words "Murder Capital of the World" spray painted there.
"Murder Capital of the World?" Mike's brow frowned in confusion as he turned his head to look at me.
"Yeah, apparently Santa Carla has the biggest Missing Person's rate in the United States. Some say the World." I told him with a small shrug.
"And we just so happen to move here?" He said with a teasing tone.
I scuffed softly and grinned. "Yeah, well Grandpa Emerson has been living here pretty much his whole life." I noticed Lucy pull off to a gas station and pulled in at the other pump beside the Rover. I notice you can see the boardwalk from here as I get out. Mike gets out as well and looks around with his eyes hidden behind his dark sunglasses.
I put my arm on top of the hot roof of the car and tap my hand, my rings and bracelets causing a small tink sound. My Lapis Lazuli ring on my middle finger shined softly from the sun. Michael also put his arm on the roof and look at me. His ring on his index finger. "Why don't you go get us some snacks inside, huh?" I smiled big at him. He grins and nods as I walk to the back of the Impala and take the gas cap off and go to start putting gas in my tank and fill it up.
As the tank was filling up, I walked over to Mom and saw that Sam was over near some railing with Nanook, his malamute dog, looking at the boardwalk. I walked to stand next to Mom and crossed my arms. "How was the drive, Mom?"
"It was okay. A little tiring but it always is." Mom smiled at me and put a hand on my back and rubbed it as her other hand lifted to softly play with her Lapis Lazuli necklace. We hear some noise and look over and are saddened to see two teenagers that have seen some better days rummaging through a garbage can for what we assume is food.
Sam runs back over with Nanook and is grinning big at us. "Ma! Farah! There's an amusement park right on the beach!" He says excited. Nanook runs up to me and rubs against my side.
I grin and pet his head as Mom tells him "That's the boardwalk, Sammy."
"Can we go now?" Sam asks Mom as I look back at the teenagers and sigh as I take some cash from my pocket and walk over to them and hands them about ten bucks.
"Here, go get something to eat huh?" I smile softly as they grin at me.
"Thanks lady" They turn and run off.
I watch them and sigh and turn around to walk back to the cars. I walk back to my Impala and take the pump out and put the gas cap back on as Michael comes back with a bag of drinks and some candy.
I notice Sam pouting. Mom must have told him no.
"We should go to the boardwalk later tonight." I tell Mike as he gets in the car. I pay the attendant and he gives me my change back.
"Sure. We should ride our bikes to the boardwalk. Stretch our legs." I grin as I open the driver door and get in.
"Yeah. I got to go look at the record store tomorrow too. And start setting up." I sigh as I start the car. I wait for Mom to drive off to follow her.
"I have a feeling, things will change." Mike says as he takes a drink from his Coke.
"Me too." I softly chew my lip as I drive on behind Mom's Rover.
We follow a long winding road that leads to the old lodge-like house that belonged to Grandpa Emerson. There was tons of hippy décor around the house. Wind chimes and a totem pole and a big wooden Native American statue. Lots of trees and plants and also an area with some horses grazing through some grass.
We all got out of the cars and look around at the place. Mom stops as she sees Grandpa Emerson laying lifeless on the front porch. "Dad!" she softly calls as she rushes to the man laying down.
Me and my brothers approach slower and frown. "He looks dead." Mike says as he leans on the porch post and crosses his arms.
"He's just a deep sleeper" Mom says as she feels his head.
"He's not breathing, Ma" Mike says.
I grin and put my hands in my black distressed jean pockets. Knowing he was faking it to prank Mom.
"If he's dead, can we go back to Arizona?" Sam said nonchalantly.
I look incredulously as I swat at his head. "Ow" He yelps and holds his head as he flinches away from me.
"Playin' dead... and from what I heard, doin a damn good job of it too." Grandpa spoke up from the ground as he lifted his head. Grandpa stood up and hugged Mom after dusting off his old denim pants and shirt. He had a band wrapped around his head with a grey braid down his back.
Mom chuckles "Oh dad!"