Skyler hadn't been allowed to take Shankar the bracelet. His parents said that it was Kryptonian technology and therefore, it had to stay a secret. Shankar had to learn English the old-fashioned way and he was making some progress. After 4 weeks, he could make simple sentences in English. He had gotten a translator who spoke Konkani, and he came to the school to help him sometimes. He was also there to help Shankar's parents communicate with Mrs. Duncan when the need arose.
Skyler had befriended Shankar despite his limited English. They couldn't do a lot of talking, but they smiled at each other a lot and they traded lunches sometimes. Skyler was leery at first because Indian food smelled weird, but it didn't taste so bad. On the playground, they ran around or threw a ball. They got along well and had never had a fight. Skyler wished he could show him his Kryptonian ball. Shankar would like that. He also wished he could invite Shankar over, but he wasn't sure how he could make it clear to Shankar. The translator couldn't come to a sleepover. He decided to wait until Shankar spoke better English.
One mid October Saturday, Skyler was watching it snow. Winter had set in early this year, but the ground was still warm enough that it always turned into a slushy mess. It seemed like it had been cold forever. Skyler was already sick of winter and it had barely even begun. It was the kind of weather that you couldn't play in. It wasn't cold enough for snowballs and the only thing it did was make the ground muddy, so they couldn't go outside at recess. The newness of school had worn off, so that it seemed like an endless amount of time ahead and the holidays were out of reach. He was bored and wished the sun would come out and make things seem more cheerful. He liked it when it rained, he liked it when it snowed, he hated when it slushed.
"I know just how you feel," his mom said, when she saw him looking out the window.
Skyler looked around the living room. His dad and Noel had fallen asleep on the recliner. His mom was sprawled out on the couch and was yawning, making Skyler yawn too. They'd been like this since breakfast. Nobody felt like doing anything. It felt like a 100 years had passed this morning and there were 100 more years of doing nothing to come.
His mom suddenly sat up with an energetic quickness. "What we need is a break from this dreary weather and dreary time of year." She looked over at the recliner. "Smallville! Smallville!"
His dad's eyes snapped open. "What? What's the matter?"
"We need a vacation," she replied.
He looked relieved that it wasn't an emergency and confused. "A vacation. Now?"
"Why not now? We need it. Look at us, we're pitiful. We're sitting around on a Saturday morning doing nothing, not even watching TV. I suggest a trip to the beach. Right now."
"We haven't made any travel plans."
"You know we don't need them. We can play hooky on Monday and make it a 3 day weekend."
"Please, can we, Daddy?" Skyler begged.
"Maybe it's not such a bad idea," he smiled.
"Yay!" Skyler said, getting excited and jumping up and down.
Noel had woken up in all the commotion. His dad handed her off to his mom and said, "Wait a second and I'll have us all packed up before you can say Jack Robinson."
"Jack Rob--" Skyler said and his dad was back with the suitcases.
His mom said, "You're the only one who says that and really means it. Are you sure you didn't forget anything? Never mind. Sometimes I forget who I'm talking to. You can come back if you did. You know you make packing so much easier."
His dad laughed and said, "Let's get going."
---
Just a little while later they had checked into a hotel by the beachside in Florida. Skyler remembered that last summer they had went to a beach in North Carolina, so he asked his mom why they hadn't this time.
"Because it gets chilly there this time of year. We have to fly south like the birds," his mom explained.
A funny image of them popped in his head. They really had flown south like the birds, only his dad couldn't flap his arms because on one trip they'd held passengers and on another luggage. Skyler couldn't wait until he could fly like a bird. He was about to tell his mom this, but she seemed to sense what he was about to say and put a hand over his mouth because they were still in the lobby. As soon as his dad got the key, they went to their room to put their suitcases down and change into their bathing suits.
The strip of beach outside the hotel was miraculously empty. Skyler started running for the ocean.
"Wait!" his dad called.
Skyler stopped and looked at him curiously. He had learned to swim over the summer from his mom's old swim teacher.
His dad looked long and hard at the ocean. "It never hurts to check it for dangerous creatures."
Skyler didn't get in immediately. He let the water lap at his feet first. His dad got straight in with Noel, all the way up to his waist. Noel had a swim-proof diaper and a baby bikini on. She liked the water and giggled and kicked her feet.
"A natural born swimmer and she isn't even 1 yet," his dad remarked like a proud father.
Skyler looked at his mom, who'd spread out a beach towel on the sand and sat down on it. She took out a bottle of sun block from the bag she'd brought and started putting it on. Skyler made a face of disgust. He was glad he didn't have to put the stuff on. It looked greasy and time-consuming.
She saw him watching. "Count your blessings. The sun likes you, but some of us weren't lucky enough to be born with invulnerable skin."
He smiled at her and then got in the water. He'd seen Bobby get sunburned over the summer when they'd visited him in New York. It looked painful. He supposed sun block was worth the trouble if it hurt that much.
Skyler sighed contentedly. Everything seemed so peaceful and wonderful. A warm sun was beating down and he was swimming in the cool water. He wasn't allowed to go where it was over his head though. His mom was still lying on the beach with her eyes closed and basking in the sun. His dad was able to splash her from a ridiculously good way off. His mom sat up quickly as the cold drops startled her, and she put her sunglasses on top of her head.
"What'd you do that for?" she hollered.
"It's a family get away," his dad hollered back over the sound of the waves. "We're supposed to be doing things together like swimming in the ocean. You have to join us."
She folded her arms defiantly. "And if I don't?"
"You'll get pulled in against your will."
"You have a baby in your arms," she said smugly.
"Then I'll send your son after you."
Skyler grinned from ear to ear. He'd just gotten permission to throw his mom into the water. However much to his disappointment, his mom made the wise decision to get in on her own.
It was a fun and much needed weekend. He scouted out seashells but was only allowed to have as many as would fit into his pockets. He picked one out especially for Shankar. At one point, the clouds threatened to spoil their perfect weekend, but his dad blew them away. When they had to go back Monday evening, he felt reenergized and refreshed. He was ready for the slush and first grade again.
TBC
