Early Saturday Morning

Kevin groggily goes down his stairs pulling his overnight bag with him. His mother is sitting on the couch sipping coffee watching him with a smile, after all Elizabeth Barr know her son can be called many things, but a morning person is not one of them.

"Good morning my sweet boy, are you ready for your day at the beach? "

Kevin looks at him mom noticing the dark circles under her eyes, eyes the same forest green as his own. He looks harder and he can see how she has lost weight , how she bruises so easily, but mostly how her smile which has always felt like warm sunshine to him had never dimmed despite her sickness. With a slight grin he answers her.

"Mom please don't call me that I'm not five anymore, but yeah Rolf, Nazz and Nat should be here soon. How are you feeling today? "

"Baby I'm feeling fine don't you worry about that, you just have fun with your friends. Are you sure you don't want me to take you I don't mind. "

"No momma..*cough*..er..mom. Nat is already on his way, and his housekeeper is gonna take us and bring us home. I think she is gonna stay the night in the van too just in case. I just want you to rest."

"Ok baby, who all is going? It's surely not just the four of you, three boys and a girl? "

"Nah ,Nazz invited two girls from the cheer squad so she wouldn't be the only girl. I invited some guys from football, Big Ed was one of them so Sarah and Jimmy will probably be there as well. Oh and we invited the other two Eds also. "

"That's interesting I didn't think you liked the Eds. Your always talking about how the short one , Eddy, is a jerk and calling the other two dorks. "

"Yeah well... Ed grew up a bit when he went to junior high without the others. Eddy still sucks, but Double Dork never really bugged me... hes just kinda nerdy and odd. My plan is to just pretend Eddy don't bug me and I will be fine. "

As they had been talking Kevin had been getting ready for his campout, putting his bag by the front door, filling a cooler with water and Gatorade, and grabbing his tent and sleeping bag. He was about to sit down and eat a quick breakfast when the doorbell rings.

"I'll get it don't worry, go ahead and eat baby."

Kevin stares at his mother who is already at the door.

"Mooommmm, please I know I'm your baby , but please don't call me that around anyone but dad please? "

She just giggles and opens the door.

"Hi Mrs. Barr! "

"Hello Nazz , Kevin is eating real quick do you want to come in and wait? "

"Yes please, Rolf is here too so we are just waiting for Kevin's friend Nat."

Rolf and Nazz walk inside and take over the couch while Kevin practically inhales his cereal. When he finishes he rinses out his bowl and grabs the stuff he sat by the door.

"Hey Rolf could you get the cooler? Bye mom ,see you tomorrow we're gonna wait outside for Nat, ok? "

"Then I will wait with you Kevin I would like to see Nat again, I haven't seen him in over a month it would be nice to say hi. "

"Ok that's understandable. "

Rolf puts the cooler next to his and Nazz's bags and Kevin puts his stuff with it. Kevin turns around and goes back inside for a second. When he walks back out he has a pillow, small blanket and a cup of coffee. He places the pillow in one of the chairs on the porch and hands his mom the coffee.

"Alright mom now please sit down. "

Elizabeth grins and kisses her son on the cheek before sitting, as soon as her but is touching the pillow Kevin puts the blanket in her lap.

After a few minutes they all hear a loud commotion from down the road. They turn to see what it is and see Eddy running out of Ed's house being chased by Sarah with Jimmy on the porch just watching. Ed was packing the car and Sarah's mom was telling him he was doing it wrong.

"What on earth did the short Ed boy do to that girl this early on the morning to make her that mad? "

"Breathe?"

Nazz giggled as Kevin couldn't resist adding what he was 's mom even voiced her opinion.

"Who knows, that child has always had such a short temper..."

Nat pulled up right then yelling from the passenger seat.

"Kevin get your booty over here!

"Nat , get out and help us put stuff in the van ."

"Nope, thats your job. Mine is to sit here and look gorgeous."

Elizabeth chuckled to herself. Nat was an oddball but he knew he was cute with his ridiculous teal hair and gold earrings, he had an strange sense of style but when paired together the whole package was very nice. She was sure he would be quite the looker when he got a little older.

Kevin laughed before responding.

"If you don't help, I won't introduce you the my other friends and you'll just have to sit there like an out cast at the beach. "

"Like heck I'm gonna sit there alone like your dirty little secret, *huff* fine I'll help."

Nat jumps out of the van and picks up the cooler to pack it first. Nazz and Rolf were a little apprehensive at first but after a few seconds they could see why Kevin was friends with the flamboyant boy. He was hilarious and outrageous but still really cool about everything.

When everything was finally in place Kevin looked down the road. He noticed that the car was already packed in Ed's driveway and everyone was getting inside.

Where is he? Did he decide not to come because of what happened in the hallway?

"Hey Nazz..."

"Yeah Kevin? "

"Umm.. nevermind it's nothing."

Kevin's mom had seen her son looking at the kids down the street and started trying to figure out what had made him pensive. She was about to ask when she was suddenly hugged by Nat.

*Giggle*"Hi Nat, how are you? "

"Hi Mrs. Barr, I've been great. So when are you going to leave Kevin's dad for me? You know I'd make Kevin a great step-dad. And of course for you I would remain a loving, faithful husband."

Nat was waggling his eyebrows and smirking at Kevin as he talked making everyone laugh and Kevin turn red.

Kevin's mom who was used to this from the teal haired boy just rolled her eyes and recited the same lines as the last time he had joked like this.

"Alas , Nat I could never leave my husband*hehe*besides you would become bored of me within a month dear. "

Without skipping a beat Nat replied.

"Never Elizabeth! .. well maybe but only because the ADD, and school, and I can't drive but otherwise it's forever for us, love! "

At this point everyone even Kevin was laughing. When they could breath again Kevin and his mom said bye and the kids got in the van and started their trip to the beach.

Edd woke up to his phone ringing. He looked at the caller ID, and seeing it was Ed he answered

"Hello?"

"Hey Dee, are you still going to the beach today? "

"Yes, I was going to meet you all there since you said that Sarah's mom's car couldn't hold everyone. Why? Did something happen? "

"No man, but I left Jimmy's stupid water wings on my porch, could ya bring 'em when you come? "

"He still uses water wings? Oh! I.. I mean yes I will bring them."

"Thanks man, I'll see you when ya get there. "

"Bye"

Double D hangs up the phone and looks around his room for a minute. Before getting up and going to the restroom. He does his business and washes his hands .Afterwards he brushes his teeth and takes a shower. When he is done bathing he brushes his teeth again before going to his room to pick out clothing.

What should I wear? ALL of my shorts look weird on me since they are either too short or to big on my waist, except for the purple ones but I have already worn them this week...

As he is thinking he goes through his underwear finding one of the new pair of boxer briefs he had gotten when his mother had purchased school clothes for him. She had gotten him a brand new wardrobe that he hasn't even touched yet, preferring to wait till the weather cooled down since it was all pants and long sleeved button pulled on the underwear and looked in the back of his closet for some old shorts. He found three pairs that wouldn't fall off his slender frame but each one would be above his knees.

Oh well there is no helping it, I can not change the way I'm am built. The black ones are the longest so I'll wear them , at least the are not as bad as the swim trunks... they look like they belong on a girl but I had to get a pair that would stay on my waist...*sigh*

Since Eddward had packed everything he would need into a backpack the night before he grabbed the phone and walked downstairs to eat breakfast.

He walks into the laundry room first to pull his hat out of the dryer since he washed it the night before. As he walks back into the kitchen he sees a new sticky note from his mother.

Dear Eddward,

Have a wonderful day at the beach, and do not do anything shameful. I have left you some money on the counter in case you need anything extra, and your weekly deposit has been made. I should be home next Saturday, but I can make no promises.

Love,Mother

Eddward finishes the note and looks on the counter. Just like he was told there was money sitting there. He ignores the money and pulls some blueberries and margarine out of the fridge. He snacks on the berries while he makes himself some toast.

After he has finished eating he picks up his backpack and makes a phone call.

"Peach Creek Taxi Service, this is Douglas how can I help you? "

"Hello, this is the Vincent residence."

"Oh hello Eddward you mother called and told us you would let us know when you were ready to be picked up. Do you want me to send Mitch over now?"

Oh thank goodness, Mitch is the cleanest of the drivers that work for them.

"Yes please, it will be thirty minutes correct? "

"Yes sir Mitch will be there in thirty"

Double D hung up the phone and picked the money up from the counter before he took his backpack and walked outside. He stood on the porch and took a deep breath of the morning air before walking over to Ed's house.

Where are they? Ah! There they are.

He picks up Jimmy's floats and heads back to his house. As Eddward is walking he sees Kevin's mom sitting on her porch reading. He changes directions and heads her way calling out a greeting so as to not startle her.

"Salutations, Mrs. Barr, how are you this fine morning? "

She looks up from her novel with surprise.

"Eddward, why arn't you at the beach with the other kids? "

"Well Mrs. Barr I am going separately since there was no more room in the car. "

"Edd dear its just you and I here you can call me Elizabeth like normal. Now why was the no more room? "

"Well when Ed asked for a ride to the beach Joyce insisted that Sarah be allowed to join and Sarah insisted that Jimmy join. So to avoid any problems I offered to get my own ride. "

"I see... god that woman annoys me, she is just so rude and selfish... Anyway how are you getting there? Do you need a ride? "

"It is fine Elizabeth, Mother made arrangements for a taxi service. They know me by name and take me anywhere I need to go. Mother receives a monthly bill so I don't have to worry about the cost. "

"Well if your sure, now come sit with me and let us discuss that book you lent me. It was amazing dear but I would have never guessed that you would read something like that."

"Book? Oh. That's right I let you borrow 'Like Water for Chocolate' right? I always loved that one, I found it on a list of books for English 1 at a community college. The story just... makes me feel when I read it. "

"No I can see how it would, is a story about trying to break out of the role you have been designated to, to be your own person. Of course the romance and somewhat graphic scenes surprised me when I read them. "

"Yes I could see that it would but I was unaware of them-"

Eddward was cut off by the a rival of a peach colored taxi across the street at his home.

"I'm sorry Elizabeth, I have to go now I hope your day goes well. "

"Thank you Edd, I'll see you next time. Have fun! "

Eddward runs over to the taxi and is about to get in when he remembers one last thing he wanted to tell her.

"Next time I come over I'm going to bring you some tea ok? I remember you liked the blueberry one. "

They smiled at each other as Edd got into the car. The driver got Edds attention ending the moment between the two unlikely friends.

"So where to today Eddward? "

"I'm going to meet some friends at the beach, we are meeting at the lifeguard tower closest to Vineyard Avenue. "

"Ok I'll get ya there ASAP. "

The car ride was fairly uneventful. Eddward spent the fifteen minutes reading Stephen King's "Desperation" and looking out the window.

"We're here."

"Thank you Mitch, I really appreciate it. Also could you please schedule for someone to pick me up at 7 ? I do not have a cell phone to make the call myself. "

"Alrighty, I can do that for you."

Edd grabbed his backpack and headed to the sandy area ahead of him. He stopped and watched as his friends were still setting up their campsite. He saw a small tree a few meters away from everyone and went to sit under it and read while he waited for everyone to finish.