LOCAL SUMMER

“Hey, Alex!” I called to my son. “You want to take a quick trip to the beach?” I was just finishing loading the dishwasher with all the dinner dishes.

Alex came out of his room, looking at his phone. “Sure. We have another hour before it gets dark.”

“Great!” I dropped the detergent pod in the slot, closed the door and turned it on. “Let me grab my keys and I’m ready to go!”

As we were driving to the beach we had our windows down enjoying the sounds of the cicadas buzzing their summer song.

“I’m going to miss that sound.” I sighed.

“What sound?”

“The cicadas, I just love that buzz.” I sighed again. “It’s so summer.”

“But it’s still summer.” Alex laughed. “Why do you always do that?”

“What?”

“Rush the season away. Last week you were saying you couldn’t believe it was already fall!”

“Well it’s fall to me.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Once school starts it’s fall.”

“Fall doesn’t start for another few days.” he reached over and patted me on the shoulder. “Would you please just try to enjoy the last few days of it?”

I had to laugh. “I’ll try.”

We were pulling up to the parking lot at the beach. As I climbed out of the car holding my sweatshirt I could feel a warm breeze blowing. “Hey, I’m not even going to need this!” I tossed the sweatshirt back in the car and locked the doors.

As we were walking to the beach I couldn’t help but stop and slowly inhale. “I just love the smell of the ocean.”

Alex nodded. “It is nice down here tonight.”

We walked along the path through the sand dunes. Once we were through the dunes Alex and I quickly scanned up and down the beach.

“I can’t believe more people aren’t down here.” Alex noticed. “It’s beautiful out.”

“Shhh…” I looked over at him. “It’s local summer.” I whispered. “It’s our turn to enjoy the beach.”

Alex laughed. “I’m pretty sure it’s not a secret that it’s nice down here this time of year.”

I shrugged my shoulders again as we got closer to the shoreline and sat down on the sand. “I have no idea why more people aren’t here.” I looked over at Alex smiled. “But I love it!”

I reached down and picked up a seashell that was partially buried in the sand and held it out for him to see. “Not as good as the ones you usually find but it’s still pretty nice.”

Alex nodded as I slipped it in my pocket. We both got quiet as we listened to the waves crashing against the shoreline and the seagulls squawking to one another as they ran around the sand looking for food.

I took another deep breath. “I really do love it here.”

“Yeah, me too.” Alex reached over and patted me on the shoulder. “I’m glad to see you’re still enjoying your summer.”

“At least for a few more days.” I nodded my head and looked over at him. “Maybe we’ll even have a really nice Indian summer this year!”

“See, that’s a better way to think!”

We listened to the waves for a few more minutes.

“But I still have to go back to school again tomorrow.” I grumbled.

“And the real you is back!” Alex laughed.