Life at the Lake, Essay Example

As annoyed as I am with my father’s horrendous singing, I need the water today. I can’t wait until I am older when I can just take the boat out alone. I doubt it will ever happen after the death of my cousin. When he turned 18, his father gave him the gift of solo boating. It was a decision that my Uncle Ray soon regretted. When Justin didn’t return home for dinner, his mother knew something was wrong. She begged Ray to wait until Justin was at least 21. He refused. He said “The only way to teach a boy about these waters is to put him out there on his own.” My father learned a valuable lesson from that and told me “Son, you’ll just have to wait a little bit longer.

I love my Paw. As much as I hate to admit it, I know I am his favorite. There are five of us “darlings” as my mother calls us. There’s of course Tommy (that’s me), Charity, Mike, Rebecca and Earlene. We are the Faykus family and I am the oldest of the children. Our grandparents, like everyone else in these parts, live on a farm about 15 miles west of the lake where we live. We don’t get out to visit them much. Our Paw likes to keep us boating, fishing and swimming.  Although he’s never really said this, we believe that since life on the farm was so difficult for him, he’s determined to make the lives of his children fun and carefree. I don’t know how much that’s helping since the winter months are so cold and full of canning in these parts. That’s about the only time we go see our grandparents. The winter time for us equals lots and lots of canning. Vegetables, fruits, soups and everything else you can think of.

Here lately, I am about the only one who wants to go to the farm during the summer. I am pretty sure everyone knows it’s because I met Grace. Grace Tate is the daughter of the mayor in these parts. She’s blonde with big beautiful eyes and long flowing legs. She wears the sweetest smelling perfume and she doesn’t walk – she glides. Seeing her in church on Sunday mornings is like seeing the face of an angel. I promised myself I would ask her out the next time I saw her but when I did see her again, Juan Messo was all in her face. She was all smiles as it she liked it so I just walked pass her as if she didn’t exist. I may have acted like she didn’t exist on the outside but on the inside my heart was singing “Amazing Grace.” There’s the big boat ride next weekend and I don’t care who she’s talking to. I am going to make sure I let her know how I feel. Now, I just have to convince Paw to let me go. He leavsing for Colorado to visit Auntie Bella and we’re not allowed on the boat unless he’s with us.

“Paw, you know the big boat ride is next weekend and everybody is going to be there. What are we supposed to do around here since you’ll be in Colorado?” I asked.

“Well, helping your mother I guess” Paw replied. “

“She doesn’t need my help. Can’t the girls help her around the house” I asked.

“Listen, Justin. You know I would never let you out on the boat alone or even with your other brother so get that thought out of your head!” Paw exclaimed.

“Aw forget it, then” I said in great disappointment as I stormed out on the pier. There is no way I am not going to go on the boat ride. I have to see Grace. There is only one way to do it and that’s to sneak the boat out on my own. If I get caught, I am a dead boy walking. I have never disobeyed my parents to this extreme.

Mama drove Paw up to the airport. I convinced the others to go with Mama since Paw had taken so many bags and she would need someone to keep her company in the car. After seeing Paw off to see Auntie Bella, I quickly went inside the shed to get the keys and a cooler. I loaded up the boat and hid my Coca-Cola and Ginger Ale in the cooler. I would come back later for ice. By the time Mama returned it was 7:00. She went to bed and my siblings sat down for a movie and popcorn. I, on the other hand, was on my way to see Grace Tate.