Saving the best for last

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“It's such a shame that my summer was nothing to write about. It was boring, it was hectic and it was draining! Remind me never to visit Grandpas again, please.”

“But at least you had a full house, your cousins were there, and you really did look forward to being there.”

“Eh! I can't complain”.

“But you are complaining Treasure”

“No I'm not, I'm just responding to you mom!”

“Ok Barrister. Your father and I will come pick you up before falls.”

“Mom, please, you and dad should not come late. Wait…. You know what? Please book me the flight and I'll come down myself. I would rather not be the last kid to resume school AGAIN!”

“You won't. We'd be there before the leaves all turn pale.”

“Mom! That means I would be homeschooled, at grandpa's.”

“Ok, ok, we'd be there, just you expect us.”

“Ok mom. Talk to you soon, we about to have the grandpa dance…"

“Aww see? Fun already”, Belinda cuts in as she chuckled in delight.

“Whatever mom…. See you, love you.” Treasure concluded.

“Bye Treasure.” Belinda bids her daughter farewell as the line disconnects.

“Treasure!!!! The dance is about to start, hurry". Louisa, Treasure's cousin, called.

“Oh God, end this summer already," Treasure cried out as she looked to the high heavens trying to bribe God with her fake teary face.

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For the rest of the afternoon, everyone danced and ate. There were plenty of tropical fruits and ice-cold drinks for the sizzling weather. Despite it being the tail end of summer, the sun still burns slightly and the Wellingtons sure know how to take advantage of the weather conditions to party and cool off.

At the end of the party, Treasure and some of her Cousins gathered and cleaned up the house.

“Times like this, I wish it was a beach party.” Treasure whined.

“I'm with you on this T, I hate house parties, especially when I get involved in the cleaning.” John supported.

“Hmph. See him, you hate house parties, but you danced the most and ate the most.” Brenda fired.

“Well, I miss the beach and Summer is almost ending, so I doubt we are ever going back there.” Louisa lamented.

“Yeah, any moment from now, some of us will be leaving and some of our parents will be coming to pick us up. It was fun knowing you guys”, Hector joked.

“Hurry for the grandpa's dance group photo, children”. Grandma Bridget urged.

Every Summer, the Wellingtons have a tradition where they all come together for the holiday. It used to be a big one involving all their 6 children and 15 grandchildren, but as time progresses and as everyone grows older, they tend to get caught up with life and too busy to join in.

Some would stay briefly and leave just in time to resume at their various places of work, others would just drop off their children while few stayed for the whole Summer.

Grandpa Wellington is a veteran, with a thriving wine company now ran by his two eldest sons. There's not much left of his life, so his children makes sure to uphold his Summer traditions.

After the family photo, everyone went about their business. Treasure used that as an opportunity to pack up, anticipating her parent's arrival. She loves her Grandparents, but she undeniably misses home, especially now she's off age and has a love interest. As she packed, her phone rang, and it was her boyfriend, Luke.

“Speak of the devil, hi baby”.

“Hey babe, have you been thinking of me?” Luke inquired.

“No…. Why should I? When you are not food”. Treasure teased as she wore a sheepish smile.

“Hmm…. Continue deceiving yourself, my love, how's the holiday winding up? Hoping to see you next weekend?”

“I wish, Luke, I WISH. You know how it is with my parents, they'll take another week to get here and then some extra days to fly back. By the time I get there, you should be a graduate with a wife and a kid”.

“How do I become a married man without you, my love?”

“Aww Luke.”

“Aww Luke.” Palmer who has been eavesdropping mimicked and looked at Treasure in disgust. He continued, “Aunty Keisha wants to know whether you are still having dinner or not, hurry with your response. I have no time.”

“Hold on babe, let me deal with a minor irritant.” Treasure covered the speaker of her phone, turned to Palmer and then responded, “tell her I'll have dinner and next time better not cut in words in my conversations…. Peasant”.

“I do not blame you. Next time, I'll tell her you aren't interested so you can starve.” He paused for a brief second upon sighting Treasure's suitcase then he continued, “packing as if you are going to leave here before any of us,” Palmer gave a long hiss and left.

Treasure went on with her phone call as she packed simultaneously.

For the remaining week, everyone was busy packing and preparing to go back to their normal lives. Treasure was excited and looking forward to seeing her parents.

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The last night of the Summer holiday, is usually a feast at the Wellingtons. Every member of the family made sure to be available, well, except Treasure's parents, who both operate sensitive positions at their workplace.

Early hours of the morning before the day they bid themselves farewell, the teens still had no idea where they were going for the feast. But in the previous night, Palmer had come to give a hint that they were going to a Carnival.

All efforts to know the location proved abortive, and the grownups wanted it to be a surprise.

They all got into the family bus and set on their journey. Of course, it wasn't a boring trip. The bus is like a mobile home, and they all had their entertainments provided.

The journey took 12 hours and the teens felt they were exhausted from the road travels but as they got out to the beauty of the Oasis, they were energized and pumped! They didn't know what to get on first.

There was the carnival, the circus, the amusement park, the inviting pool of water surrounded by tall palms and carpet grass. They were wowed! And as the adults set camp, the teens gathered for a picture with the adults joining afterwards.

As everyone screamed summer…. Treasure couldn't help but turn around to the familiar voice of her parents and Luke.

She saw them and screamed for joy as she jumped on the three of them, creating one of their best family photographs yet. And as they partied, Treasure wished it wasn't the last night of Summer but the first when she just got to the Wellingtons.