JAMES ELLERBEE: Perfect Day, 2nd high school

It was an early April morning, the sun had just risen above the distant buildings, the dew fairies had made their rounds, all was serene. This specific day, however, was special to me and my family. April 30th, or as we know it, my birthday. This year, I told my parents that I wanted nothing more than to travel to Destin, Florida, and visit the local water parks and other tourist attractions. So, in true Ellerbee family fashion, my parents loaded me and my brother into the back seat of our four door black Chevy Silverado and set out the day before. Back to present day, I awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs, my favorite breakfast.

As I descended down the ever so treacherous carpet stairs, I rounded the corner at the bottom and bolted to the kitchen table, where my plate had already been set.

“Morning squirt!” my dad boomed, catching me off guard.

“You’ve got a big day ahead of you sweetie. Be sure to eat a big, hearty breakfast before we leave,” reminded my mom.

I immediately directed my attention to the plate that had been laid out before me. Bacon cooked to perfection and eggs sunny side up, just the way I preferred. Scarfing the meal down, I used the piece of toast provided to me to wipe up every last bit of egg yolk and carried the plate to the sink for washing. I then proceeded to almost rewind back upstairs where my day had began and put on the set of clothes I had prepared the night before just for the occasion. It was going to be the perfect birthday.

My parents, my brother, and I all climbed into the truck and started my day off at the outlet stores. I was specifically looking for a basketball mini hoop and some new clothes. As we went in store after store, my family began to notice a reoccurring trend. Every store we visited were out of my size for clothes! Disappointed but still hopeful, I dashed into the Nike Factory, praying to find the mini hoop. Instead, I only scavenged a soccer ball. Today just was not beginning the way I had initially thought it would, but I still believed the water parks would provide some enjoyment.

“Well kiddo,” my father said, his voice full of astonishment. “Maybe Big Kahuna’s Water Park will come through for us.” I only hoped he was right.

Driving down US-98, my parents both started apologizing for how the outlet stores did not have my size and how they wished they could do something about the situation. I had to reassure them both multiple times that everything was fine and today was still awesome. As soon as the words left my mouth, we pulled into Big Kahuna’s parking lot, where there were only two cars parked in the entire lot.

“Wonder where everyone is?” my mother asked, half hoping to hear an answer.

“I think I might have just found out,” my brother replied, peering and pointing at the ticket booths. On the front window of the information center was a poster that stated the park was currently under reconstruction and was shut down until further notice.

“So much for that,” my father spoke out, sadness filling his every word. “How about we just talk this over at lunch?”

An hour or so later, the four of us were sitting around a table at the local Chili’s, plotting our next action.

“I’m just at a loss right now. I seriously do not know what to do,” my father finally said. “I can not come up with any where to go!”

“Why not just go to the beach? Surely it is not closed,” I suggested. As if a light bulb turned on, both my parents agreed, completely ecstatic at the idea. My dad paid the lunch bill and we skipped out of Chili’s on a new mission. We drove back to the condo, changed clothes, and set back out.

Arriving at the beach nearest our condo, we searched and searched for a parking spot until finally, as if it was a sign that we were on the right path, a mini van began backing out of a front row parking spot. Wheeling in behind, I could hardly contain my excitement. I jumped out of the back seat and bolted down the ramp that led to the beach. As soon as my feet hit the warm sand, I knew this was the correct decision. My parents rented an umbrella with lounge chairs and set up camp about fifteen feet from the water. We played all day long, and that is when I realized something. The reason why my birthday was so amazing was not because of the things my family did, but rather that I got to spend time with the people I love the most. That is all I truly wanted in the end. With that, the four of us went home after being exhausted from the beach and hit the hay, which concluded the perfect birthday.