J looked around at the family gathered in the living room, excitement and a hint of nervousness in his eyes. "I've got some big news," he announced, his voice a mix of excitement and apprehension. The room fell silent, all eyes on him. "I've been offered a job with Olivarez Honey Bees... in California." The words hung in the air like the suspended dust particles illuminated by the sun.
Mom hugged each of the girls, her eyes misty but her smile firm. "It's a new adventure for all of us," she reassured them, her voice steady. Tayw, perched in the middle seat of the truck, bounced with excitement, already dreaming of the road ahead. The narrator, settled by the window, fiddled with the lever to adjust the glass, feeling the cool morning breeze against their face.
Tayw sat on the edge of the bed, gingerly biting into an apple. Suddenly, his face lit up in surprise. "My tooth!" he exclaimed, holding up the apple with a small tooth embedded in it. Mom chuckled, handing him a couple of dollars with a wink. "Looks like the Tooth Fairy travels too," she said, tucking him in for the night.
The narrator watched the snowflakes melt against the window, each one a fleeting masterpiece. J kept a steady hand on the wheel, his gaze fixed on the road. "Remember when we built that snowman last year?" he asked, a smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, it melted in a day," replied the narrator, laughter bubbling up like the warmth of shared memories.
The narrator snapped photos with their 2DS, capturing moments to savor later. One of the girls tugged on Mom's sleeve, pointing at the dessert menu. "Can we have ice cream for dinner?" she asked, eyes wide with hope. "Just this once," Mom replied, laughter in her voice.
J glanced at the "Beware of Falling Rocks" sign, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Hope we don't get squashed," he quipped, earning a playful nudge from Mom. The narrator leaned back, the monotonous landscape blurring into a sandy canvas of dreams and possibilities. "I can't wait to see our new home," they murmured, thoughts drifting to what awaited them in California.
