And maybe for that reason, as I go outside, it gets me thinking about when I was younger, like a little kid. Back then I used to love riding in the back of Dad’s pick up, on the flat bed I mean. With my head up in the breeze, and feeling the wind make my cheeks wobble. It wasn’t this truck of course, he had an old Ford then, and this one’s a Toyota. It’s funny how some things change, and some stay the same. Now I get in the driver’s side and wait until Dad climbs in next to me.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Just keep your eyes on the road.”
I start the engine and put it into drive.
“You are gonna be alright, aren’t you?” Dad says after a while. I’d been paying attention, so it surprised me. We’re just crossing over the river that divides the Littlelea end of the beach from the main part, where the tourist town of Silverlea sits. Then I have to turn right onto the main road that links up to Newlea. We need to make a stop there.
“Course I’ll be all right. Dad, all over the country about a million kids are going to college. Why would I be any different?”
“Yeah, but they’re all a year older than you.”
For a moment I’m silenced by Dad’s argument. I worked really hard this last year so I could skip a year of school. It didn’t seem worth hanging about here studying stuff I already knew, not when I know what I want to do with my life. Might as well get on with it.
“Boston University has the best undergraduate Marine Biology course in the country. It’s you I’m more worried about. Leaving you here on your own.”
“Don’t be.” Dad smiles. “I’ve got Milla.” That’s Dad’s latest girlfriend. He discovered this dating app about a year ago, and went through about fifty girlfriends in a month, but this one seems to have stuck. She’s cool though, I like her.
We drive on for a bit, and I can sense Dad watching what speed I’m driving.
“If you actually want to get there, Bill, you might want to put your foot down a little.”
I mostly ignore this, but accelerate a bit.
We come to the outskirts of Newlea, and I turn off the main road and over towards my old high school. Just before I get there I turn right and pull up in a little cul-de-sac. Normally I’d honk the horn, or use my cell phone, but I want to get out. I feel restless. Dad follows me, and together we go up the path towards Amber’s house. In the window of the front room I’m pleased to see my latest poster. Save our Sea-Dragons. I said before they were seahorses, and they are really, but there’s one species that’s unique to Lornea Island, and the local people here call them Sea-Dragons.
“She’s just getting ready.” It’s Amber’s mom who opens the door, and when she sees Dad she gives him a look, like neither of them can be trusted to speak because they’re both too emotional.
“Hello Mrs Atherton,” I say, and she gives me the same weak smile Dad did earlier.
“Is that Billy?” I hear Amber’s voice shouting down from up the stairs. “I’m just coming, can you load my stuff?” In the hallway there are two giant suitcases as well as an enormous backpack. I don’t know why she needs so much stuff.
“I’ll get them,” Dad says, but I give him a hand, and so does Amber’s mom. Together we wheel and heft the bags down towards the Toyota and heave them in, then stand there looking at them, like we’re admiring what a great job we’ve done, or just marveling at the size of it all. But really it’s like before, when no one wants to say anything because we’re all a bit sad at what’s happening. The moment is only broken when Amber’s sister comes running out the house.
“Hey Billy!” she says to me, and her voice is so bright and alive I feel it for a second, what Dad and Amber’s Mom are sensing, that this is the end of an era, that none of us are ever going to see each other again, although of course we are.
“Hey Gracie,” I reply. She’s eight now but she’s still holding her toy rabbit. She doesn’t like letting go of it after what happened last year.
“I wish you didn’t have to go away Billy,” Gracie says. And at the same time, Amber appears at the top of the stairs with yet another suitcase.
“I know,” I reply. “But I’m coming back. And if you come visit I can take you to the aquarium. I know the manager there.” Gracie doesn’t really look too excited by this, and I’m glad that Amber comes downstairs at this point.
“Hi,” she says breathlessly. “You ready? Don’t want to miss the boat.”
I mean to answer, but suddenly I don’t think I can, so I look around her hallway for a second instead, not making eye contact with anyone. I can’t believe I’m not going to see this place for such a long time. I can’t believe I’m actually going. But Amber doesn’t seem to be feeling anything.
“Come on!” she says, and leads the way outside.
Amber isn’t going to college with me, she’s already been, though not to a real university like Boston. She already did a design course, here on Lornea Island, but the problem is there aren’t that many jobs here for designers, so she had to get one in Boston. But by chance her job starts at the same time that the fall semester begins, and she
