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It was a fine weekend.

 

 

School just ended and summer is coming in with a blast.

 

 

But what made that weekend more special was the newly set up carnival near the beach.

 

 

Me and Greg could not be more ecstatic about it and keeping the excitement in was almost unbearable.

 

 

That was our very first time to ever witness a carnival and the thrill of the new experience was intoxicating.

 

 

I struggled to remember how many rides we had gone to, how much food we ate, how much money we spent, how much we walked around that paradise because my five year-old self was too damn hypnotized to the spellbinding ambience.

 

 

All the while, Mum and Dad tried their best to catch up with our enthusiasm.

 

 

Dad hardly had time to enjoy his root beer before we went invisible again getting in line to the next ride.

 

 

Mum laughing with pure amusement all the while as she kept her watch on us.

 

 

It was a really fun new adventure to me that I actually cursed the time’s annoying speed.

 

 

The clock said it was past three in the morning but people are still crowding the wondrous little world of rides and prizes.

 

 

The frenzy is so contagious that it made sleeping out of the options.

 

 

My Dad declared that his wallet was almost empty and we barely had enough for gas so we should better get going.

 

 

But as young wild boys, we refused to end it.

 

 

My Mum assured that we can come back again the next day.

 

 

But my feet were already in motion dashing away from them towards nowhere.

 

 

I guess I had wild hormones in me more than the average child should have, back then.

 

 

I know I must’ve freaked my parents out by now and they must be worried to death about me and my whereabouts but the feeling of the grains of the sand coveringmy toes underneath my sandals washed it all away.

 

 

The smell of the sea, the fresh air of the breaking dawn and the soothing hums from the giant coconut trees just planted me in place.

 

 

Suddenly, voices calling my name faded in.

 

 

My Mum came to me first and clung to me as if I had been abducted.

 

 

My Dad gave me a concerned look, probably from my sudden disappearance and the shortage of money in his pocket.

 

 

And my brother just smiled like I was an idiot and crossed his arms around his chest standing there cocky as ever.

 

 

‘Niall!’

 

 

My Mum’s worried tone came to existence as she pulled away from me.

 

 

‘Don’t scare me like that! Ever! I almost had a heart attack.’

 

 

I just apologized for my stupidity and out of nowhere, just sat flat on the sandy plain.

 

 

They all gave me a quizzical look as if I had gone completely insane.

 

 

‘Well, you don’t expect us to join you in, right Niall? We have to go home. We need to rest.’

 

 

My Mum said.

 

 

I just looked at her with the goofiest smile across my face and said:

 

 

‘But the sand likes me here!’

 

 

That caused my brother and Dad to laugh their hearts out.

 

 

‘You should take off your sandals and feel it. It’s really good, you see.’

 

 

I urged them.

 

 

My Mum and Dad exchanged glances but Greg immediately jumped out of his sandals and joined me in the sand.

 

 

‘He’s right Mum! The sand does feel good!’

 

 

My 9 year-oldbrotherhappily stated.

 

 

‘Greg!’

 

 

My Mum spat in disbelief.

 

 

‘But it’s true!’

 

 

My brother insisted attempting to convince our disbelieving parent.

 

 

My Mum produced a frustrated sound and my Dad tried calming her down.

 

 

‘Honey, clam down. They’re just boys, you know. This is a new thing for them and you and I both know it’ll be hard for them to get over it.’

 

 

My brother and I nodded in unison as agreement to our dad’s comment.

 

 

‘But honey, we need to go home. We need to rest. I am tired. And it’s way past bedtime! It’s nearly sunrise!’

 

 

‘You’re right Mum!’

 

 

I happily chirped in.

 

 

‘It is way past bedtime. But it’s summer, you see. We have no school tomorrow so we could sleep late. Plus, I really want to watch the sun coming out from the sea!’

 

 

‘But baby, Mum’s tired. Mum needs to sleep.’

 

 

‘Then let’s sleep here! Together! The sand can be our bed, although it’s kind of rough. But…I think we’ll get used to it…eventually.’

 

 

Everybody looked at me baffled by my idea but my Dad smiled down at me and kicked hisshoes off as well.

 

 

Maybe Dad liked my idea.

 

 

My Mum heaved out a deep long sigh and her blue eyes just looked back at me like I was the craziest son she gave birth to and smiled sincerely.

 

 

She shook her head in disbelief and chuckled.

 

 

‘Oh, well. I wouldn’t want to spoil my son’s weekend, would I?’

 

 

She beamed at me and right then, she yanked off her heels and came to my side.

 

 

Her gentle hands embraced my tiny body as she let her tired legs spread out on the cool sandy ground underneath her.

 

 

I looked to my other side and saw my brother and Dad doing the same.

 

 

Suddenly, my Mum sang.

 

 

She has the most calming vocals and every time she sings, I can’t help but just listen to her.

 

 

Before I knew it, my head was on her lap and my eyes became heavy.

 

 

As she continued to croon us with her lullaby, I drifted away to slumber.

 

 

****

 

 

The gentle shaking of my tiny shoulders woke me up from my sleep.

 

 

I rubbed my eyes trying to regain my consciousness.

 

 

‘Niall, wake up.’

 

 

My Mum’s whisper filled my ears.

 

 

I looked at her bright pretty features in confusion.

 

 

‘Baby, look…’

 

 

She looked in front of us and I followed her gaze.

 

 

I realized we were still lying on the beach.

 

 

But there’s new to the picture.

 

 

Gone was the darkness of the place.

 

 

A great white, yellow and orange colored horizon welcomed my eyes.

 

 

And I rose to my feet as I witnessed sunrise as I have never seen it before.

 

 

The view was too damn beautiful to describe.

 

 

My hand involuntarily stretched out in front of me as if I was trying to reach for the sun.

 

 

I hadn’t realized that my family was on their feet too looking down at me with smiles painted on their faces.

 

 

A hand held my free hand and I realized it was my Mum’s and I looked to where my Dad and Greg was and all I could see was the shine in their eyes as the sun’s beautiful arrival occurred.

 

 

I smiled and have I never felt so happy in my childhood as I watched a new day arise before me with my family on my side.

 

 

‘I love y’all.’

 

 

I uttered barely a whisper.

 

 

And I do.

 

 

I really, really do.

++++

Soooooo... yeah... this is basicallya family flashback and yeah... i really liked how the way it turned out hehe

Pic on the side is our own Horan bros. in their early childhood.. yeah yeah yeah...you already know where i stole this photo from haha

As always, comment, vote, follow me and let's all watch Story of My Life over and over again!!!

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