literature

Change of Plans Chapter One

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When my family told me at the end of my senior year of high school that because I was going to college on the west coast that they all wanted to move out there, I was fine with it.  Strangely, what I wasn't too found of was the fact that they wanted to use my summer to make a cross-country tour of the United States to get there.  What was I going to do?  It wasn't like I cared much that I was leaving my friends from high school behind.  We were all going to be close and keep in contact through FacePage because it was where we felt the most confident, but I still wanted one last hurrah with them.  My parents in general were pretty good minded people, but many people who were not my friends in school referred to them as hippies.
I guess it was true to the average onlooker.  They were both independent bloggers on many sites that talked about organic lifestyles and vegan cuisine.  Yes, it seems nerdy, but I swear I'm not like them!  I eat steak!  I wear fur!  I'm not perfect and the life that my parents were leading just became too difficult when I realized that there were options.  I loved my parents deeply, but I would never tell them that I was actually happy that they were moving to the west coast to be near me.  It would be nice to know that I had family near by and Christmases wouldn't be spent alone in a dorm.  Still…I was a little ashamed of losing my summer to drive with them across the country.  
The first few days were pretty easy, I read my eReader filled to the brim with free young adult fiction and occasionally checked my phone for new messages from my friends.  It sucked some days because they would send pictures of them having a great time near the beach or miniature golfing with messages claiming that they wished I was there.  Did they really?  Or did it just seem like the polite thing to say to a friend that probably wouldn't be your friend in three months?  The idea of not really having a reason to go to the east coast was daunting but I tried to deal with it.
We stopped at hotels and bed and breakfasts most nights and my parents and I all took turns driving the old sedan.  Despite my parent's strict views about organic foods and vegan consumption, they had no problems hiring people to drive the moving truck and put our belongings in our new house.  Go figure.  
It was about ten days into our trip when I realized just how frightening it truly was knowing that my friends and I were having less in common as the days wore on.  I tossed my phone on the other side of the back seat and grumped audibly.  My mother turned around from the passenger side and tucked a long strange of her virgin brown hair before locking her hazel eyes on mine.
"What's wrong Clover?" she asked in that sweet, I'm a good parent tone that just comes to her naturally for some reason.
I harrumphed at her for still not understanding.  "Mom, I've been telling you since the 5th grade that even though that's my first name I don't want to use it.  Please use my middle name like everyone else does."
She rolled her eyes playfully.  "I'm sorry Terra.  What's wrong?"
You heard right.  My name is Clover Terra Winfield.  Hooray for parents!
"Nothing, just thinking about what I am missing at home I guess."
"You miss your friends already?  It hasn't even been a fortnight,"
"Mom…please…language," I scolded her for her strange terms to describe obvious things as if she was cursing.
"You know Clovers we have family out here," my dad interjected seeming like he hadn't paid any attention to our previous conversation.  I decided just to let this one go.  I crinkled up my nose and looked out the window.  The land out here in the sticks was flat and full of trees and wildlife.
"Who the f would want to live out here?"
"Your father has family everywhere," my mom added with a smile.  I had to give it to my parents, because despite their strange lifestyle it really was helping them age quite well.  Despite my mom being in her forties she really could pass for a mom in her early thirties.  Her skin was pale and smooth not a wrinkle or crease in sight.  It made me wonder about what was going to happen to me when I was her age what with my constant diet of chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese.  
"Well that's nice…"I offered back to them.
"I was thinking we would stay there for a few days," my dad kept going.  "Just so we all can get a few nights rest."
"Really?" I grouched not really sure why though.
"He has cable Clovers.  And high speed internet,"
My tech obsessed ears perked up at the thought of spending hours in front of the computer while watching re-runs of shows I had been missing.
"Then why is he your relative?" I chuckled.  My parents weren't really into these things, getting a cell phone was a big enough battle.  I basically lied and said I needed it for emergencies when the school was preaching that healthy diets didn't include Tofu.  They happily obliged but I didn't see the point in pushing my luck after that.  To be in a new home, though strange was a welcome change if I could have cable and internet and not have to sit in this cramped car for a few days.
"Who is it?"
"Who Clovers?"
"The relative!" I blurted out.  "Who is the relative?"
"One of my younger cousins."
"How much younger?" I asked.
"Oh…he's probably in his late twenties…early thirties now."
"Sound exciting," I lied.
"It may be more exciting than you think Clovers."
My father turned his complete attention back to driving then and my mom turned away and began a private conversation with him.  Great, some weirdo living out in the boonies with who knows what my father would find exciting.
At least he had cable.
Okay, so I get that I need to provide some sort of closing to Sunny Loves Beckon and/or I Was the First. I understand!! Lol, but I really wanted to start posting this next story. You may notice that I am a little disorganized with what I post and what the heck I am doing. Please understand that sometimes I just sit down for half and hour and bang out a chapter or two and I just around with my stories based on how I am feeling. Sigh!! I hope you enjoy yet another new story! :-)
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CDupre's avatar
Internet and cable. VERY important.