The Move

I remember it being windy...

...it was a bleak contrast to how it had been the last few days; hot, humid, sticky. It was the one thing about the East Coast that I absolutely hated. But at least we were still there for the time being.

My mom, my dad, my brother Tanner, and I decided to go to the beach one last time before going to the worst possible place to go right before my senior year: PALM SPRINGS.

And what truly sucked about the whole thing was that we had no choice.

My Grandpa Si was diagnosed with cancer a little over a year ago, and decided that he no longer wanted treatment, and because he refused to leave the house that my late grandmother loved so much, we had no choice but to move in with him, leaving Fort Lauderdale and everything I ever knew. After 17 years, I had to start over.

And so my family and I stood and the beach, all of us wishing we had a choice, and wishing for the rain to fall.

We left the beach with heavy hearts, but we all knew that we had to go. Grandpa Si needed us to be there in his last few months of life. This was going to be difficult, especially because Grandpa Si was my best friend in the world, but at least we would be there to help him.

"So did you say goodbye to all of your friends?"

"As many of them as I could."

I've never been particularly good at goodbyes, so when my friends asked me if I wanted a going-away party, I said no. No one wants to feel like they're prolonging the inevitable, and so I just left. At least we all had Facebooks.

The flight to Palm Springs wasn't bad in a technical sense, but the closer we got to California, the more it felt like a death march. I felt more and more like I was being pushed and shoved in every direction possible, and the more I felt like collapsing.

"We are now making our final approach into Palm Springs. Please keep your seat belt fastened until we are at the gate, and thank you for flying U.S. Airways."

This was it. The final stretch of the death march.

At the baggage claim, a cheerful looking limo-driver with a sign that said "Welcome Home, Avery Family" greeted us.

"Wow, he really pulled out all the stops on this one, didn't he?"

Oh yeah, did I mention that Grandpa Si is completely loaded? He was the one that bought me my blue Honda CR-V, Harriet, and he will be giving me a shitload of money to put towards college. He told me this when I was 8, using those same words.

"Hello, Avery family!"

Told you he looked cheerful.

"You must be Aidan, and this lovely woman must be Cheryl. Now which one is Dan and which one is Tanner?"

"I am Tanner, and the older and more boring one is Dan."

Tanner was 14 and extraordinarily full of himself, but I didn't have the energy to tell him to get a life. So instead I just shook hands with the limo-driver.

"Well, I'm Bill, Si's chauffeur, and ultimately yours too!"

"I have a car, but thanks."

"Daniel!"

"What? I'm being straightforward with him."

In retrospect, it probably wasn't polite to shoot down Bill's desire to drive me around Palm Springs, but Harriet suited me just fine.

After collecting our luggage, Bill drove us to our new home, Grandpa Si's mansion. There were a few good things about this:

1) I had my own room.

2) I had my own garage.

3) There was maid service, therefore, I never had to clean my room again.

The only disadvantage was that Grandpa Si's room was right next door, which meant that I would be doing most of the caretaking. Not an easy job, but I could handle it. I would have to handle it.

Upon our arrival, Grandpa Si waited right inside the door in his wheelchair.

"GRANDPA!!!"

Tanner wrapped his arms around Grandpa Si.

"Hi, buddy!"

Once Tanner was finished, I took a look at my grandfather. He didn't look well, although he looked happy. He was tired, and bald, and hooked onto an IV. He looked like he had gone to Hell and back, and knew what death would bring. I hadn't seen him in full capacity since right before he was diagnosed. I don't cry very often, but this was one of those moments where it was everything I could do to hold back the waterworks.

"Hi, Grandpa."

"Hi, Danny."

I gave him a hug and kissed his forehead, but it was not nearly with the same excitement as Tanner's. Grandpa Si was different. I was different, too. I knew that it was going to be hard to see Grandpa like this, but nothing prepared me for how hard it was going to be.

"Well, make yourselves at home. Geena's got the roast cooking."

"What happened to Consuela?"

"She died a few months after I was diagnosed."

"Really? How?"

"Heart attack. So sad. Such a good cook. Well, we've all gotta die sometime."

"Or we could live forever."

We all looked at Tanner for a moment.

"That's right, buddy. We're gonna live forever."

I envied how calm Grandpa Si was about all of it. I had never really talked to him about his cancer before because I never realized the effect that it would have on me. I never thought I would be staring right at it.

Geena was no Consuela, but her roast was pretty good. She was an Italian woman in her 30s, and if I may say so, not too shabby in the looks department. But obviously too old for me.

"Mr. Avery, may I please take your plate?"

"You can call me Dan."

What? Just because she was 15 years older than me doesn't mean I couldn't be smooth.

"Okay, Dan, may I take your plate?"

"Yes please, Geena. The roast was very good."

"Thanks! I got the recipe from my mother. She--she died when I was 15. Oh god!"

Geena left the table in tears, my plate in her hands.

"Don't mind her, Danny. She's very sensitive."

"Sensitive is one thing. That was something completely different."

"Tanner, eat your potatoes."

After dinner, I went straight to my room. Grandpa had "the help" set up a twin bed for me. The walls were white, the carpet blue, and the area as a whole the size of two rooms in my old house. After I had showered and put my pajamas on, Grandpa Si wheeled into my room.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure."

Grandpa Si wheeled over by my bed.

"I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay."

"I'm fine."

I knew as soon as I said it that he knew I was lying. He always had that sense when it came to people. It was a gift that he had.

"I know that this is going to be a big change, but if it's any consolation, I'm very glad you're here. Treatment was difficult. More difficult than you or anyone else can imagine. And what's worse is that the doctors didn't note any extreme changes in my condition. The tumor is still there. If treatment did anything, it just bought me more time, but I don't want to spend the rest of my time here being high out of my mind so that I'm not nauseous. Can you understand that?"

"Of course I can, Grandpa. It's just that--well--seeing you this afternoon like this--it was painful. I just never realized it was going to hit me like this."

"Now Danny, just because I have no hair and I'm in a wheelchair doesn't mean we can't have fun together. Your car will be here in a couple days, and since I can't drive, maybe we can go for a drive together and just talk. As soon as your car is here, we'll just go. I'll even pay for gas."

I smiled.

"Sure, Gramps."

"In the mean time, Bill will be happy to bring you anywhere you need to go. Just ask. He loves driving. Never been in an accident. Go figure."

"That's crazy. Grandpa, I'm kinda tired. Long trip. Do you need me to wheel you into your room."

"No, that's okay. I may not be able to drive a car, but I'm a beast on the wheelchair."

"Ok. Goodnight Grandpa."

"Sweet dreams. I love you."

"I love you too."

I slept surprisingly well. Maybe it was because of my conversation with Grandpa, but I'm not sure.

The next morning, I woke up at about 9:00, so I figured I would go downstairs, have a bowl of cerial, and than go for a walk. After all, I had to get used to the Palm Springs heat.

"Good morning, Geena."

"Good morning, Dan. What can I make you for breakfast?"

"Well, I was just going to make myself a bowl of cerial."

"Lucky Charms, right? Si said you liked them."

"Um, yeah, but I can make it myself. It's no big deal."

"Nonsense! I'm going to do my job. And especially after all you guys have been through, it's the least I could do."

"Okay than."

I figured it was no use arguing because she was going to make me the Lucky Charms anyway.

"So how was your first night?"

"Fine. I'll be much better when I have my own bed here, though. And my car. I hate depending on people to give me rides, even if Bill loves driving."

"I know how you feel. It's your independence."

It was amazing how much Geena understood me.

"I'm gonna go for a walk around the neighborhood. Do you wanna come?"

"No thanks. I've got some work to do."

"Okay, so I guess I'll just see you later?"

"Yeah, have a nice walk."

It was already about 90 degrees when I got outside, with 0% humidity. It was about the dryest conditions I had ever dealt with. I walked for a few minutes, all-the-while feeling the direct effects of the dry heat. And then--

NOSEBLEED

Within 30 seconds, there was blood everywhere. It was disgustingly hot and sticky. I tried pinching my nose, but that just caused blood to get all over my hands. It was gushing out and spilling into my throat. I turned around to go back to Grandpa's house, but right as I turned around--

"That's not the right way to pinch your nose."

I noticed a beautiful girl right in front of me. She looked like she was my age, had incredibly curly hair, and looked like she had about a million different ethnicities within her.

"Here, let me help you out."

She came toward me, and not really knowing what else to do, I let her help me.

"What you want to do is apply pressure to the bridge of your nose and keep looking down. You also want to sit down somewhere. Let's go over to that curb."

We walked over to the curb, the beautiful girl guiding me while I kept my head down. After five minutes of sitting, she spoke again.

"How is it feeling now?"

I removed my hand and saw that my nose had stopped bleeding. I looked at myself to survey the damage. There was blood all over my hands, shirt. shorts, and even a little on my legs.

"There. Much better."

We were quiet for a moment.

"I'm Andi Wiebers. I live next door to that big house down there. This millionaire, Si Avery, lives there. My family went over there for dinner once. Beautiful house."

"I'm Dan Avery, otherwise known as the millionaire's grandson."

"For real? So are you visiting?"

"Actually my family's moving in with him."

"Oh yeah? Where are you from?"

"Florida."

"And you're moving to the middle of the desert? Who's idea was that?"

"My dad's. He felt that it was important to come help Grandpa out because he stopped doing treatment."

"Treatment? You mean--"

"Brain tumor. Diagnosed last year."

"I'm so sorry."

"It's alright. At least we'll be here for him."

"Well, I will do what I can to help make your stay easier. Hey, Clint Fabreze is having a party tonight. You should come with me. His house is bigger than your grandpa's!"

"That's possible?"

"Well, Clint's a trust-fund brat and his parents are never home, so he takes advantage of the big house to throw big parties."

I thought for a little bit. What would it hurt to get know some other people? Andi was a nice girl. I was sure there would be other people like her.

"I'll meet you outside my house at around 8?"

"Sounds like a plan. I'm gonna continue my jog, but I'll see you at 8."

"See you."

"No, you cannot go to that party."

"But Mom, it's a chance to meet people! I can't be a hermit for the rest of the summer and just show up at school on the first day. I have to show people who I am first so I can maybe have some friends."

"Dan, you don't know anything about this boy. He could be a rapist."

"I'm a blackbelt."

"He could be a drug addict."

"But his parents are going to be home!'

"Oh. I didn't know that part. I guess as long as his parents are home there's nothing that can really go wrong."

"So I can go?"

"Yes, but be home by 11."

"12."

"11:30 and that's my final offer."

"Fine. Thanks, Mom."

I wasn't neccessarily lying to my mom. Technically speaking, I didn't know if his parents were going to be home or not. There was always a chance that they would be--

Of course when Andi and I walked into the house to the words of "Boom, Boom, Pow" I realized that it was a 0% chance that his parents would be there.

"You wanna dance?"

"I'm not much of a dancer."

"Neither am I. Let's dance anyway."

How could I resist?

Andi was a good dancer, and she was a lot of fun to be around.

"Andi, over here!"

"That's Julie Kreighton. Let's go say hi."

"Okay."

Julie Kreighton was wearing a very short black dress and we saw that se was going commando when she bent down to get something that fell.

"Julie, this is Dan, Si Avery's grandson. Dan, this is Julie."

"You're Mr. Avery's grandson? I bet you have tons of cash! Wanna buy some coke?"

"I'm not really much of a soda drinker--"

"Not that kind of coke, silly."

"Oh. OH. Yeah, I don't really do that either."

"Fine. You in, Andi?"

"Stopped doing that crap years ago, remember?"

"Oh yeah, well, I guess there's more for me. I'm gonna go to the bathroom and snort this. Anyone wanna come with?"

"That's okay. Have fun."

I stood amazed as Julie walked by us to snort cocaine.

"There wasn't much of that in Fort Lauderdale."

"Welcome to Palm Springs."

We danced a little bit longer before a very drunk 17 year-old came and put his hands all over Andi.

"Hey, baby."

"Not your baby anymore, Clint."

"When did that happen?"

"You were drunk at the time."

"Oh. Who's this whack-job?"

"I'm Dan Avery."

"Oh that's right. You're Si's grandson."

"You know him by first name?"

"Yeah, Si and my family go way back. You and I have probably met before."

"I don't know. I haven't been here since I was 13."

"Hmm. Well, welcome to the neighborhood. Have a beer!"

"I don't drink, but thanks."

"Really? Well, suit yourself."

Clint Fabreze walked past us and greeted some more people.

"Is he always so--"

"Charming? You should see him when he's sober."

"How often is that?"

"Relatively often, but I'm over it. We broke up a couple months ago, but it's still fun to go to his parties once in a while."

"I see. Look, I think I'm gonna head home. This really isn't my scene."

"Are you sure? The party's just getting started."

"Andi, I like you, but I'm not into this. I didn't realize it would be like this."

"Well, at least let me walk you home."

It would've been foolish to say no.

It was about 10 when we left, and the stars were out. They were beautiful.

"You know the difference between stars and planets?"

"What?"

"Stars twinkle, and planets just sit there."

"Is that a line?"

"What do you think?"

"Dan, you're a really nice guy, but I'm not really looking for anything serious right now--"

"Who says I am?"

And then as if out of nowhere, a rock came flying by us and it the window across the street.

"What the hell was that?"

"Oh yeah. A tradition at Clint's parties is to do some sort of vandalization on Niall Thompson's house."

"Why?"

"Well, Niall doesn't talk. All he does all day is work in his basement on some science experiments. He hasn't spoken to anyone since 8th grade."

"What happened?"

"I'm not really sure, but we should probably go before Niall's mom sees us and thinks that we did it."

"Okay."

When we finally got to her house, I had so many questions in my mind:

1) Why were Clint's parents never home?

2) How could Julie continue to afford to use her own stuff?

3) What was their beef against Niall?

"Thank you for taking me to the party tonight. I definitely learned a lot."

"You know, Dan, I'm not one of them. I used to be but I stopped. I go to a party once in a while, but I usually sit at home with my family. I'm not one of them."

"I never thought you were. Good night, Andi."

I was very early for curfue.

"You're home early."

"The party wasn't that great."

"Did you meet people?"

"Yeah. There were some very--interesting people there. I'm gonna go to bed. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, honey."

Before going into my room, I checked on Grandpa. He was fast asleep, looking actually quite peaceful.

As I lay in bed trying to go to sleep, I thought about the events of the past two days. I thought about Bill and his enthusiasm, I thought about Geena and her sensitivity, I thought about Tanner and his naivity, and than I thought about Andi and her good will. Sure, there were some shady people at that party, but there were enough good people to offset that.

And as I lay thinking about all of the events of the past two days, I remembered Fort Lauderdale with its beaches, and for just a moment, I wished it would rain.