After a very long journey I can
see land again. Although it is now late the sun is still beaming. I know we are
getting ready for landing because the seatbelt sign has appeared and my ears
are bursting, popping and feel as if they are about to blow up. It is like
Diwali in my ears as fireworks explode causing excruciating pain to my little
ear drums.
When we land the confusion,
excitement and the hustle and bustle of other passengers bounces of the walls!
My mum helps me get my leather, vintage suitcase out of the luggage cabinet. It
is so heavy I tremble; why did I bring so much? I end up thinking this every
year once I get here.
Everyone shoves, pushes and
elbows to get off the plane. Big, bulky men bump their way out of cramped,
congested, crowds. We walk towards the arrival point, the more we walk the
further away it looks, as if the door is running away from us. We walk through
the enormous door along with the crowd. In front of us are persons waiting for
their families and friends. My eyes are drawn to an old couple. It is my aunt
and uncle waving at us. We rush towards them barging our way through clans of
people. My aunt has a loud, bubbly and girly personality. She gives me a
welcoming smile exhibiting her crooked, cigarette stained teeth. I can’t help
noticing that her teeth resemble an old piano, where the keys have been chipped
and yellow-stained from many years of being played… Her hair is like sawdust in
colour but more like hay in texture. My uncle looks at me and says hello. He is
pale, bald and over weight. He looks like a giant, hard-boiled egg and stands
out like a sore thumb! We get in a black, posh and very serious looking car and
set off on our journey.
Suddenly, the car comes to an
abrupt halt. I look out the window and note that the setting has changed. We
are in the drive way of my grandparents’ house. A white picket fence encloses
us and luscious green pastures hide beneath my feet, concealing any unwanted
bugs. My auntie looks picture perfect in the setting whilst my overweight uncle
disturbs the scene.
Slowly, I pivot and glance at my
grandma’s house. It never changes. It used to be a barn, once upon a time, but
they got it converted to a house, so I was told. I walk through the doorway. An
aroma of pasta sauce fills the room and rushes up my nostrils; our dinner is
ready and waiting for us on the table. My tummy rumbles in response. We tuck
into our delicious, mouth-watering and filling meal.
My grandma is very short and
grossly obese. She has smooth, porcelain
skin
and has hair the colour of milk. She waddles cutely like a duck around the
house making sure everything is in check. She is very finicky... My granddad is very short for a man but you
wouldn’t dare say it to his face. His temper is just as short as his height. His
temper can turn faster than Usain Bolt can run!
In the morning we rush through
our continental breakfast and then set off to our auntie’s house. In the late
morning, when it’s not too hot, we lie on the yellow towels outside in our
bikinis, taking in all the rays of light we can. Like plants photosynthesising
in the sun. The sun feels so good on my skin, so warm, it makes my skin tingle
like as if it’s massaging itself.
Two hours later I wake up to
realise I have fallen asleep. Momentarily blinded I allow my eyes to adjust to
the bright sunlight as I look down to see that my legs are moderately darker
than they were before; I can see my tan line against my creamy milk skin where
the straps of bikini bottoms sat.
We spend the rest of the day on
the lovely, sunny, enchanting beach. I adore the beach. Not a cloud in the sky,
the ink blue sea looks like horses galloping. Children playing, making sand
castles and jumping over wonderful waves. Everyone licks luxuriously exotic
flavoured ice-cream. Everyone is so happy and tranquil. I love this beach
unconditionally. Why can’t England be more like this? When I go to Italy almost
every day passes like this. We shop, sun bathe, eat and sleep, gaining
micro-pleasures from life. Feeding our sense of fulfilment and happiness to
take back home with us.
Love O
x
Love O
x
