Elias: Lucky

As I was sitting on the beach this morning -- dipping my feet in the ocean and watching the last moments of sunrise -- I got to thinking how lucky I am.

Maybe people wouldn't think I'm lucky. I grew up with one parent and no money. All my Christmas gifts came from Savers. We moved around a few times a year, sometimes to real rat holes. But I was never unhappy. And I was always ready for anything. I saw kids have their whole lives upended because their parents split or someone lost a job, and for me that was just life! I didn't have time to feel bad about it.

Because my mom gave me such a good life, I passed up the opportunity to go to college to spend as much time as I could with her. I can go back to college anytime but I only had one mom. I have no regrets about any of that.

I'm lucky to be here and I'm lucky to be me. Because if I wasn't, I might have ended up like that girl I saw in the parking lot after I arrived. She had to be about 16 or 17 at the most wearing short shorts and a tank top. She was struggling with her bag and I offered to lend a hand, and she passed it over. That's when I heard a sharp voice from the front door of the Inn: "Don't give that to him!"

I tried to say "It's really no problem sir," but he interrupted and repeated his command for me to give it back to her. I reluctantly did so and she lugged it into the hotel. As she walked by him, he hissed in a voice loud enough for me to hear, "Little sl**."

Now that's not fair at all. Regardless how much skin she's showing, it's the middle of summer, she has the right to dress how she wants. I get the feeling this man thinks his daughter is being sexual just by having a a body, let alone how she chooses to show it. But I was respectful and pretended I didn't hear.

Later, the girl -- Jennie -- came and found me while I was having my tuna for lunch in the sun. She explained that that man was her stepfather Ricky, and that they had moved from Delaware to Maine to be close to her mom, who was in a correctional facility nearby, but their new place wasn't ready yet.

So yeah, compared to her, I feel lucky, because my mom never had a Ricky. I know it would be different because I'm a guy and all, but still.

There's a couple here, Jeff and Charlene, who were playing some cards, so I asked if they wanted to get a Euchre game going with the four of us. We had to explain the rules to Jennie, but she picked it up okay. Later we all told stories. Charlene asked me about my Garfield High wrestling squad tee shirt, and I confirmed that yep, I was not only on the team, I was 3rd in my division at state finals. I guess I should explain why that's surprising: I'm 5'3, and since I haven't been working out lately I don't exactly look like a terror, but it's true. I mean, they have weight divisions for a reason, us short guys need sports too!

Eventually Ricky woke up from his nap. He looked annoyed that Jennie was hanging out with us, but I guess he didn't feel like he could say anything, so he just said he was going out for booze and for Jennie to not leave the hotel while he was gone.