A Place in the Universe - Chapter 1: Summer of Change
Moves are always chaotic, but an incredible future awaits Taron and Erion.
ERION
At his tender age of eight, Erion couldn’t deny how true his father’s words were: change never stops happening, and moving to New York wouldn’t be too difficult for them. Most of their family was there, along with people they knew because they visited every year. This time, however, it would be different, as they would stay even after summer ended.
“It’s so strange to see everything like this,” Erion rubbed his arms, as if trying to shake off the discomfort of seeing his home so empty.
“That’s because you don’t remember when we first came here,” Taron gave him a warm smile, trying to soften the moment.
They had just picked up their report cards and officially started their summer vacation, one that would be full of new things, whether he was excited about them. Seeing the house so empty and his life packed into boxes made him want to step outside for some fresh air. It felt like a maze, even though they had created a path to move through all the clutter.
“Eri, don’t worry,” his father squeezed his shoulder affectionately. “All moves are like this.”
“Grandpa and Grandma are going to freak out when they see how many boxes we have,” Erion said, rolling his eyes.
“That’s nothing new,” Taron replied with a short laugh.
His grandparents were intense, though it might just be a family trait. When they visited, they always pointed out things they didn’t like about the house, despite their good intentions. The thought of seeing them beyond summer or Christmas visits was exciting. After all, between them and his uncles, they were all the family he knew.
“It’ll be easier when we’re there,” his father said.
“Enough to clap with our feet?” Erion raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
“That’d be a sight to see, Eri,” Taron winked playfully.
“We could call it the summer of laughs.”
Though another word might have been more appropriate, they would not get into that debate.
Taron Newell didn’t look like a video game programmer and designer, let alone a twenty-nine-year-old with such a grown-up son. The upside was that no one could deny their resemblance, which came in handy when answering specific questions. They shared the same gray eyes and dark hair, now longer than usual for the season. They didn’t just share physical traits but also a vibrant creativity, obvious in the books that filled their shelves and the photographs that decorated the house. Sometimes their enthusiasm exhausted the others, but between them everything flowed naturally.
“So what are we supposed to do until tomorrow?” Erion huffed at the same time as his father.
“Run away from here?” Taron raised his eyebrows dramatically, drawing a smile from him.
They had said goodbye to all the neighbors they were close to days ago, though the only absence Erion really felt was that of Micah, his best friend, who had moved away the year before. Being a family of two made others take an interest in them, maybe out of pity or perhaps curiosity. Even the fact that his mother had left when he was a baby didn’t bother him. No one made him happier than his father.
They left the house without a plan and ended up at the mall, wandering through stores to kill time, if that was even possible. Although the ice cream shop beckoned, his full stomach didn’t agree with the idea. In the end, they found themselves in the furniture section, where the chairs looked oddly lonely at that hour. Why was everything so empty? At least it allowed them to sit down without guilt, testing out the ones that caught their attention.
“I’m going to need a crane to move me,” Erion whispered, sinking into the backrest.
“I could say the same. Where do you put it all?” Taron gave him a couple of playful pokes on the stomach.
“Look who’s talking. I have your genes!”
“For someone who plans to go surfing this afternoon, you’ve eaten enough to explode.”
The mention of water made him hold his breath. Erion’s love for swimming or surfing triumphed even though he wasn’t the most athletic on land. The ocean had been part of his life ever since they arrived there, giving him joys he never thought he’d find in that way.
“We won’t be able to do that in New York, right?” Erion asked, glancing sideways at his father.
“Eri, are you kidding? Of course we will. There are places to surf there, just not as close as here,” Taron replied.
“I know how to use the internet, Dad, and they’re not half an hour from home,” Erion said with a satisfied smile.
“You’ll still be able to swim, even if it’s not in the ocean like now,” Taron said, ruffling his hair. “Besides, we’ll make plans to get out of the city. We’ll chase the waves whenever we can.”
His father’s promotion was always good news, especially because Erion knew how much he loved his job. New York was not a mystery and both could only imagine what they would find in that part of the universe.
“Anything interesting happens on your last day of school?” Taron asked, deflecting the conversation.
“Would it count if I caught two teachers kissing in the library?” Erion let out a light laugh. “Nice way to kick off the summer.”
“It always depends on the intentions behind the kiss,” Taron said, grinning in amusement. “You're still too young for me to explain it to you.”
“I'm aware of that stuff, Dad.” Erion rolled his eyes. “They've been at it since the beginning of the semester, but they've been pretty sneaky about it. Though they don't have my skills as a super-spy.”
Being someone who often went unnoticed had its advantages. Being a grade ahead meant challenges, like slightly more complicated subjects (but not too much), but it also made the target of bullies, although nothing he couldn't handle.
Erion noticed a slight twitch in his father's gaze, realizing that his father was probably thinking about how he would do in the new school. Erion knew his father could read his thoughts (and he noticed when it happened). Being the new kid worried him, but Taron assured him,
“Everything will change. Being new comes with positive things, and you won't be long before catching anyone's attention.”
“You have a lot of faith in my charming skills, don't you?” Erion asked.
“I would love to record it with a camera and save it for posterity. ‘Erion's first moments flirting and going on dates.’” He almost raised his arms, imagining the opening title.
“I think no one would buy that story,” Erion said, rolling his eyes. “It doesn't sound very entertaining.”
“With all the drama that will happen? Just give me a few pages, and anyone will give in.”
Who could resist that charming, wide smile? At first, he thought his father was the best in the universe, almost irresistible, even when Erion didn't quite understand the word's meaning. Erion learnt not that he always succeeded in what he set out to do, but the effort and confidence he exuded helped him immensely.
“Anyway, trust me when I tell you this: age matters, even though it may become secondary later on, but you'll see,” Taron said.
“Are we done with this topic?” Erion asked.
“I'm your biggest fan, so there's little that can scare me,” his father's smile widened by the minute.
“Same here,” Erion hesitated to stand. “Dad, are you scared? About everything that's changing? About what we don't know?”
“That's the funny thing about life. You can't predict the next page,” Taron said. “It's okay to be scared. It happens to me too, but don't let it paralyze you.”
“That doesn't sound as motivating as you think,” Erion said with a grimace.
“Look at it this way,” Taron stood up and offered his hand. “A new adventure is about to begin. Shall we open this story together?”
It was uncertain whether they could capture their life in a book or not. Although Erion could not express his words and instead smiled, his father did the same. They embraced as soon as he took his father's hand, ignoring the heat and everything else. The past week and the upcoming one brought many new challenges for them. They were together, and he couldn't imagine anyone else he'd rather be with as their world turned upside down.
“How about ice cream and a movie?” Taron said.
“In that order?” Erion asked as they both left slowly.
“In whichever order we want,” Taron shrugged. “We have plenty of time.“
“Nothing compares to surfing at sunset. What better way to leave Los Angeles?” Erion bit his lip, thrilled by the view and melancholy because he couldn't enjoy it soon.
“That's a stop we can't ignore,” Taron said with his eyes lit up. “You know what they say, ‘Leave only footprints, take only memories.’”
Recent adventures and lasting memories await. After that, and upon arriving at the beach, Erion felt a sense of relief. His father's presence gave him the strength to face unpredictable lives. He may be young, but he's determined to learn and enjoy life fully from the master.
So father and son went straight into the twilight, ready for the changes that awaited them that summer.