Chapter 153 - The Beach

"Okay is everybody ready to go? Bags packed, bladders empty?" asked my mother as we loaded the car and we all nodded, "Okay so let's go, and Shiwoo please do not speed."

"Okay ma'am. Will do."

I buckled the kids into the car closing the door then went to buckle myself in my seat when he came in and closed his door buckling his seat belt, "you guys ready?"

We nodded and he started up the car and we were off to Ocho Rio behind my parents.

It was going to be the longest ride that we ever took so we left before the sun was up to make it there by noon.

"So how far away is this 'Ochi' by the way?" asked Shiwoo when we passed Harbor View Shopping center and I shrugged.

"I don't really know what to tell you to be honest, but just know that it is at the ither side of the island."

"Sounds cool. Is it like a resort or a hotel or something?" he asked and I shook my head no then yes.

"Well no, but yes. It has like everything. There are different beaches there so I guess yeah.

"Sounds cool, but why do we have to drive so far? This is an island so shouldn't there be beaches every where?" he asked confused and I nodded.

"Other beaches aren't as fun and clean as the ones in Ochi. We are going to the one and only Dunn's River Falls. It will be fun, don't worry."

"Okay. If you say so." he said as we drove on the high way heading into town still following behind my parents.

The car ride was silent for the most part as he focused on driving us there, and the twins were busy on their tablets or just making convo with each other.

"So are your brothers meeting us there or are they not coming?" he asked when we were at a stop light and I nodded.

"Yeah they are. Everyone is coming."

"Coo cool." he said and I nodded once more as I gave him another thin lipped smile before turning my head to the other side looking out the window.

We crossed the border that separated Kingston, from St. Catherine and we were now driving through St. Catherine to get to St. Mary, then to St. Ann where Ochi was.

"Ouu what is that? Is that red dirt?" asked Shiwoo and I nodded.

"Yes. We are in St. Ann now so you will see it a lot. It s bauxite. You know the thing that makes aluminum foil and other things containing Alumina. One of the things that we had to learn in school and one of the things that I will never forget, which reminds me that we will be approaching flat bridge soon."

"Flat bridge? What is that?" he asked and I pointed towards it, his eyes following my finger.

"That is flat bridge. Be careful. It is quite dangerous and is famous for it being a place of many accidents and mermaids."

"Mermaids? Where!?" gasped Adriel looking out the window and I chuckled.

"There are no mermaids here baby. It's just a myth, an old folklore." 

"Aww." she said sighing and I laughed as she went back to her tablet, no doubt closing off her ears to the rest of the world.

We shortly after crossed the bridge with Shiwoo being careful, and I held my breath until we made it across safely, "yay! We made it alive. Now we will pass by the female and male genitals rock."

"Where?" he asked and I pointed to them and he squinted before realizing, "Oh I see it!"

"Really? Huh, I've been driving by here since a kid and I have never once seen it. Maybe I need to get my eyes checked. Anyways we will be passing by a statue of a Rasta man with a very large genital then we will be in fern gully."

"I'm sorry did you say a Rasta man with a hue genital?" he asked and I nodded.

"Yup. It's kind of like a monument. Oh look there it is." I said pointed at it and his eyes widened as he puckered up his lips.

"Hmm. That's interesting, but back to fern gully. Fern gully like the animated cartoon?" he asked and I nodded.

"Yup. Got it's name because it home to like hundreds of ferns."

"Wow. I am learning so much about this place in just a car ride. How can people stay at home when they live at a place like this?" he asked with a mixture of confusion and amazement.

"Well not everybody has a car nor money to experience these luxuries of their home country so just like us they would go once a year. Jamaica is for tourist and rich people."

"Ah. I understand. I guess that I'm just amazed since it's my first time here. You're probably just used to it." 

I nodded as he said that for he was absolutely right, "precisely. Oh look. We're here."

"Wow. It's beautiful." he said as we drove into the the place where the falls was, and parked the car next to my parents.

"Okay everybody good? Your brothers are already here and are saving us a spot in the line so grab your things and don't leave anything and prepare yourself to walk." said my mother before we unloaded the cars and and went through the other gates to where a lot of people were standing in line and we spotted my brothers and their family so we walked up to them.

"Finally you guys are here." said Stacy hugging us when we arrived.

"Yeah thank God for we wee next." said Tristy as she handed us our hand bands and we put them on.

Adriel went and held onto Amy's hand while Melody and Adrien held hands with Kyrie.

"Here comes the worst part. Walking down this huge ass hill." said my father as he carried one of the bags with food.

"Everybody please be careful and kids no running. Including you Abigail." said my mother and Gail pouted as she was just about to run.

"Aww."

Shiwoo walked beside my brothers as they spoke and carried the bags and Stacy and Tristy walked with me as we talked.

"Are you okay?" asked Tristy and I nodded not really feel like talking about it.

"Yeah I'm fine. Just kinda sad that I'm still on my period though. It's the final day and I the last time I checked I was not bloody, but I don't want to risk having shark week at a public beach."

"Ha ha! Yeah true" laughed Stacy as we continued talking until we reached at the bottom.

"Will you be changing?" asked Abigail and I nodded as we all went to the the female changing room and the men to theirs and we met up with them at the spot that they chose at the far end of the beach area. 

"Who wants to climb the falls with me?" asked my mother and everybody rose their hand looking at me with and I sighed shaking my head no.

"I can stay here with you if you want." offered Shiwoo and I shook my head no saying that it was okay.

"That's okay. I'm fine here. I'll just take a nap and soak up some sun."

"Okay. I'll climb it quickly and return to you okay." he said.

"Okay. Have fun!" I called out after him as he waved as he ran to catch up with my family.

I sighed as I sat on my blanket as I watched people flap around in the sea and I pulled my book out happy that I remembered it.

So much for planning a day of fun at the beach.