And she was good, too. She got this whole group of fourth grade boys to stop whining about the heat by convincing themthey were on an undercover mission to save a baby sea turtle named Radar. Theylovedher.
But you know who didn’t love her—or at least appreciate her?
Eli the Moron who practically tripped himself following Tessa to help her so she didn’t have to break a sweat.
Of course she wore cutoffs the size of a Band-Aid and a tank top that said SUN’S OUT, FUN’S OUT. Instead of helping Kate explain the difference between recyclable and non-recyclable trash, she taught three middle schoolers how to do the Running Man in the sand while holding orange Gatorades.
She did not bring gloves, but she did bring cherry lip gloss and glitter sunscreen.
Eli, in his infinite wisdom, decided his job was to keep Tessa “hydrated” and laugh at every dumb thing she said.
Tessa: “Do cigarette butts even count as trash? They’re like, so small.”
Eli: guffawing like she was Jerry Seinfeld.
Kate’s response? “They’re toxic to sea life and take ten years to decompose.”
Sometimes I love that girl…which makes me wonder how DUMB is Eli that he doesn’t see Kate’s pure quality?
Peter spent most of his time helping a little boy with a stutter. He walked beside him, picking up bottle caps and gumwrappers without a word. I don’t even think Peter knows how kind he is.
It was pushing noon when Seamus called everyone to the picnic tables under a pavilion. He wanted to thank the volunteers and asked if one of the teens wanted to say a few words. Most wanted to get to the waves.
But not our Lady Katie.
She gave this perfect speech about how important it is to take care of beaches and our environment and something about eco-systems and turtles.
Eli clapped politely.
But when Tessa tripped on a cooler, caught herself from face-planting, and bowed like she meant to do it?
He practically gave her a standing ovation.
What iswrongwith him?
I shouldn’t care. He’s my dumb brother and I’m just glad I don’t act like that around Peter. (Or that Peter doesn’t act like that around Tessa!!) ‘Cause, trust me, I could. Meanwhile, Eli acts like Tessa invented sunshine.
I think he’s got it backward. And it bugs me more than it should.
Especially because Kate noticed. She watched him watch Tessa. I saw it—just the tiniest flicker in her eyes. I’m the only person on Earth who knows she likes him, so I’ll never tell.
Anyway, he’s too busy handing Tessa his water bottle like she just won Olympic gold in trash collection.
Boys are hopeless.
Love,
Viv
The sea air clung to Kate and Eli as they got back to the Summer House with sandy toes and light hearts. They lingered in the sunlight on the boardwalk, still laughing about the fact that Kate had once again lost her glasses in the sand. And, once again, Eli found them.
Eli gave her a warm smile, affection washing over him. “Now that was medicine,” he said.
“Hours of it,” she agreed, brushing sand off her bare legs.
They’d taken a long walk with towels, water, and an umbrella, getting complete privacy and some alone time on the beach. After an hour on the sand and a swim in the Gulf, they finally made their way home, hot and tired and as close as they’d ever been.
“I warned you we’d lose track of time,” Eli said, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Not that I’m complaining, although I am ravenous.”
