We Come In Three

 

Santa Monica, California

It’s not every day that we are all together with all of us living in different cities and countries. So my cousins and I planned to have an early breakfast at a local diner on a Friday morning.  The problem with that plan was only one of the three was awake and ready to go.  But according to my second cousin, Bubbs, the best way to wake a person up was to play obnoxiously loud music from his bedroom.   But Bones and I were sleeping in the living room, and we slept through his idea of an alarm.  So our plan of having an early breakfast did not go through; instead we had brunch.  To be fair, that’s more realistic for us than waking up early in the morning.

            Brunch at Manhattan Beach was a moment that can easily be remembered.  We arrived at a restaurant called Hennessey’s Tavern, an Irish pub just located on Manhattan Beach Boulevard.

  To set the beach vibes, Bones and I shared an order of fish and chips with a side of French toast.  My youngest cousin was small and petite, and eats like a 5-year-old child, hence the nickname “Bones”.  The savory and crunchy texture of the four fish sticks was mouth watering, paired with freshly – baked French fries and coleslaw. 

            Not only was the brunch a great way to catch up and bond, we were also able to meet Bubbs’ girlfriend.  Bubbs is your typical macho, “I’m a dude” kind of guy.  He can be egotistical at times, but he’s not a show – off.  His usual outfit consists of T-shirt and jeans paired with Nike sneakers.  He’s also the tallest of us three, so he makes sure we always feel short around him.  During the brunch, we saw a totally different side of him when he was with his girlfriend.   When it’s just us three, he turns into a seagull, swooping up our food with no regard if we want it or not. But towards her, he deters from grabbing food right from our hands or plates.  And let’s not forget the way he looked at her with so much admiration and there’s always a twinkle in his eyes whenever they looked at each other.  The atmosphere between the four of us was calm and comfortable.  There were a lot of  “wait, let’s take a picture” and “this is Snapchat worthy.”  Throughout the whole meal, we all felt light and happy.   We talked and laughed, and left the restaurant with big bright smiles on our faces. 

            Our next stop was supposed to be the Hello Kitty cafe; but instead we went to the beach.  From Manhattan Beach to Santa Monica, the car ride was definitely full of joyous singing and sometimes with comfortable silence.  The drive to the beach was a breeze.  The wind blowing our hair back and the sound of the music playing in the background made the experience feel like a scene in a coming-of-age movie where the characters have no problems to worry and stress about but just living in the moment.  Once we found a parking spot, we started to head to the pier. 

The pier was filled with all sorts of people.  Children running around with their parents chasing after them so they won’t get lost or hurt.  Vendors were selling every type of souvenirs to tourists, and hoping to make their sale quota by the end of the day.  It was definitely the best time to go to the beach pier with the sun shining down upon us from high above, and we had the simple cool wind flowing around to keep us cool.  At this moment did I notice how much my cousins have grown but still have their childlike wonder.  Especially for my younger cousin, who as a child was full of life and quirkiness, was able to keep that enthusiasm and spark in the smallest of things that surrounds her every day.  She might look like a twelve year old, but the way she holds her mom close and bickers with her dad about his driving tells us there’s more to her than she lets on.  Her light-hearted personally kept us from falling apart and made sure we stuck together like glue.

            Bubbs and Bones have become constant in my life.  They’re not only my cousins; they became my ears, my shoulders, my confidante, and my therapists.   Throughout my ups and down, they have stayed by my side.  They don’t just give their trust to just anyone, and I’m honored I’m one of the few. 

Chubbs, Bubbs & Bones