Three Scenes from Julie's Life

1. The air is tense as I hold their breath. The combined aroma of salty sea air and clam chowder waft through the air. Boats glide through the bay, bathed in the silvery light of a full moon. The player steps up to home plate in his bright orange uniform, ready to hit the home run that will save the Giants--

He swings. And misses. “Sheesh-kebab,” the grizzled man in front of me curses, reaching out for his third cup of beer. I silently agree.

2. An explosion of sounds erupts throughout the house: cries, laughter, screams, tantrums. I Facetime my dad so that he can watch the celebration, but any attempts at talking are drowned out in the sea of nieces and nephews. Jenny brings out a Trolls-themed birthday cake for Oaklie, my sixth and youngest niece, that glimmers with three candles. The family cheers as the candles go out. “I’ll call you when I can actually hear you,” I tell my dad as Oaklie runs over to me to ask if I want to play a game.

3. “Are you excited to go back home to Utah next week?” Dad asks me. I lower my seat and roll down the windows. Cool evening air flows into the car. Outside I can hear crickets sing.

“Utah can wait,” I say, wrapping myself in a blanket. We open the sunroof and sit in contented silence. Above, there’s a bright beam of light as a meteor streaks across the sky.