Kids Adventures

KIDS ADVENTURES

It is June 10th on a Friday. Dad allowed me and my two brothers to sleep late this morning. When he finally woke us up; we quickly hurried downstairs, I could not believe my eyes. Dad did an amazing job on decorating our family room into a party room. Yes, it is my birthday. I turn twelve this year; the big one two. I do not feel a year older at all. I still feel like a kid. I am so excited for my birthday party; it is going to be a blast. All of mine and my brother’s friends too will be here.

The temperature today is going to be hot, and we have no pool, but dad said we can go over to the riverbank to hang out by the water to cool down from the heat after we finished with our BBQ. The riverbank is close to where we live; we can easily walk there. The riverbank is such a cool place to be. I love it there because I find the bank of the river to be mysterious. I love the sound of the river as it flows downstream. You can find crazy creatures living in the water as well as on the sides of the riverbank. I cannot wait to go.

Yay! The doorbell rang; I ran to open it to see who it is behind the door. I pulled open the door and it was a delivery guy from Amazon with ten huge packages. Holy Cow! I am one lucky twelve-year-old today. I am jumping up and down with excitement. Dad comes to the door to see these packages and his jaw drops, scratching his head, trying to think who sent it. Finally, all the packages were inside the house and the delivery person received his tip. Dad picked up one of the packages it said from grandma. Picked up two more packages; the label said from grandma. We found four packages; the label said Aunt Jolie. The eighth, ninth and tenth packages were from Uncle John, my dad’s best friend Jimmy and the huge one out of all of them is from Aunt Maribelle. Oh my gosh, I do not know which one to open first. My brother’s ran into the room with their mouths wide open. They could not believe it either. They’re already asking me for permission to play with my toys. Making deals with me. I must keep telling them to be patient. Dad is already telling me I must wait until after I eat and everyone to get here before I can tear into all the birthday wrappings. My excitement is increasing as the time is passing.

The doorbell rang and this time dad answered the door. Three of my friends from my class arrived with their parents. Dad told them to put the presents on the table. The look on their faces when they saw the ten things from Amazon who delivered them ten minutes ago. My friends want to know so badly what my Aunt Maribelle sent me because it is the biggest gift, and it stands out.

Twenty minutes later the doorbell rang again. This time three of my brothers Josh’s friends, and four of my other brothers Nickolas’s friends are here; plus, all my cousins with their parents and five close friends from the old neighborhood came over to celebrate my birthday with me. Wow…I am a special twelve-year-old right now. The table is full of gifts, loud music is pumping, people talking and laughing. Today is going to be a good day. I feel it in my heart and in my gut. Later today, hopefully, there will be time to go to the riverbank. I will double check with dad in a little while. Today is so cool.

It is now twelve noon, lunch time. Dad started his BBQ and the aroma, is making me so hungry. I am trying to be patient, but my stomach is growling badly. I walked very carefully over to dad and asked if he can fix me a plate of one hot dog and one hamburger. Dad told me, “Pick one or the other for now, if your still hungry come back.” So, I settled for a hot dog with mustard and pickled relish. As I am eating, I start to notice my guests were filling up our backyard to begin eating. As I am sitting there, everyone notices me wishing me a big “Happy Birthday,” and then the questions begin. I hate when they start asking me questions because I never know how to answer them. I always clam up fumbling my words. Ten minutes later, everything calms down; no more questions just eating, drinking, talking, and laughing.

Now I finished eating, my belly is full. I left my backyard to find my brother’s, my friends, and my cousins. I found them in the living room watching something strange on TV. I asked them, “What the heck are you watching?” Brad told me, “It’s some kind of alien movie or something.” I just shrugged my shoulders like whatever. I found a spot somewhere and started to watch the movie.

One of the adults called all the kids to come outside to eat. We all went to the backyard to eat BBQ. While everyone is eating; I had to double check with dad about going to the riverbank. Dad told me, “It is only twelve thirty, we will go soon. The party ends at four. We will have time to go, right now you should be eating and having fun.” I nodded my head in approval. I am so enjoying my birthday.

It is around one thirty, and people are wrapping up with their food. I am looking at the leftovers; yes, there will be BBQ food tomorrow. My birthday guests are sitting around talking loudly; pretty much like talking over one another. I can not figure out who is saying what; it sounds like loud gibberish to my twelve-year-old ears.

Yay! It is two thirty in the afternoon. Dad is finally making his announcement for me to open my birthday presents. I am so excited; I cannot decide which one to pick. My cousin Matteo shared his idea, “I quickly counted your presents, you have exactly twenty gifts here by the table. I think it would be a cool idea if twenty different people pick out the gifts and handed it to you. So, I went ahead and wrote everybody’s name on pieces of paper and put the paper in the bowl. You cannot look inside the bowl to see what paper you are taking out. When you pick a paper out of the bowl, call the name aloud and that person will pick a gift for you to open. How does that sound?” I answered Matteo, “Yeah! Let’s do it! I am so pumped! Let’s tear the birthday wrapping paper up and then let’s eat some ice cream cake!

By four o’clock I was done opening my presents and eating ice cream. Everyone had a fun time at my birthday party. Dad took pictures and a video of me opening my presents to capture my expressions. I can’t believe all the cool stuff I got today. Especially, Aunt Maribelle’s gift. Of course, her gift was last, as per her request which I did not know about. She sent me a claw machine; the big one too. I could not control myself any longer once I saw what it was. Me and Aunt Maribelle have a common connection with claw machine’s; she taught me everything I know. I wish she could have come today. We would have had a blast, especially with her gift. I made out good too with money. I feel super rich. I am not sure what I am going to do with my birthday money yet. I’ll figure it out.

We finally made it out to the riverbank. The sun went down a little. It is cooler by the water now; thank goodness I have my hoodie sweater, but it does feel so good, being it was hotter earlier. I found my favorite rock that I like to seat on. My brothers and dad are close in proximity to me. We enjoy hanging out and talking. Nickolas is trying to persuade dad into going camping this summer. Somewhere nearby the riverbank or going someplace for vacation. Dad answered Nicklas, “I’ll think about it; your behavior last week with Josh was not good at all.” Josh and Nicklas always get into bickering, shouting matches with each other. Lately, it has been over a girl. On the other hand, I try not to get sucked into their squabbles but somehow, I end up in it anyway. Josh and Nicklas are Fraternal twins and I am the youngest in this family. They have four years on me. People say it is just brotherly love between Josh and Nicklas. I’d say yeah right; I want no part of their fighting, I plead the fifth.

While the conversation between my dad and both of my brothers were going on. I found a tiny frog nearby, sitting there breathing and not doing much. I picked up a twig and tapped the tiny frog gently. The frog did a fight or flight reaction which made me jolted backwards with a holler. My brothers were laughing. Josh told me, “Adam, you scream like a girl.” I replied, “Not like you Josh, you really screamed like a girl last week; being pounced on by one of your friends.” Josh replied in return, “Don’t go there, Adam.” So, to end this squabble, I didn’t say anything in return. Ah! Peace at last. No more noise from Josh.

Back to the frog, where did it go. Well, I guess I did a good job scaring the poor creature off. Probably, went back in the water. I haven’t been here in a while; I wonder what else I could find living in the river. I noticed how clear the water is because I can see the bottom of the river. It’s so cool, because you can see the fish or anything that is moving on the bottom. I walked over to a group of rocks and turned them over.

What I found underneath them is interesting. Some small fish that were hiding; I moved the sand on the bottom, and I disturbed a family of crabs. As I was moving the sediments on the bottom around, I noticed a couple of things shinning; so, I tried to uncover it to see what I found. I loosened the sand around the objects so I can pick them up and out of the water. I carefully took a closer look; hp/I couldn’t believe what I found. They look like silver medallions or coins maybe. I can’t wait to show my dad and brothers.

My dad and my brothers were up the river, about a few feet away from where I was. I ran towards them with my findings in my hands. I couldn’t wait to show them. When I finally met up with them; my yelling caught their attention. Hey! Look what I found. I showed them the silver medallion or coin pieces and their eyes widened. Dad studied the pieces thoroughly. Dad said, “I think there is a stamp on these with numbers. Point something…something on all of them. I can’t see it too clearly. Adam, put these in your pocket and don’t lose these; the coins probably have value to them.” “Adam, where did you find them? What part of the river? Dad asked me.

I showed them where I found them. So, dad decided to go on a treasure hunt along the riverbank. All of us at separate locations, moving the sediments around until we find anything shiny. I didn’t notice how far in distance I was from my dad and brothers, until a robin flew by and caught my eye. I don’t know why I decided to follow the bird. I followed this beautiful red robin all the way up the riverbank then flew up into the tree. I looked around my surroundings and I realized I am lost. I am telling myself, “Stay calm, what would dad do?” “Think…” “Damn, I have no cell phone, nothing to reach out for dad to find me.” The day is starting to lose sunlight now. By the river, it can become windy and chilly. Sometimes you would need more than just your hoodie and I think today I would need a heavier sweeter jacket. Up ahead I can see a nice size cave; I start to hike towards it for shelter. Thinking to myself, “Adam, I hope this is the right decision going into the cave. How did I not pay attention to where I was? I always check in with dad or my brothers. Holy Cow! My birthday today went from being a special day into a birthday nightmare. I yelled out Help! Into the woods in hopes dad, Nickolas, Josh or anyone who can hear my cries for help.

I peeked into the cave; it is so hard to see inside because the sun is going down. The cave looked deserted. I do not sense any animals inside this cave, but I can tell maybe this cave used to inhabit a bear or a family of bears because there is a bed nest in the far corner of the cave. Overall, the inside of this cave looks huge and can be endless. Curiosity wanted to take over, but I quickly changed my mind because what if dad and my brothers were looking for me. Now is not the time to explore this cave without them; especially when I am the one that needs to be found.

Meanwhile, dad and my brothers decided to go back to the house to grab gear; head back out to the riverbank to start their search for me. Dad contacted the sheriff’s department and some of his good friends to explain what happened on the way back to the riverbank. Thirty minutes later, the search crew pulled up by the riverbank where my dad and my brothers were before I went missing. There’s a crew of twenty men, half were part of the sheriff’s department, and the other half were men my dad knows; they live for this kind of stuff, real hunts men.

Dad showed everybody where he last saw me. So, the sheriff decided to come up with a plan; the sheriff said, “Okay, we need to split into two groups and spread out. One group will search along the riverbank and the other group will spread out into the woods; both groups will stay on the North trail along the riverbank. Is everyone’s walkie talkie’s on?” Everyone answered in unison, “Yes.” The sheriff called out, “Let’s head out and start looking for Adam.”

Several hours later, the search party continued the North trail path of the riverbank. I started hearing voices from a distance shouting out my name. I quickly sprang to my feet, I put my hands up along the wall of the cave to feel my way closer to the opening. I could hear their voices coming closer. I started to shout out “I am in the cave!” “Dad, I am in the cave!” Dad took his flashlight, from where he’s standing and shined the bright light in the direction where the mouth of the cave. Dad, shouting back at me; he said, “Adam, can you hear me!” I answered, “Yes, I can! I am standing in the mouth of the cave!” Dad quickly got on the walkie talkie’s and announced where I was. Everyone started moving towards the mouth of the cave. Everybody had their flashlights on.

I am getting anxious because I can see the bright lights from the flashlights getting closer from the distance. I can’t wait to see my family and wake up from this nightmare. I don’t know how long I’ve been in this cave waiting but it definitely feels like eternity. Then, in a blink of an eye, a bright light shined right in front of my face. Finally, it’s dad, the sheriff, and the search crew. I am so relieved, I am found. A lesson learned, on my special day, my birthday. Being reunited with my dad and brothers, feels so good; yet I am super tired because it’s past my bedtime. A big Thank You to everyone.