My brother and I carefully stepped off our boat and on to another. Each boat shifts downward in sequence with the waves as we passed. Alcohol bottles were being offered to us from strangers as we carefully crossed their boat. My foot finally stepped on solid ground and I was relieved. All I could hear behind me was the presences of drunken adults convincing children that there lifestyle were flawless. I turned around and took another look at the boats crammed with inebriated and disorderly people. I thought about which person was a parent and where there kids were now. I looked closer at a woman chugging a beer while being grabbed by a drunken man. I wondered if her children where walking around Grand Haven; but more importantly, I wondered if her kids ever saw her mother in the state. I then glanced over to my father. He was the drunken man grabbing this woman. Both seemed to be having fun, but watching my father and his actions disgusted me. I turned my head swiftly and began to walk, with no intentions or directions. Any place was better than seeing my father in his absurd state. Seconds passed and I realized that my brother had chosen a different direction. I turned back, then to my left, and over to my right, but there was no hope, my brother was nowhere to be found. Pushing my fear aside, I continued on, because I was confident and ready to be on my own. Anyway, if it wasn't safe for an eight year old to investigate Grand Haven at two in the morning, my Dad would have told me no. .
The next morning, I awoke to the sound of my fathers voice shouting at us to pack our belongings. I looked into his bloodshot eyes and then collected all of my clothes.
"Dad's just ornery because he had a rough night, just get all your stuff and get in the car," My brother always gave me directions, which kept my Dad from getting frustrated with me. Each time my dad tried to make eye contact I just concentrated on folding my clothes and getting to the car.
