Hazel eyes stared outside as the passing scenery became blurred outside of the truck. He could feel the vibration of the truck as its wheels carried them through the narrow road with one lane going one way and one way another. There was a slight smell in the air, but Thomas couldn’t figure it out.  

Was it the faint smell of gasoline? Was it the stale smell of built up sweat, greasy food, musk, and the overdue car fresheners that were never taken down as they hung and swung from the rearview mirror? It was those but there was also something mixed in it. Whatever it was, it was nostalgic. 

Brushes of wind hit his face as the window of the car went down. His nose caught a whiff and he remembered. He remembered being small and unable to peer over the edge of the car window, where the pane of the glass was rolled down. He remembered looking up at the blue sky as the white clouds went by with the tips of the trees zooming past. It was the smell of a certain memory and no wonder he didn’t remember. 

It had been years since Thomas had visited his childhood summer home, where his Grandfather lived. 

Thomas’s body was jolted when the truck was suddenly dipped into a small indent of the road. This caused him to panic as a flair of pain went through his leg, bringing him back to reality. He hissed in pain and the truck came to a sudden stop. 

He held his leg as if to suppress the throbbing and his other leg hit the crutches. He heard muffled sounds and Thomas pulled out his earbuds. The radio was turned off and instead heard the concerned tone of his mother’s voice. 

“Tommy are you okay? Let me check on your leg-“ 

“Mom, I’m fine” Thomas grit out, his hand darting out to grab his mom’s shoulder. This stopped his mom from getting out of the truck, as it was still stalled in the middle of the road. 

“Tommy-“

“Mom, I swear I’m fine…just drive. We’re still in the middle of the road” he reasoned. Although Thomas had a feeling there was no one behind them for a while. However, his mom didn’t know that and remembered where they were and she reluctantly restarted their journey. 

Not after giving her son a concerned look. 

Thomas gave a sigh of relief as he sunk back in his seat. His leg didn’t hurt anymore but it didn’t mean it wouldn’t. It was a silent drive to their destination and Thomas wondered where the people were. 

He saw the construction being made but also the new homes that were built in place old ones. Though not everything had changed as there were plenty of landmarks that existed when he was a kid. 

‘Somethings never change’ he thought while his elbow rested on the sill of the car door. His hand supporting his head as he leaned against it, his eyes resuming the passing scenery. 

As they went past more houses and shrubbery, with few commercial buildings in between, Thomas begun to drift off once more. Sounds of the radio filtering back once more. 

There were some objects cluttering against each other in the back, with suitcases and some boxes. From the outside, it looked like they were moving. 

But that was not the case. Or so his mom had said. 

Officially they were visiting and will be living with his Grandfather, his mom’s father, for an early summer break. Just the two of them. His dad, on the other hand, was back home in another city, to keep working. 

However, based on the events that occurred that last few weeks (Or was it months?), it seemed like this was the trial period. This wasn’t just Thomas’ summer break; it was also a break for his parents. Depending what happened by the end of it, his mom might not want to go back. 

Frustration started to build up in Thomas’ chest and bitterness filled his mouth. 

As they got closer and closer, Thomas caught a whiff of the sea as it seemed to wash away all the negative emotions. Memories started to flood back and Thomas begun to wonder. It had been a couple of years since he had last seen his Grandfather and been to the place of his younger childhood summer days. He wondered how much had changed since then? 

His grandfather lived in a small ‘town’ right by the ocean surrounded by the mountains. The town is mostly known now for being a ferry destination to one of the islands. Many non-residents visited the town for being a reprieve from driving, allowing them to stay at the small motel for an early rise, whether to go further inland or to catch an early ride to the island. The residents that surrounded the town were local, were mostly those who lived in the area for generations. What he remembered from those days were taking boat rides, swimming, and eating ice cream after a nice hike. 

It was not long into his memories before they reached around the bend and begun to drive past the boating docks of the boating club, where there were lines of boats resting on the water. Thomas couldn’t help feel excited to see that boating yard and knew they were close. 

Further upwards, the roads became narrower, and further in, the truck slowed down as the Smiths looked out to the side in fascination. 

“That wasn’t there before” Thomas commented. 

“No, it was definitely not… that community center is definitely new….” His mother spoke as she looked past, “they even connected it to the golf yard and field in the back.” Thomas stretched himself further to get a better look and indeed it was. 

The truck resumed its usual speed and Thomas couldn’t help feeling excited when he saw the outside skating park and kids doing tricks. The firehall was updated and sat its usual placement and next to the skating park. 

Further and further in, they went around the roundabout and Thomas remembered using this roundabout to go to the Highway where they could get further inland. 

It was not long before they turned and made their way down as Thomas’ mom spoke excitedly. 

“Here we are Tommy! Oh,” her eyes softening at the familiar structures, “not much has changed…”

Thomas looked around in slight fascination and noted the stores around. The buildings themselves haven’t changed but there were some newer stores. He felt relieved to find a Pizza store out of everything. 

They did a quick loop and Patricia stopped the truck as she saw the construction site. “Oh, some things did change” she noted a bit shocked. 

Thomas couldn’t help nod at his mom’s statement as he saw what she saw. There were some parts of the area that were fenced off as there were construction workers and vehicles within it. They were raising materials as they moved about. 

It seemed like they were building some sort of condo. It wasn’t apparent at first, but now they got over their nostalgia, the Smiths did notice that newer, sleeker buildings erected in place of the older houses; sticking out like a sore thumb with its modern architecture amongst the rustic, cabin-like houses that Thomas remembered. 

The sounds of the constructions vibrated through the truck and it was giving Thomas a headache. 

“Mom, can we go?” he mumbled as he rubbed his temples. 

“Yeah, yeah…” Patricia blinked and put the truck back into movement; cars begun to line up behind them and quickly hasten themselves. 

They drove through the familiar roads of the neighbourhood surrounding the town. The nostalgia grew more intense as they got closer to their destination. 

As they pulled up to a house, Thomas observed it and he could feel himself choke up. 

The building itself was a regular two-story house. It had a porch at the entrance and there was a little yard and a small garden patch that was bursting with vegetables. There was a large tree that sat in the yard, it’s branches and leaves hovering over part of the house and the yard; providing much needed shade and cool in the growing heat. A fence and mailbox circling the entire premise. 

Thomas saw the little engravings that were embedded in the wood; where it still remained despite the weathering rains and peeling paint. He saw that the tire swing was still there as it hung from the tree. 

He remembered spending all day on that swing as he tried to get higher and higher, his hands sticky from the ice pops he ate. And the stomach ache that soon followed afterwards. 

A small smile subconsciously appeared on his face. 

“The house looks just as it was” he said. 

Patricia smiled at her son at those words, glad to see him smiling. Even if it was for a moment. 

Her attention was re-directed when she saw the screen door of the house open and out came an elderly man. Patricia smiled even wider as comfort filled her entire body. 

“Oh it’s dad!” 

Patricia immediately got out of the truck and Thomas cursed, yelling out of the slightly ajar door. 

“MOM!” he yelled before he cursed once more and quickly turned off the engine. “Can’t believe she left the engine running!-“

Thomas let a breath out as the rumbling vibration died down immediately. His body could still feel the tremors going through his body, leaving him tingly. His thought went to their other truck, the one his dad frequently drove. It was much more newer then this 2000s truck- 

Thomas quickly pulled himself out of his thoughts and sighed. He turned his attention outside and saw his mom rushing to the old man. The stern face was relaxed a moment as he accepted the hug from his daughter. 

What was in front of him was not an adult woman and an elderly man. What was in front of him was a little girl who was back with her father. 

Thomas felt his chest squeeze and he felt bad for a moment. He decided to get out of the truck and closed the door behind him. He walked around the truck to grab the keys out of the ignition and closing the door his mom left ajar. 

All the while gathering his courage and delaying the inevitable.

As he (slowly) made his way through the gate and up to the house, Thomas was glad he had a cane to support him. His legs were shaking and felt like lead as his mouth felt dry. 

 When he reached the steps (finally), Thomas’s eyes made contact with Henry Thompson. Their shared blue hazel eyes staring at each other. 

Thomas took a deep breath and finally spoke, “Hi Grandpa.”