Generation 8 - chapter 16

Things were pretty monotonous around the house. Cherish had her garden and her dog. Wind was working hard. Fatima had boys calling day and night and had her horse.

Out of nowhere Wind decided to take the girls on vacation to Paris!

"Cherish, you and Fatima with be graduating high school and moving on college and careers before you know it. I know it was a spur of the moment trip, but try and have some fun?"

They tried doing group touristy things at first. Fatima grew bored very quickly and Cherish was easily overwhelmed by all the new people and activity.

Wind gave her okay to them to pursue their own pleasures so long as they met back up at the hotel by 10 every night.

Cherish heard of a secluded pond that was great for fishing and headed straight there. She had recently started researching the use of fish as fertilizer for her plants.

Wind headed to the winery for some tasting and hopefully some design inspiration.

Fatima ended up there too after learning that the legal drinking age was lower than back home. Perhaps she could bring a bottle or 3 back with her?

Back at the hotel the girls took up chess again. Cherish loved to play and took advantage of Fatima's lack of phones calls. She was happy that Fatima was so social and popular but being in a new place around so many people, she was very happy that the social life was on hold. That way Cherish could escape into a game with her best friend and actually have her undivided attention, giving her a mental rest.

All the guests in the hotel were woken up by a VERY angry Wind in the early hours of the morning. It wasn't even light yet!

Cherish had been desperate for some alone time. The fishing and games with Fatima had taken the edge off, but Cherish did not do well being forced into an environment like this with no warning.

Fatima had gone to bed after their chess match and Wind was off sketching on the back deck of the hotel. Cherish wasn't tired and she never slept well if she wasn't in her own bed so she tried practicing chess on her own. Unfortunately most of the other guests in the hotel were very friendly and out going. They wanted to join her for a game or sit and chat. This was too much for Cherish and she slipped out of the hotel and went for a solo swim in the river.

"I'm sorry I upset you GG! I just.....needed....to be out. to, um, be alone?"

Wind had laid into Cherish the second she had gotten back. When she realized only Fatima was in their room she had panicked. Call the police. Searched all the rooms. She was frantic to find her. 

Wind forbade the girls from leaving the hotel for the entire day. She didn't care that this was vacation, she was so angry no one was going anywhere!

That was fine with Cherish. She felt more than a little guilty for causing such a rukus. Fatima thought it was great. Her introverted bestie had sneaked out of the hotel to go for a midnight swim! 

They spent the warm afternoon soaking up the sun. Fatima going on and on about how cool it was that Cherish had done that. 

"Mom is SUPER mad at you, but maybe next time you could take me with you?"

"I don't think sneaking out is something I'm going to make a habit of."

"You're my best friend in the whole world. You know that, right?"