Summer at the Malibu Breeze

Summer is the perfect time to find yourself. A time to live carefree and get away from everyday life. There’s just something about the sun kissing your skin and making you feel alive that the wintertime doesn’t allow. For a while, I never believed there was anything different about summer. It was just another change of season that lasted a few months until the summer sun became the autumn sun.

Well, that was until I experienced a summer that changed my life forever.

My Summer at the Malibu Breeze.

It was 1977 when my family headed to Malibu for the summer. My father, who owned a small hotel, was considering joining under a franchise with the owner of the privately owned resort known as the Malibu Breeze. It was something that had been in the works for over a year.

I noticed a bit of blue peeking out of the horizon. I rolled my window down, taking in the salty air. ‘My Sweet Lord’ by George Harrison played softly on the radio.

“This is a very important opportunity for your father and our family,” my mother said, touching up her lipstick in the visor mirror.

“Yes, we fully expect you both to be on your best behaviors during our stay,” my father echoed.

I smirked, glancing over at my sister, Marianne, who was flipping through a Cosmo Magazine. Despite their warning given to both of us, I knew for fact it was entirely geared towards my sister. As the older sister, one would think she would be a good influence on me, but she was quite the opposite. From boys to drugs, her priorities were all over the place. She got kicked out of college the year I started, and since then her life has been one big downward sprial.

Mom turned her head around to glance at the two of us in the backseat, “Girls, did you hear us?”

“Yes, Mom,” we both sighed.

We arrived at the multiple stories high resort with people in light blue and white uniforms rushing around and cars pulling in and out. The Malibu Breeze was like a mansion compared to our little family hotel.

My father owned a hotel, yes, but that didn’t mean we were exactly rich. Yeah, we had more money than the average American, but we were nowhere rich enough to be staying here at this resort for as long as we were without my father coming for work. Especially, this last year, which is why my father is wanting to make this new work deal. Our hotel has seen better days. New ones have been opening up around us and with new, modern looks and technology means we are often overlooked.

Our station wagon pulled into the main entrance, a few of the men dressed in blue and white uniforms were standing.

“Welcome to the Malibu Breeze Hotel,” the tall blonde one leaned into the driver’s side window. “We’ll be unloading your car and parking it for you, so you and your family can head inside now.”

“Why thank you, young man,” my father said.

“Come on, girls,” Mom opened her door.

Marianne and I hopped out of the car and followed her into the light seablue building, while Dad tipped the bell boys.

“I really think I’m going to love it here,” Marianne smirked, giving a not so subtle wave to them.

I rolled my eyes, slinging my brown fringed back over my shoulder as I walked inside into the main lobby of the hotel. My mother headed straight for the large, white reception desk, where a man in a suit stood with a forced, fake smile across his face. While my mother introduced herself, I stood back looking around, taking in the sight of the resort.

Soft music played from a jukebox nearby as families littered around, some arriving, some departing, while some were making their way to the beach. The walls of the lobby were painted white with beach themed decor along with signs talking about the different events and options the Malibu Breeze offered.

“Girls,” Dad said, walking over with two hotel keys in his hand. “We have arranged for two adjoining rooms as your mother and I believe you two should be able to have your own privacy. However, we expect that we can trust you to make good decisions and will not be galavanting around the resort all hours of the night, yes?”

Marianne smiled, taking the key from him, “Of course, Daddy. Scouts honor.”

It takes everything inside of me to keep from rolling my eyes at her, “Don’t worry, Dad. We’ll be on our best behavior.”

“Good,” he smiled. “Now, let’s head to our rooms and have a rest before dinner tonight, shall we?”

Our luggage was surprisingly already in our room when we arrived, so I began to unpack, while Marianne immediately grabbed the phone and started dialing away before picking up and forcing the cord to reach the bathroom. I shook my head as I pulled my clothes out of my suitcase and gently placed them into the drawers and aligned my shoes near the bed. Next, I grabbed the few albums I had brought and stacked them next to the provided record player. I wondered if this was a standard at a hotel like this, but I also knew my father would absolutely request this knowing how much I loved listening to my records.

“Juni, hello?” Marianne snarked.

“Sorry, what?” I turned to look at her.

“I said, since we’re sharing this room, there’s going to be some rules,” she crossed her arms as she glared at me. “Rule number one, while I’m here, you’re not playing your shitty music. That includes your records and whatever the hell it is you play on your guitar. Rule number two, you’re not my keeper. I’ll be in and out of this room whenever I want and for however long I want to be. You’re not going to run over to Mom and Dad and be a little tattle tale. You’re not eight anymore. And rule number three, don’t touch my shit and leave my side of the room alone."

“Well, it’s nice to see you’re still the same despite the change of scenery, sis,” I said. “Guess once you’re a bitch, it just sticks, right?”

“Ugh, fuck you!” She snapped. “Just because I’m a goody two shoes or a Daddy’s little girl like you, doesn’t make me a bitch.”

“No, you’re right, it doesn’t,” I said. “But acting like one definitely does.”

Her face started to redden, “You know what, you act like I’m so beneath you just because I’m not like you. Well, guess what, Juni, not everyone wants to live a life of just catering to your parents.”

I stood up, facing her, “Yeah, and not everyone wants to live a life of fucking around and getting high off our ass every night either.”

“You can judge me all you want, Juni, but until you actually live your own damn life, you can’t say a fucking thing to me,” she seethed before walking out, slamming the door behind her.

A few hours later, we headed down for the hotel's big Summer Kickoff Bash. We’re shown to our table, near a large window overlooking the private beach on the resort’s property. The sunset out on the horizon cast a beautiful orange glow across the ocean water. I sat next to Marianne, unfortunately, across from our father at our table for four.

“Oh this place is wonderful,” Mom swooned.

“Yes, I know I’m going to have a far out time this summer for sure,” Marianne smiled.

“Not too far out, “ Dad warned.

“Oh, not at all,” she smiled.

I gripped my menu to prevent blurting out about our fight in the room earlier. I could ruin her entire summer of fucking around by one mention of her plans during her stay, but I decided against it. Mostly because odds are I would end up having to play babysitter all summer, but also because I would just prove Marianne right. I was the good daughter. I got good grades, and I never got in trouble. I was the annoying little sister who went running to tattle on her big sister whenever she broke the rules and I was tired of playing that role. Marianne was a big girl, a woman, it was about time she started acting like one. I refused to be her handler anymore.

Halfway through our meal, I saw a group heading towards the stage, three men and a girl, around Marianne and mine’s age.

“Good evening, The Malibu Breeze welcomes you tonight and we are happy that you are here. As you can see, we do have a dance floor, so feel free to join in where you like,” a young man with short, brown hair said into the mic.

The band started playing an older song, one from the sixties. The opening chords sounded familiar. I glanced over at my parents, who were all smiles and nodding along. It was one of their favorites. A song I had heard my entire childhood. Honestly, it was a horrible song, but my parents loved it and so did the rest of the room it seemed.

As the night went on more people graced the dance floor, including my sister and my parents. I stayed put, finishing my dinner, and watching from afar, a place I know all too well.

At the end of the night, Marianne rushed over to my parents, “Mom, Daddy, my new friends invited me to hang out for a bit in their room, can I go?”

“Mari, are you sure? It’s already quite late and we don’t really know these people."

Marianne whined, “Daddy, please? I’ll only go for a quick hang out and then straight back to the room. Besides they’re guests at the resort, I won’t be far.”

“I’d feel more comfortable about it, if you didn’t go alone.” he sighed. “How about this? You can go as long as Juni goes with you.”

“What?” We both snapped our heads at him.

“Juni, will you go with your sister? I think it would be best for you two to look out for one another.”

Marianne moved next to me, pinching my arm. I knew she didn’t want me to go and she knew that I didn’t want to go, however, she would rather deal with me being there than not going on at all. I knew if I said no, she would make the rest of my summer a living hell in our room.

“Okay, I’ll go.”