Family Fun

By Bonnie Beech

Chandler Pier's wants to go to college in California because his hobbies include skateboarding, surfing and hiking in Malibu Canyon. On his way back home to Arizona, Chandler feels pressure to think of something to write about for his college application essay. When he loses his family on the road he learns a whole new meaning to Family Fun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bonnie Beech
• Release date: Oct 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301993086

Bonnie Beech

Been writing since 2005Specialize in screenwritingFinalist Beverly Hills Film Festival and Phoenix Film Festival placementMotto: Keep writing on a daily basisFound meditation to be helpful in the creative processYou should try it when you have writer's block

Book preview

Chapter 1

Waves crash along the shore in Malibu, California, Chandler Pier's dream place to live. It’s his 17th birthday and the thought of one year left until he's an adult has him wanting to be in another time and place, the future. The thought of going back home to Arizona in the morning also has him quite perplexed and not wanting to celebrate all that much.

Chandler is a compassionate, sensitive boy with good looks who has won state champion swim medals. He's also academically gifted and thinks he may want to become a clergyman because he enjoys being one with God. The problem is that he wants to find a girlfriend but since he's physically challenged from an accident that took place in utero, girls look at him as if he's joking when he attempts to talk to them.

He's got till next year to find out where he'll be accepted to college, so when he receives a skateboard as the guests gather around him and his beloved white lab, Mocha, all in anticipation of a surprise firework display that he doesn't know about, he takes the board to the ocean and swims with it. He knows he'll never be able to ride it, that is unless he puts his mind to it because unbeknownst to him, he's a superior human being put on the Earth to teach people how to act with manners so that they could treat each other better.

For now he'll be quite satisfied with getting it soaking wet just like his dreams, the ones he keeps secret but that could include the girl that's sitting by herself on the beach probably wishing she was invited to the party. If Chandler was brave enough he'd invite her knowing in the end she'd probably just laugh at him.

Chandler has no idea what his family has planned for him until the first bang and colorful display fires from a boat offshore frightens him, leading him back onshore where he runs to the bonfire his new skateboard soaked with salt water. His mother, Betsy Piers, hugs him and attempts to take his attention away from the beloved gift, forcing him to pay attention to the bright lights emanating from the night sky. Chandler takes her embrace then throws the board down on the sand, attempts to open more presents while his beloved Mocha runs towards the water with a Frisbee in his mouth. Chandler forces a smile then says, Thanks, mom. I love you.

Betsy smiles, hugs her son a second time says, I love you, too, son but you’ll have to wait for the big gift until tomorrow because grandma's too busy to give it to you right now. Betsy glances up at her mother's beach house. Through the glass windows she can see her husband, Thomas speaking to her mother about changing the family trust. Chandler gently pushes himself away from her tight embrace, says, I get it. Disappointed his grandma never takes the time for him and that she's coerced his father, Thomas to work on his birthday and that he has to wait until the next day, Chandler sits and tries to enjoy the light show taking place high in the sky but in a way he's hurt which looking back on all of the other birthdays noticing it isn't the first time.

Catching on for his need for a little space, Betsy backs away, points to the beautiful display saying, Your sisters came up with the idea. Chandler glances at the colorful display, squints his eyes, unenthusiastically says, Great idea, girls! Ignoring the light display, Chandler’s cousins, Hewey Smith, 11 and Jack Smith, 9, attempt to get their Frisbee back from Mocha. Once the Frisbee’s retrieved, Hewey throws it high in the air. The Frisbee flies straight towards Chandler, hits him in the mouth, knocking out one of his central incisors. Covered in blood, Betsy picks up the Frisbee and screams, then jumps up and down, Someone call 911!

Mocha barks then growls protectively at Hewey. Alice runs to help Chandler, picks up his tooth from the sand and places it back into the socket. Betsy throws the Frisbee at Mocha and says to her daughter, How’d you know to do that? Thinking she’s in trouble and filled with emotion from her brother's injury, Alice begins to sob, yells, You did!

Chapter 2

Chandler’s grandmother, Madeline Smith, 60, well dressed watches the party through the window of her luxurious beach home. Her lawyer, Thomas Piers sits at the desk, draws up her last will and testament. Madeline says to Thomas, Something’s wrong with your wife. He’s distracted by the mess on her desk says, We should be down there, but no, we’re in here working on this shit!

Madeline continues to look out the window, waves to her daughter and says, Thomas, I think you should come over here. Thomas walks towards the window, looks down at his wife then mirrors her hysterical jumping motion.

Madeline continues to worry, says, You mustn’t tell them ‘til I’m gone why we were absent from the party. Ignorant as to what’s happening on the beach, Thomas copies his wife’s aerobic like moves, becomes lost in the moment then waves to her, blows her a kiss, attempts a gyration move unlike any other.

Madeline looks at him disapprovingly. Thomas stops dancing, suddenly frozen. Madeline says, Did you hear a word I said? Thomas replies, Tell who, your kids or grand-kids?

Madeline fixes her dress methodically, My kids. They’d hate me.

Thomas is out of breath, grabs a rose from an expensive vase, almost knocks the vase over, captures the vase in his arm, does the Tango dance moves with the vase, water spills everywhere.

Thomas says, They could never hate you for hanging on to you what you've worked so hard for. Madeline walks back to her desk, Surely you’ll address the attorney-client privilege in this situation? Madeline reaches into her safe, pulls out a gold coin, hands it to Thomas, who grabs her, tilts her back in his continued dance move, accidentally drops her on the floor to get his hand on the coin and says, Give it to Chandler. Tell him it was his grandfather’s. It’s an American numismatics, worth 10K.

Thomas examines the coin, flips it between his fingers says, I’ll make sure he gets it but I thought the idea was to give him a car?

Madeline takes out a set of keys from the safe, hands them to Thomas, Give him the ‘91. It’s in the garage. Make sure he puts the coin in the safe when you get back to Arizona. Madeline gathers her bags together, heads towards the door.

Thomas blocks her, What’s the rush? Madeline pushes him out of the way with authority, Red-eye to New York.

Thomas walks with her towards the door, Business or pleasure?

Madeline smiles, Both. Madeline glances back at him, Just to let you know, I’m going to make a visit to the dean at Princeton, too. Thomas smiles, Why?

Madeline scoffs, You know why! Thomas yells, He wants to go to Stanford. Madeline tucks the envelope into her expensive leather briefcase and heads for the door.

Thomas gathers some papers from Madeline’s desk, heads back to the bay window, looks out at the fireworks. He forces a smile and wave to his wife, Betsy then dials 911 on his cell-phone.

While waiting for the call, Thomas looks back at Madeline, You’re being awfully generous, but you can’t buy his love. He’s too stubborn for that. Chandler needs to do his own thing. You know that about him. Madeline waves to her family on the beach saying, We’ll see about that! With that she exits the room, leaving Thomas to clean up the mess.

Chapter 3

Chandler is attempting to ride his skateboard with a bandaged head. He falls off a couple times because Mocha wants to ride, too and there’s sand in the wheels. Chandler bends down, pets Mocha’s nose says, My skateboard. Thomas steps out of the front door, heads to the garage and manually opens the door. A black Mercedes 450 SL, license plate, L8ONPCH, blocks him.

Thomas motions for Chandler to enter the garage Come here, son. Let me show you something. Chandler skateboards over to his father. Mocha follows. Thomas hands Chandler a set of car keys. Excited, Chandler says, Grandma’s giving me the Mercedes?

Mocha barks, runs past the Mercedes, lifts his leg, then urinates on the Honda, a car that sits next to the Mercedes. Chandler has a difficult time containing his excitement, runs with his skateboard over to the Mercedes, opens the door.

Thomas grabs the skateboard so it doesn’t scratch the expensive car yelling, Be careful! We wouldn’t want the wrath of Grandma Madeline upon us!

Chandler doesn’t get it, continues to place the key in the Mercedes door locks. The door won’t open. Chandler looks at his dad, is confused, You gave me the wrong keys!

Mocha jumps, his sharp paws scratch the wooden side panel of the Mercedes side panel. Thomas taps Chandler on the shoulder, points to the other car, a ‘91 golden Honda Accord, grabs the keys from his son, walks over to the older car.

Thomas tries to make the scratch disappear with a little spittle and gentle rubbing then looks up at Chandler says, Wrong car, son.

Chandler looks as if he’s going to faint from the confusion. Mocha barks at the Honda. Chandler places the key in the door lock. The door opens. Mocha jumps in the driver’s seat, won’t budge when Chandler calls his name and snaps his fingers. Chandler gives up then quickly examines his new car and finally says, You expect me to drive an old lady’s car?

Thomas reaches into the car, grabs Mocha by his collar and pulls him out then says, Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, son. Chandler shakes his head, I’m not looking him in the mouth I’m imagining him on the street!

Thomas shuts the door then hands Chandler the keys, Your grandmother’s being generous. Take advantage of the situation. Chandler throws the keys to Mocha and says, If that’s generous then I’m the Pied Piper!

Thomas walks over, picks the keys up off the garage floor, We’ll jack it up, get it painted, plant some surf racks on top and new rims. Before you know it, she’ll be good to go. Chandler smiles at his dad, Jack it up? Thomas places the keys into Chandler’s palm pushes his sons fingers tight against the keys and says, Have some vision, son. Chandler pulls away, Ouch, you’re hurting me! The keys fall to the ground once again.

Thomas walks towards the door, It’s your choice. If you don’t want the car then you’ll probably break your poor grandmother’s heart. Chandler looks at his grandmother’s Mercedes and says, She’s not poor, dad.

Thomas trips on a rake and shouts, I know son but you gotta take what you can get while you can get it. Comprende? Chandler picks up the keys then kicks his new tires, Comprende?

Betsy runs into the garage, You and your father aren’t fighting again are you?

Chandler looks at his mom, I know that we promised you we wouldn’t argue until we reached the Arizona state line but you see, he is insisting that I drive this thing to school.

Betsy grabs Chandler’s head, examines his front teeth, Dr Nigel said he’d see you on Monday. God I hope you don’t lose that tooth, Chandler. Chandler steps back from her tight grasp saying, Where’s grandma? I’d like to thank her for her generosity.

Betsy runs her finger along the Mercedes, admires its beauty, She’s on a business trip. She wanted me to give you these. Betsy hands Chandler the title to the car and says, We’re to transfer the title when we get back home.

Chandler takes the papers and places them on the roof of the car, Hopefully she filled the tank up with gas. Betsy hands Chandler back the papers, These are important documents showing ownership of the car. Don’t lose them. Betsy gives Chandler a kiss on the cheek, By the way, Happy Birthday, son. I love you!

Chandler blushes but returns the hug and says, Thanks, mom! I love you, too!

Chapter 4

The Piers family packs up both cars to head back to Arizona.

Chandler closes the trunk of his new car, Mom, why can’t we move here?

Betsy folds blankets and rearranges the suitcases to fit in the trunk of her car, Because your dad has his practice in Arizona. Besides, it takes money to live in California, Chandler. Chandler walks over to Betsy, helps her rearrange, Dad told me he’s licensed in California. That’s why he’s Grandma’s lawyer.

Betsy grabs the folded blanket from Chandler’s hands, If I was going to move back to California, I’d want to live in Beverly Hills or Malibu and we can’t afford either at this point. Besides you need to finish High School. Chandler points to the beach, It’s so beautiful here, so much more to do, too. I could surf, skateboard and hike the Santa Monica’s. It’s too fucking hot in Arizona, mom!

Betsy stuffs the last suitcase into the car, Watch your mouth, son.

Thomas comes out and puts his briefcase into the trunk but it won’t fit. Chandler pleads, Please!

Betsy hugs her son, You’ll graduate soon enough then you can head to college anywhere you want to go. Chandler looks into his mother’s eyes, Then I’m going to college in California. Thomas walks to the front of the car, his briefcase falls out of the trunk, Your grandmother is talking to the Dean at Princeton tomorrow. You better call her with your intentions because she’s got her mind made up that you’re going to college back east.

Angry, Chandler fights back, There are times in your life when a man has to be a man! I’m so not driving that piece of shit! Or going to Princeton! Thomas replies, There are times in one’s life when a man has to be a man, not a mouse but first you've got to complete the essay portion of your application when you get back home.

Betsy smiles, attempts to close the lid of the trunk, Your grandmother’s fitting the bill. Chandler picks up his dad’s briefcase off the ground, Why does everything have to be about money? Betsy replies, Money makes the world go round, son.

Chandler’s two sisters run into the garage, Mom I’m packed and ready to go home!

Betsy gives Kaitlyn and Alice a hug. Mocha jumps