Vacation

Rita and Eduardo were a happy married couple, they had a family with 2 married children, 4 grandchildren, they were about to turn 50 years married, they had rented a little chalet in Miramar. FAR FROM THE COAST BECAUSE THE SEA WASN'T THE main attraction, they dreamed of a quiet vacation, they said it would be their second honeymoon.

The little chalet had 2 bedrooms, a spacious dining room and luckily a spot in the garden with a roof to leave the car under. They told their children about it very enthusiastically since it would be their way of celebrating the anniversary. At last they would have a vacation to themselves. To rest without children, grandchildren, or obligations.

The day came, the trip was calm, they stopped for a coffee, they enjoyed everything, they were like two young people in love, they looked into each other's eyes as if they'd just met. They arrived, the chalet wasn't the marvel of cleanliness and upkeep they'd been shown. They got to work, Rita opened the big windows to clear out the stuffy smell, cleaned, and in 2 days it was livable, at last the vacation would begin.

That night they went to have dinner at a very nice place some friends had recommended, after dinner they pushed the tables together and a milonga broke out. How many years had it been since they'd danced, for a moment they doubted whether they'd be able to hold their own among the dancers, they had been very good in their day. They quickly found the rhythm again, they danced everything, they got back in the small hours tired, happy, their long-dreamed-of vacation had begun.

They were still in bed when the doorbell rang, it was 12 noon, they weren't expecting anyone, it must be a mistake, but the bell wouldn't stop. Eduardo put on a pair of shorts and, furious, went out to chase off whoever was bothering them, when he opened the door he froze, he couldn't believe what he was seeing, his son, his daughter-in-law and his grandchildren, "Surprise, surprise" they shouted while they unloaded the bags. He couldn't move, he felt like killing him, and he thought that in that moment he understood why a father could kill his son.

"But there's no room here for everyone" he told them.

"Don't worry, we brought sleeping bags, like when we go camping, we surprised you this way so you're not so alone and you don't miss us."

"But we're far from the beach, the chalet is too small for so many people and I want your mother to rest."

"Don't worry, we'll buy the food already cooked."

Eduardo thought if only it would rain and they'd leave. The children had already gone in to say hello to their grandmother, Rita, still half asleep, thought she was dreaming. When her son and daughter-in-law came in she couldn't hold back any longer and said to them, "we told you we wanted a second honeymoon."

"But Ma, when two weeks go by and we don't come see you, you get mad, and now you went away for a whole month, we... Dad, we're going to take the kids to the coast, we'll get something to eat around there" and they left.

The couple were finally alone, Rita looked at her husband's face, the anger was written all over it, she knew that face very well, she came closer, hugged him and said to him, "what can you do, they're our children, you'll see, a week goes by fast, we'll still have two weeks left for ourselves, let's hope our daughter doesn't get the same idea."

"I talked to her and she told me she was sorry she couldn't come be with us."

Thank God, at least we'll have a second honeymoon, shorter but intense. They hugged each other and smiled, happy.