Sitting at home alone with Marquee, I took in consideration going away on one of those post graduation getaways. My roommate, a year younger than me just called from Europe to see if his check for this month's rent came through. I can't help but think of the opportunities he's taken as an undergraduate. He'll be graduating next spring having visited over 22 countries. I'll be turning 22 this month.

My job as an SAT teacher makes good use of the summer for high school students preparing for exams in the fall. Every time I teach I relearn a lot, except there's no test for me to take and get over with. Rather than being eager to learn they're eager to get it over with. I think it's immoral for there ever to be a three hour exam.

I teach strategies. Being a strategist pays well. I can see why CEO's and NBA basketball coaches get their paychecks. My superiors promise extra points and improvement on overall scores. If that doesn't hook parents, usually word and mouth of any sort of extra help to getting their child into the prestigious college of choice gets them to reconsider. Nobody really wants to be there. Likewise, no high school student wants school on the weekends. It's nonsensical how parents don't really know their children. I would assume during the breaks of SAT Prep when my students are out chain smoking cigarettes it's probably because they're indoors on a Saturday. I oblige, so I promise them a pack or two if they improve on their practice exams. Really, sugar isn't an incentive anymore. What’s the incentive? That in four years it will all pay off. A smoking habit and alcohol binge included.

I quit smoking my sophomore year of college. I figured after five years of it, I would eventually become sick of it. That was probably my hardest year of school to date, with all the papers I wrote and cigarettes I didn't smoke. I quit drinking my junior year. I realized it would never be the same without smoking after a year of it. So I was a new person when I graduated and the only other habit I needed to break was being extremely boring; maybe next year.

Brian, one of my childhood friends that graduated on time with me is leaving for the West Coast in three days. Every summer before this we've always spent our time wasting it. Both of us had jobs back home so we had commitments to living back with our parents. This summer he's interning in California. At least one of us is doing big things with our degrees.

Clara, who I've known since sophomore year of high school already left for South America before going to training as an officer in the Air Force. She was always a tough girl, four years of ROTC and attitude. I think that may be why Brian and I teased her so much. At first glance she looks like a normal dainty girl but when you push her buttons she'll throw things at you.

Last summer, Brian, Clara, and I firmly decided to go on a road trip from the East Coast to the West Coast. Since nobody wanted to risk overheating or combusting their car with us in it, we decided to take the Amtrak. With all the money we were saving from gas, we would buy our luggage as we traveled to California. Clara didn't think it was a bright idea not to bring luggage so she ended up pushing around a carrier each stop the train made. Brian and I took turns running with it each time we were late for the train.

When we arrived in California, Brian's aunt greeted us with open arms. Well, not Brian and I because we were filthy, but mostly Clara. I think our whole stay Brian's aunt thought Clara was his girlfriend. My guess was because Aunt Lee couldn't stop asking Clara questions. I knew Clara was uncomfortable but I didn't think it was appropriate to bail her out. After all, we were going to stay for one week free, courtesy of Aunt Lee.

It was hotter than a Bachelorette party in a four by four square foot room. We immediately went to the beach after Clara unpacked all her luggage. Then we waited longer for Clara to change. At the boardwalk Brian and I bought our swimsuits and met at the designated location where we would plant an umbrella. Before I say anything else, for the record I haven't seen Clara in a swimsuit ever. Secondly, it was a bikini which I don't consider a swimsuit, but the things Sports Illustrated models never take off, except in the bedroom. I think Brian wouldn't have minded if his aunt's delusion was true right then. For the most part we were all a little surprised but quickly snapped out of it when Clara threw sand in our eyes. We all jumped in the large body of water after. The California waters sure beat the neighborhood pool.

The first three days we went to all the places Brian knew of and wanted to revisit since he was the only one out of us that was familiar with California. There wasn't anywhere particular Clara and I needed to see but a military base wasn't too far from one of the places we visited. I wanted to see Korea town more than anything. I heard from friends that you'll know you're there when you hear a conglomerate of Korean being spoken on the streets. I haven't been to Korea since I moved to America after the age of three. I thought that this would be my opportunity to experience my culture, even though it was just with Koreans a long way from home.

On day four, all of us were feeling lazy so we took it slow in the morning. Clara had too many drinks in Korea town the night before so she didn't wake up for a while. Brian and I decided to get breakfast before she got up. Back at home we would all meet up at Ihop after hours because that would be the only decent sit-down restaurant open 24/7. I thought it would be funny if we ate there in the morning for a change. While we were waiting for our food we decided to talk about our future and where we saw ourselves after graduation. I joked that Clara would be off saving the world somewhere. Brian added that her wrath wouldn't keep anyone safe. Brian hinted about moving to California, but I wouldn't discover until a year later when we started talking again that he was serious. Before we could get into any more serious talk, Clara decided to call Brian after getting lost trying to find the Ihop we were in, all with a hangover. We decided to pay with cash and leave.

At night Uncle Lee fixed up the grill. I was opted kitchen duty with Clara because Brian and Uncle Lee grilled. It was pretty funny seeing Clara screw up salad. Aunt Lee was very forgiving with Clara, but was utterly surprised by my superior ability in the culinary arts. While we had dinner out on the deck, the sweet smell of charcoal carried on early the next morning. That was the first time that Summer I had stayed up to watch the dawn.

The last day of California all three of us went to shop and buy things for us and the people back home. We all pitched in to buy Aunt and Uncle Lee something nice to show our gratitude. The arcade was where Brian and I lost ourselves and the interest of Clara. Being a generation raised on video games our attention span isn't anything but short. In our own conscious efforts we were trying to lose ourselves momentarily, competing to get the attention of the girl who loved us. The winner wouldn't be me.

Aunt Lee dropped us off at the train station before her errands. She gave Brian a big kiss and hugs for Clara and me. Even though it was only for a week, I wasn't ready to go home. We were a little early for the train so we were able to sit down and wait. I was tired from staying up all night so it was hard staying awake. I sat there, nodding on and off, the sound passing through one ear and out the other. I imagined Clara asking me a question that I wanted to answer, but couldn't because I was tired. "You think we'll be able to do this again next summer?"
"Of course" I thought to myself, "Next Summer."

It's been a quiet summer. From what few people that haven't returned home because of summer school, I'm left here because of work. Everyone seems busy with their lives. I don't blame them. After college it's different than after graduating high school. Rather than anticipating the next event, there's a cast into the unknown. Knowingly I did anticipate this unknown, but right now I want to forget that I'm going to have to find a career this summer.

There's a void inside me.

I'm thinking of moving to Korea so I can teach English.