Alien Scrooge - Zara Zenia Page 0,3

me." She giggled at the big grin on her mother's face.

Her mom plopped into her seat between her and her dad, her messy, black hair bouncing with her movements. "I got the holiday stuffies on the website, and I'm ready for some family time." She grabbed Cara's hand and held it. "How was the drive, sweetheart?"

"It was uneventful. Just some time to myself to think and enjoy some Christmas music." She knew it was a lie, but she didn't want to think about any of that now, and she certainly didn't want her parents to worry. "Hey, I have a project to show you guys."

She turned to her side to unzip a smaller pocket of her camera bag, pulling a stack of photographs out and spreading them on the table in front of her. Some of the pictures laid out before her were clearly practice shots. Despite this, as Cara looked through the pile she was very proud of the beauty she had managed to capture in a few of the amateur photos.

"I've been working on long exposure shots around the studio. It's a little harder to find a good place to set up, working in the city, but I've been doing my best with what I have." She glanced at her parents who were lightly moving the pictures gently between the two of them. "They're mostly just practice shots, but it's been fun."

Her mother turned her face up, her mouth hanging slightly agape as she looked at her daughter. "They're beautiful, honey. Do we get to keep some of these?"

The corners of Cara's lips turned up as she spoke with a giggle in her voice, "You can keep as many as you want, Mom. I'm hoping to get to the beach to do some shooting out here before I head back home."

"Oh, that sounds fun!" Her mother's unending support was amazing and nearly brought a tear to Cara's eye.

"Yes!" her father cut in, "Perhaps you could go after lunch while we head to the store. Your mother was worried about leaving you here alone when you just arrived."

"Oh, that would be wonderful. I've been itching to get my camera out ever since I got in the car to come here, the scenery is just gorgeous with the snowy topped mountains in the distance."

"Well, why don't we have a quick lunch first? Do you mind, honey, I'd like to go put these photos away." Her mom looked at her dad.

He stood up from the table and headed to the kitchen at his wife's signal. "On my way."

After their relaxing time catching up, Cara returned to her room to pack her usual hiking bag. She slipped into her thicker socks and hiking boots before hugging both of her parents and heading for the door.

"Be careful out there, Cara Bear." Her father insisted on using her old childhood nickname.

"I will, Dad. Love you guys."

After a short drive toward the coast, Cara parked her green Jeep Wrangler at Andrew Molera State Park. She'd been on this trail many times growing up nearby. The path was familiar and the slight chill in the air combined with the salty smell of the ocean sent shivers of delight through her body. With warm memories flooding her mind, she nearly skipped down the first section of the dirt path before calming herself to a gentle stroll. The first part of her walk was surrounded by low leafless bushes and short spindly trees. She stepped through the small creek that flowed through the path as images of climbing those trees when she was younger flashed through her mind. She was much too big for them now, but the feeling she had gotten sitting on the top of those trees and looking out at the landscape beyond still sat within her. She couldn't wait to capture this world that was so familiar to her in a new light through her camera lens. Her pace picked up as she reached a fork in the leaf strewn dirt path, leading her to follow a trail that led toward the cool ocean breeze.

The trail stretched ahead, with bigger trees now arching their branches over the worn dirt and crunchy leaves on the ground. As she passed under the lanky tree arms, she reached up to run her hands through the leaves still clinging tightly to their stems. They made a delightful rustling sound as her fingers flowed around them, like a dry delighted laugh. On either side of the path stretched tendrils