The Holiday

Sweltering heats fill the room, a hot sticky breeze drifts by my face. Broom Broom Broom its the posties bike coming to a halt beside our old white mailbox. He adds a few letters in the mailbox and speeds off to the next house. Racing outside in anticipation, my heart suddenly sinks discovering its only a Telstra bill. I hate when the phone bill arrives, mum always gives me a big lecture about all my calls. I knew there was going to be trouble, remembering about all my international calls to my penfriend Sofie in Sweden.

Anyway the reason for all this excitement is that a letter from Sofie should be arriving soon, we have been saving for an international holiday together for years. Finally we have a nice sum of money in the bank and our trip looks like it is actually going to happen, So far we have both agreed on visiting the USA. Me and Sofie have been penfriends for years and years and openly write to each other on a regular basis, Sofie is 17 years old. It is the first week of the school holidays and being rather bored at home I decide to go to a friends house.

Arriving home 6.30, Mum was still yelling about the phone bill, wearily entering the door waiting for the impact. "$170 dollars worth of international calls" Mum bellowed at me. I will pay for them out of my trip money I reapplied in a disappointed tone. "Trip, trip when is this stupid TRIP going to be over with" Mum yelled at me, Soon very soon I reapplied convincingly.

A week went past each day I eagerly checked the mailbox, only to discover bills and letter from companies trying to sell us a continuous  stream of junk. At this moment the realisation of how much garbage companies actually send out finally came to me. For example this week companies have sent mail to me and my family trying to sell us: raffle tickets, cladding, software and exercise equipment. What I would like to know is where they got our address from, and how they got the idea that we would even contemplate buying there trash.

Midway into the following week the familiar sound of the posties bike was once again heard, this time he revealed the letter I have been desperately waiting for. I quickly ran outside, stumbling down the stairs on the way. The air mail envelope had two Swedish stamps on it and my name and address written in Sofie's familiar hand writing. I opened the letter and begin to read it:

Dear Tim,

Hi how is everything in Australia? It is freezing in Sweden at the moment and has been continuously snowing for weeks. Guess What! I have good news for you, I just won $500 in a writing competition. Now I have $8275 dollars in the bank, our holiday is finally going to happen. Can you ring me as soon as you get this letter and tell me if you are aloud to go. If yes we will book everything plan a budget and I will fly over to Australia. Then we will catch the plane to the U.S.A from there.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon

Sofie Ninov

I ran straight for the phone and dialled Sofie's number her father picked up the phone and started yelling in Swedish. I tried to tell him it was Tim and he rudely slammed down the phone, with all the excitement I had completely forgotten that Sweden was 10 hours behind Australian time. I was tempted to phone again and apologise but it would only cause more trouble.

It took me and Sofie about a week of liaising to work out all the fine details of the trip, we managed to get our plane tickets and motel reservations sorted out. Our budget turned out surprisingly good, we have enough for everything plus $1500 dollars spending money each. Sofie's parents agreed to pay for her air flight to Australia, she arrives in Sydney in two days time. Mum is driving me up to Sydney where we are staying in a motel for a night and then we get on the plane to the U.S.A.

Sofie arrived in Australia today and me and Mum were at the Sydney airport to meet her, it was an unforgettable experience. When we first saw each other we froze, I did not know whether to run and hug her or pleasantly greet her or what. And by looking at Sofie's facial expressions I could tell she was confused like me. Sofie smiled at me and a feeling of relief swept through my body, we greeted each other and headed for the car. Although there was a lot to do in Sydney all me and Sofie really wanted to do was catch up on everything and finally chat face to face.

We talked for ages and before we new it we were boarding the plane for the U.S.A, Mum took us to the airport helped board the plane and headed back for Parkes. Not Long after the plane took off and me an d Sofie Continued our chat for the entire duration of the flight. When the plane landed in the U.S.A, me and Sofie got a taxi to the city pacific motel where we will be staying for out two week trip.

We unpacked our stuff and settled down for the night, we both were suffering from jet lag especially Sofie. The next morning we went on a guided bus tour around Hollywoods mansions, we even got a look at Alanis Morissettes huge mansion. For the next four days we went sightseeing and had a great time. We shopped on and off until it was time for the part of the holiday we wanted most, our trip to Disneyland.

The tour bus dropped up off in front of the enormous Disney land complex, we were greeted by Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. We went inside and could not believe our eyes, Disneyland was wonderful. After going on almost every ride during our two day stay as Disney land, our trip was reaching its end.

Back at the motel we packed our stuff and got a taxi to the airport, we waited a while and then boarded the plane. Sofie stayed with me in Australia for another two weeks. I showed her around Parkes and before I new it we were driving back to Sydney so she could board her return flight.

We said our goodbyes and agreed we would plan another trip in a few years, and in the mean time we will continue writing to each other. And to this day we