Summer Plans Up in the Air

**Characters:**

MARIA: (40s) Enthusiastic and a bit of a dreamer.
DAVID: (40s) Practical and slightly reserved.
CHLOE: (20s) Energetic and social.

**Setting:** A community center common room. Empty coffee cups and a few scattered magazines are on a table.

(MARIA is excitedly looking at a travel brochure. DAVID enters, looking a bit tired.)

DAVID: Morning, Maria. What’s got you so engrossed? Planning a world tour?

MARIA: (Beaming) Even better! I’m planning my summer. Look at these pictures of Lake Arrowhead! Imagine, fresh air, hiking, maybe even renting a little cabin…

DAVID: (Sighs) Sounds lovely. Expensive, too. My summer plans involve a lot of extra hours at work to pay for the *last* summer’s expenses.

MARIA: Oh, David, don’t be such a pessimist! There are always ways. Maybe we could carpool, share a cabin… You need a break! You always work so hard.

DAVID: I appreciate the thought, Maria, but I just don’t see it happening this year. Besides, I promised my sister I’d help her paint her house. That’s my summer adventure.

(CHLOE bounces in, phone in hand.)

CHLOE: Hey, guys! Guess what? My friends and I are organizing a big beach day next month! We’re going to Bolsa Chica. We’ll play volleyball, have a barbecue, maybe even try paddleboarding! You two should totally come!

MARIA: (Eyes wide) A beach day? That sounds fantastic, Chloe! I haven't been to the beach in ages. My swimsuit might be a little… dusty.

DAVID: (Chuckles) Mine too. A beach day, huh? That’s much more realistic than a mountain retreat. But I’m not sure about paddleboarding. I’m more of a "sit-in-the-sand-and-read-a-book" kind of guy.

CHLOE: No problem! Just come and hang out. The more, the merrier! We’re thinking of going on a Saturday, so it won't interfere with work for you, David.

MARIA: See, David? Options! We could pack a big picnic, listen to music… It sounds so relaxing. And no painting houses!

DAVID: (Smiling slightly) Well, it does sound a lot more appealing than scraping old paint. What about food? Are you guys doing a potluck?

CHLOE: Yeah, totally! Everyone brings something. My friend, Leo, makes amazing guacamole. And I’m going to bake a ton of cookies.

MARIA: I can make my famous potato salad! It’s always a big hit.

DAVID: Potato salad and guacamole on the beach? Alright, you two, you’re convincing me. It’s certainly more budget-friendly than Lake Arrowhead, Maria.

MARIA: (Grinning) One step at a time, David. Maybe next year we’ll conquer the mountains. But for now, the beach sounds perfect! Thank you, Chloe!

CHLOE: Awesome! I'll send you both the details later. It’s going to be epic!

(CHLOE exits, still on her phone. MARIA and DAVID exchange a look.)

DAVID: Potato salad, huh? Don’t disappoint me.

MARIA: Never! See? Summer isn't so bad after all.

Vocabulary List

Click on each term to hear pronunciation!

Engrossed 🔊
Having all one's attention or interest absorbed by something.
Example: "What’s got you so **engrossed**? Planning a world tour?"
Pessimist 🔊
A person who tends to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen.
Example: "Oh, David, don’t be such a **pessimist**!"
Bounces in 🔊
Enters a place with a lively, energetic, and often bouncy movement.
Example: "(CHLOE **bounces in**, phone in hand.)"
Paddleboarding 🔊
The sport of standing or kneeling on a board and propelling oneself with a paddle.
Example: "We’ll play volleyball, have a barbecue, maybe even try **paddleboarding**!"
Ages 🔊
A very long time (informal).
Example: "I haven't been to the beach in **ages**."
Dusty 🔊
Covered with or containing dust; also used informally to mean old or unused.
Example: "My swimsuit might be a little… **dusty**."
Realistic 🔊
Having or showing a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected.
Example: "That’s much more **realistic** than a mountain retreat."
Appealing 🔊
Attractive or interesting.
Example: "Well, it does sound a lot more **appealing** than scraping old paint."
Potluck 🔊
A communal meal where guests bring food to share.
Example: "What about food? Are you guys doing a **potluck**?"
Guacamole 🔊
A dish of mashed avocado, typically seasoned with salt, lime juice, and cilantro, served as a dip or spread.
Example: "My friend, Leo, makes amazing **guacamole**."
Budget-friendly 🔊
Inexpensive; not costing a lot of money.
Example: "It’s certainly more **budget-friendly** than Lake Arrowhead, Maria."
Conquer 🔊
Successfully overcome a problem or weakness; to gain victory over (here, used metaphorically for visiting and enjoying the mountains).
Example: "Maybe next year we’ll **conquer** the mountains."
Epic 🔊
Very impressive or great (informal).
Example: "It’s going to be **epic**!"
Disappoint 🔊
Fail to fulfill the hopes or expectations of (someone).
Example: "Potato salad, huh? Don’t **disappoint** me."
Retreat 🔊
A place of refuge, seclusion, or privacy; a quiet or secluded place in which to relax. (Used here to refer to the mountain trip).
Example: "That’s much more realistic than a mountain **retreat**."
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