Packing
Thursday July 15th @ 6:30 PM - Sommers' Farm
Zack had backed up the van to the back porch. Where Bart and Will
were proceeding to load Will's stuff into it. Will was taking a tent,
sleeping bag, clothes, food and fishing gear. Zack was impressed with
his enthusiasm for making it look like they were really go camping, but
there were limits. While he stood there watching, Will's mom came up to
him. He said, "Good Evening, Mrs. Sommers, hot one today."
Will's mom, responded, "Good Evening, Zack. It is
isn't it."
turning to her husband, "Lee, go grab that bag off of the kitchen table
please." Her husband looks at her then moves into the kitchen. When she
sees that her husband is out of sight, if only for moments, she quickly
puts something in Zack's hand, and whispers, "Put it away til later,
thank you for taking care of my boys." Zack with only moment's
hesitation deposits the paper in his jeans, just before Mr. Sommers
comes out caring a grocery bag full of food. He looks at his wife,
"Angie, you've packed enough food in here for a month, they're only
going to be gone for four days." "Leland Sommers, you know how teenagers
eat. This will be gone by Saturday morning."
Will's mom turns to Zack, "I baked some banana and zucchini
breads,
a couple dozen chocolate chip cookies, and a few other things. I'm sure
yall will figure what to do with them.", Turning back towards the house,
she yells, "Jenny, Jenny dear, they're almost ready to go." Jenny comes
tearing through the door onto the back porch. "I'm done. Will, you pack
these in too. I made a batch of brownies for you guys all by myself."
She hands the bag to Will, and whispers, "Be careful with this." Will
can't help but notice that the bag is pretty light for being packed with
brownies.
When they have everything stowed, Mr. Sommers reminds Zack
for the
third time, "Now, you be careful and don't speed." To which Zack replies
for the third time, "I will, sir." He and Mr. Sommers shake hands,
before Zack heads for the van. Facing Will, Will's dad says, "Son, I
want you to behave yourself while your gone. I don't want to hear of you
getting in any trouble." Mr. Sommers, then pats Will on the back.
Will's mom's turns to Will, with arms wide open, and says,
"Come
here, give your mom a hug before you leave." Will looks first to Bart
and then to Zack, and says, "Mom, you're embarrassing me." But he is
quick to go to her and hug her. Jenny says, "My turn." and Will turns to
her and gets this big bear hug from her, she whispers into his ear.
"There's a present for Todd in that bag, be careful with it." Then in a
louder voice, "You take care of yourself."
Mr. Sommers, points out, "Enough is enough. He's only goin
for 4
days, its not like he's off to join the army." turning to the three
boys, "Now you all get going. God speed."
Zack starts the engine and pulls away as they all wave to
each
other.
@ 7:00 PM - Riding from the Sommers place to the King House.
Bart is talking, "Yeah, Gary sent me this e-mail yesterday.
He
wants to know if we want to help him set up TK with this totally hot
dude." While looking out the window, he says, "That'd be cool. But ...
but ... what about the distance? KC's along way from here."
Bart retorted. "But, Gary said he was from out of
town, he could
be from anywhere." "Yeah, he's probably from St. Louie, but you never
know." From Zack comes, "Hey you guys watch it. They could hate each
other at first sight. And don't go fuckin with TK, I don't wanta see him
get hurt. Just introduce them if you want, but, and I mean it, don't go
pushing him into anything. Do I make myself clear?" Bart and Will answer
back "Yeah." "Don't worry we will." But when Zack's not looking, they
wink at each and give the thumbs up sign.
@ 7:50 PM - At the King House.
By this time, they have packed all but Todd's bag. Shelley and
Zack
are sitting on the verandah talking with Grams and Shelley's mom.
Another round of be careful, drive safely, watch out for strangers,...
Zack is waiting for Will and Bart to come back downstairs, they're all
up in TK's room, supposedly helping him pack.
Will looks at Todd, "You're not going to wear that to the
party are
you?"
"Yeah, TK looks like something you'd wear to a funeral." Todd looks at
them, "Come on guys, there's nothing wrong with that shirt. And since
when did you two become 'The Lords of Fashion'!"
Rummaging thru Todd's closet, Will pulls out this powder blue
tank
top, "This will do, and those white jeans, it'll be great." Todd has
resigned himself to their interference. "We sir, will there be anything
else?" At which Bart says "These sandals, and the Hawaiian shirt, are
all you'll need." Will winces when he sees the shirt, its a kaleidoscope
of colors, flowers, fish and palm trees. "Bart are you sure? That shirt
is fuckin loud." "Yeah, trust me." then to Todd, "You'll look
great!."
So Todd packs the last pieces of clothing in his bag under their
watchful eyes.
They take the bag out to the van and stow it. As Zack, Will and
Bart take their leave, Grams hands Zack an envelope, and explains,
"There is some extra gas money in there. You never know when it will
come in hand. You just take care of my grandchildren!" And she gives
Zack a kiss on the cheek. Todd and Shelley's mom, chimes in, giving
Shelley an envelope also, "There is enough in there to cover the cost of
Bart and Will's tickets. I wouldn't feel right not to reward them
personally for all that they did to help TK when he was hurt." Shelley
tried to start saying something, but before she could get a word out,
her mother put a finger to Shelley's lips, "Quiet now, I know you were
going to pay for their tickets, but let me do it."
@ 8:30 PM - Riding from the King House to the Matthew's Farm
"I tell ya the Hawaiian shirt makes it." Bart exclaims.
"He'll look
so hot they'll be fallin all over him tomorrow night." Will - "He
doesn't need it."
Will brings up the money that Shelley's mom gave to them.
"We
can't take all that money. We're not even going to the festival." Bart
looks at Zack and says, "Zack, do you think Shelley would think it was
all right if we bought some nice souvenirs for her mom and grandma? Then
it wouldn't be like spending it on ourselves. You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I think she'd go for that."
@ 9:30 PM - At the Matthew's Farm.
Zack proclaims, "Well, that's it. We got everything in with
plenty
of room to spare." as he looks over a van that is packed to the ceiling.
"Let's call it a night, we got to get up early tomorrow." Bart and Will
are too tired to argue. They all head out to the screen house where
they're spending the night. Zack per usual gets the coach, and Bart and
Will are on air mattresses on the floor.
Before they turn off the light, Zack remembers that Mrs. Sommers
gave him that paper. He had stuffed it in his pocket and forgot about it
until know. Searching his pants he finds it and pulls it out. Opening
it, some money falls out, after he reads the note, he asks, "Will, what
does your ma know? She said she had twenty-five dollars to help cover
the gas, then she said it was awfully sweet of us to take you to see
your brother. What gives?"
Will looks at Zack and Bart, then says, "I was going to wait
till
we were all on our way tomorrow. ... Let's just say for now, she knows
why I'm going to KC, and she approves. I'll tell ya all more after we
are on our way, OK?" Bart and Zack both nod. Zack turns out the light,
and turns to see Bart give Will a quick kiss and squeeze of the hand.
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