by Jan Prins
Merry does see Zach’s concern and appreciates his care that he has for her. Suddenly he tells her that he will fit Ethan so that she can go out with Chad. Very sweet of him, but she must now confess to him that the courtship is out. He looks at her and does not know much to say, instead he grabs her and tries to comfort her.
There had to be groceries again and Zach looked into the household wallet: empty! How was that supposed? He looked at Merry questioningly and asked her if she might have some money left.
“Unfortunately not, but maybe it’s a solution to sell Ma’s wedding ring”. Zach looked at her appalledly: “How do you come, there is no question of that, that is the last thing I would do!”. “It’s not fun either, but do you know another solution?” They argued over and over again, until Merry suggested that she ask her boss for an advance.
“That seems like a better plan,” Zach said with relief, do it, is much better!
The next day Merry and Chad were at work in the gym, Merry behind the reception and Chad as a personal trainer with a client. At the end of their service, Merry asked her boss to speak and asked if she would be able to get an advance because her bicycle had broken. He looked at her thoughtfully and said: “Personally I would like it, but my boss, the owner of the chain we belong to, has strictly forbidden it, so no matter how annoying, the answer is no!”
Disappointed, Merry returned to the reception where Chad came to her later. “Hear Merry, I happened to catch up with your conversation, very annoying that he does not want to give you money, but can I help you differently? I want you to borrow it! ”” That is very sweet and kind of your Chad, but I can not accept that. I have to solve it myself “. But as a result, they continued to talk to each other, as they did before.
She went on to explain that it was a problem within the family that she could not talk about and that she now stayed at home to look after her little brother. “Can I help you” he asked sweetly. “Maybe, if you come to my house we can discuss it further”.
After her service, she cycled home, but first went to the pawnshop to pledge her mother’s wedding ring. If she later had money she could always get him back within the agreed period, because this was not a sale. Standing in front of the counter, she was jumped by lots of emotions. What would Mum say about it and especially Zach, who will be very angry! But they have to eat? The pawnbroker appeared at the counter, he had a dust coat and a sun visor on his head. He looked at her over his half glasses and asked in a harsh tone what she needed. “Okay girl, did you steal this sometimes?” “Of course not sir. It is from my deceased mother, we are orphaned and need money to live on “. He looked through the ring through a magnifying glass and finally said “You can get a hundred and twenty-five dollars for it”. Merry signed the pledge and took the money in a timid manner. She did not know how fast she had to get out, but their problem was solved for now!
Zach saw him first drive up the path and opened Chad “Merry asked if I came by, Zach” and he gave him a hand. “Fine dude, come in soon then I will make tea. Then we can get acquainted. “The two boys talk together for a long time in the kitchen to get to know each other better and when the conversation came on baseball the ice was broken. Merry sat with Ethan in the room on the floor playing with Playmobil and Chad sat down and said hello to them. It was not long before he helped fanatically and they had a lot of fun together.
As Zach looked at this, he felt a little uncomfortable-jealousy more- and he thought so. But he had to admit that Merry was very happy with Chad and that it was very good for Ethan. It was good, it’s okay and he felt calm. He accepted the situation and was happy for them.
Traveling
Later that evening, he checked the mail from Carolyn’s separate email address, which she used for passwords, etc. He did that almost every day to see if anything had changed. To his amazement that was indeed the case: he found an account of an online purchase of clothing. Then he delved deeper into the data if there was sometimes more to find and saw that the delivery address was in Texas! He called upstairs or Merry wanted to come downstairs to watch. Surprised, she looked over his shoulder with him to the screen and yes it really stood there: she had had clothes delivered in Texas in a place called -o, irony- Bowie. “If it were in a book, you would say that that writer was a bit out of step! It is hard to believe: she leaves Bowie in Maryland and goes to Bowie in Texas !! You just can not. There must be something behind it! “Said Zach fiercely.
“Merry, now it’s ready for me: I want to go to Texas to see Carolyn and see what’s behind this”. Merry looked at him in amazement and reacted in the same way “But then I will go with you, I want to hear that from her own mouth”. Zach looked at her gratefully. “Fine, fine, but what do we do with Ethan?”. “Well” said Merry “It is also his mother, he just has to come too!” Zach had to swallow and then hesitantly agreed.
That was quite a decision they took, it was said quicker than done. They looked for where Bowie was in Texas and it turned out to be a distance of 1500 miles or 2400 kilometers, which, if you were driving a car in one piece, took a full day to reach. Of course you could not do that at once, especially because they would take a small child of six years. You had to stay overnight on the road twice. But how did they have to pay that: the trip, the hotel, the food on the road and where did they get a car from. The bus was also possible, but that also cost quite a lot of money and the little Ethan would go crazy about the long sitting still, that could not.
Zach was fortunately a driver’s license, but he was only allowed to drive under supervision because he was only seventeen years old, so you did not shoot anything and they did not have a car!
“Zach, may I ask you a question of conscience,” Merry said so urgently that he looked at her in surprise: “Do you trust Chad?” Zach looked at her questioningly, “Why are you asking that question?” “Do you trust Chad?” She repeated and looked at him. deep in the eyes. “Yes, if you ask me so much, yes, I trust him. He is also nice and I am glad you click so well. But why do you ask that? “
“Because Chad has an ordinary driving license, he is already eighteen years old and he has a car, not so new anymore, but a good one. A Ford Taunus 12M. If we take him in confidence he might want to join, along with his car! “His sister explained.
“Brilliant Merry, call him! He can not be far away, he was just here! “And that is how they later told Chad a very difficult story - but a true story. He had to think for a moment, but when he saw the loving and hopeful look of his Merry, he melted away and promised to go with his car.
After much talk they decided to leave in four days, which had the advantage that the wages were paid out and that they had more financial scope. Because Ethan had become six years old he could no longer go to preschool, only in September his Elementary School started, so he was free now. For the rest, Chad was prepared to call his savings. Merry and he would take a ten-day vacation at the fitness school, that should be enough. Zach also had a school holiday and it was now definite that he could go to the University with a scholarship in the coming academic year to combine sports and education, thanks to his excellent sporting performances, which made him scout! In the meantime, he could therefore be missed.
Merry and Zach would make the necessary preparations, such as packing clothes, shopping on the go, buying a good card and seeing where there was a cheap but good hotel on the way. It was already after two hours before Chad went home.
In the past few days they had all made their preparations and had brought some jewels they had found to the pawnshop to take some more money. They had taken leave from their work and canceled everything that was needed. The little Ethan they had enthusiastically told them that they were going on holidays in the car of Chad and that they also went along. The kid did not understand that they could go on vacation now. “But why does mommy not go along, she does otherwise” Yes, explain that … “That is only this time because she is at work, but next time she goes along again”, Merry tried
good to talk. But he looked at her as if to say: Do you believe it yourself? I think you’re fine on me! But fortunately he could not say that with his six years, but he looked like that.
The weekend bags were packed and ready, just like sandwiches and soft drinks on the go. Chad had the car checked in the garage; oil had been changed and new spark plugs had been used, so it would not work either.
It was Friday night now and they would leave at five o’clock the next morning, before the weekend crowds would erupt on the road. Chad stayed on the couch that night, and for the last time before leaving, they checked if they had forgotten something. “Do you have your ID cards and your insurance cards?” Chad asked for the security. “You tell me something! Will she take it immediately? “Zach reacted in alarm. “And your cell phones? Are they charged? And did you also pack the chargers? Would also bring a tablet for the security “. And so it went on.
Eventually everything was ready and they went to sleep, but not before they put the alarm. Zach was the first to get up at four o’clock and started checking that all doors and the shed were locked. He checked the alarm system and closed the curtains for the windows as much as possible and installed a timer that would turn on the lights at night and a radio so that sound was heard.
At five o’clock everyone was ready and they started loading the car. Chad had taken care of a child’s seat in a final brainwave so that the little boy would also sit well and safely. Merry also brought some toys and reading books. There was some morning fog, but the weather forecast was good, it would be a nice sunny day.
Zach put on his New York Yankee baseball cap, he was ready. He closed the house as a “replacement father” and got into the car with Chad in the front while Merry had installed himself in the back with Ethan in his highchair. Chad would take care of the first piece and he would start the car, drive slowly down the driveway, while Merry and Zach would take a last look at the house. And there they drove out of Teal Lane and onto the Annapolis Road, the 450, then drove up the 495 and then climbed up the Baltimore - Washington Parkway. Before Baltimore they bowed west until they reached the famous Interstate 70, the main link to the west of the country. They would follow them as far as Saint Louis and then they would turn south and start driving via the Interstate 44. But before that happened they had to make a long journey!
The Interstate 70 had a whole history. He connects Baltimore to the west with Utah in the east, but does not enter the main city of Salt Lake City. There have been a lot of discussions about this and arguing about it. Also on the east side near Baltimore there had been unrest, there were the so-called highway uprisings raged, which had as a result that the road was not laid east and ended a few years ago in a parking lot in Baltimore.
Unaware of these facts, our friends drove steadily over the Interstate, but kept a close eye on the speedometer because it was very tightly checked that the maximum speed of 55 miles / 89 km per hour was not exceeded.
“Do you know that this section is known as the Interstate 70 Killer? A serial killer was active here in the nineties. He has never been caught, so keep paying attention! “Chad tried to be funny.
“And then I have not even mentioned those two madmen who were responsible for those sniper attacks on the Beltway, who have also stopped here during a break on the Interstate 70 in Maryland,” he added.
“It’s a nice road, but very busy,” Merry said from the back seat, looking up from the Donald Duck she was reading aloud.
“Yes” Zach joined in the conversation “Interesting is that this road runs through many states. We started in Maryland, then West Virginia, then Pennsylvania, now drive back to West Virginia, and before we stop to stay we are in Ohio and then it goes on with even more states “.
They all looked around with interest, none of them had ever ventured so far from Maryland, and it was a whole new experience for them all and an adventure too. It seemed like they were really going on vacation! “And your car drives great” Zach said admiringly “that engine runs like a charm”. And so they drove on, hour after hour. With each their own thoughts what they would find at the end, in that other Bowie, in Texas.
They drove through the narrow Wheeling tunnel and now crossed the broad Ohio river at Wheeling and drove towards Dayton, where they would spend the night. But before then, it was necessary to pause. After those few hours, a sanitary stop had to be made and, of course, coffee had to be drunk with a breakfast, because that was early in the morning. Moreover, they had already driven more than 250 miles / 400 km and it was already at ten o’clock on this Saturday morning.
Before they reached the city of Columbus they saw a TA roadside restaurant just past Buckeye Lake, where they stopped. Slightly stiff by the long sitting they stepped out and went inside.
First of all, the toilets were visited, after which they took a table by the window. They went through the menu and got acutely hungry. Ethan was allowed to hold his own magazine and figure out what seemed good to him. Well he did not say that and he loaded his plate full of all kinds of sweets and took a nice hot chocolate, that could not go wrong! The others chose a bit more cautiously and took fried eggs with bacon and various rolls, but soon it became quiet at their table, they enjoyed it!
After a few delicious cups of coffee they were ready for the continuation of their journey, but on their way to the car they first walked into the extensive shop and looked their eyes out. They had to restrain themselves not to buy much, because they also had to think about the money!
Suddenly Ethan was gone, they were shocked and quickly looked around where they had left off. Zach found him at the computer games, he was completely mesmerized by the Super Mario game. It was a fun computer game and suitable for his age and you got a nice Super Mario doll with it. Chad shook his hand over his heart: “You get that from me, that’s for your birthday. You still had that from me “. Ethan flew him around the neck to thank and Merry did it over again! He could play nicely with that during the long journeys that they still had ahead of them.
After having refueled, the journey continued towards Dayton. They certainly had five more hours ahead of them and they would have driven a total of 500 miles / 800 km, a third of the whole distance. They would take a total of three days, hopefully the little boy could stand it.
Zach had taken over the wheel, which was very unreal for him because he had only recently had his driver’s license and had never driven on such highways, he was looking down the road from under his cap. As it lasted longer, he became a little calmer, which was also because Chad sat next to him and gave all kinds of useful directions. Finally he got pleasure in driving and his talk came back.
“Have you ever fallen asleep, Merry?” He asked his sister, while looking in the mirror. “No, I’m thinking. When you were refueling, I let Ethan pee before we would drive on. When I walked through the restaurant again, I saw a man in a corner reading the book “Why Trump Deserves Trust, Respect and Admiration”. And that man was there too when we were having breakfast. ” “Well and, what is wrong with that?” “What’s wrong with that is that that book consists of empty pages and therefore there is nothing to read! Why did he do that and especially why was he there? I find it very strange “she answered. Both looked at her now and did not know anything, but a wild suspicion took possession of them!
Ethan was completely immersed in his Super Mario game, and Merry literally no longer had a child with him. She had taken out her tablet and was browsing around to see where they would end up. “Where are we going to stay overnight?” “I thought about Dayton, that is still an end. But if we can get that we have driven exactly one-third of the distance and we are on schedule “said her friend Chad. “Okay, I thought about it too. Do you know what kind of city this is? ” None of them knew that so the information that she read from the screen from Wikipedia was very welcome.
“There are about one hundred and seventy thousand inhabitants and is most famous because the pioneers of aviation, the Wright brothe
rs were born here. There is a large air force base named after them and there is a famous aircraft museum the National Museum of the United States Air Force at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The collection consists of more than 360 aircraft and missiles from the very beginning of aviation. In addition to aircraft that have actually been in production, it also has a collection of experimental aircraft and aircraft used by US presidents. It attracts more than one million visitors per year. In November 1995 negotiations took place at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base which would later lead to the Dayton Convention and put an end to the Bosnian War..”
“That sounds mighty interesting. Too bad we do not have more time, otherwise we could go there. Would really like it “said her brother enthusiastically. “Yes, me too” Chad reacted “but tomorrow is Sunday, then it will be closed anyway?” Merry looked back on her laptop and reported that it was still open. “Let’s just think about it. It is also fun for Ethan. Maybe we should just make the trip a bit longer and make a day of it. First let’s see how we feel tonight, “she said wisely.
It was already against six o’clock that they arrived after a few short stops in Dayton and looked for a hotel. Given the state of their finances, the choice fell on a cheap two star hotel, the Knights Inn, which lay in the center of the city. They were cheap for fifty-three dollars a night per room. Two rooms were booked, one for Chad and Zach, while Merry would take care of her brother Ethan in their room. The next time they would change rooms. They were tired after that long drive of ten hours and decided to take a shower first to refresh and put on some other clothes before they went to dine.
Meeting