************************************
"Good news, we're only a couple of hours away from the house."
"That's a relief. I'm just about sick of this car." Brandon said.
"I'm hungry." Alex said. "Let's start looking for a place to eat."
"Mcdonalds?" Brandon suggested. Jason glared at him.
"No Mcdonalds. Ever." He stated coldly.
"Hey, I was just kidding. There's a Taco Bell." Alex shook his head.
"Jack in the Box?" They all shuddered at that. Jason made a suggestion.
"Subway?"
"Hey look," Brandon pointed out. "Denny's."
"That sounds good." Alex said. "Jason?"
"Yeah. Denny's fine." Jason said as he pulled in to the parking lot.
He chose a spot and they stepped out of the car and into the restaurant.
They were seated within ten minutes. Alex ordered biscuits and gravy,
Jason ordered a cheeseburger and Brandon ordered a chicken fried steak.
The waitress took their menus and left.
"I'm glad we stopped here. I haven't had biscuits and gravy in a long
time." Alex said.
"Yeah. Denny's is always good." Brandon said, then he changed the subject.
"So Jason, what are your grandparents like? Jason blinked.
"Why did you ask that?"
"We're going to be staying with them for a whole week. And you hardly
ever talk about them."
"I guess I don't. Well, they're very nice." He took a sip of his drink.
Brandon looked annoyed.
"What? That's it? 'They're very nice?'" Jason shrugged.
"I don't know what else to say. They're nice to me; they're nice to
their neighbors. They're nice to everyone."
"What's your favorite memory about them, then." Alex asked. Jason thought
about that.
"The earliest memory I have is getting lost in the backyard."
"You got lost? How did that happen?" Alex asked.
"My grandma had a big garden, and I was young at the time." Jason replied defensively.
"All right," Brandon started, "What other memories do you have?"
"My grandpa loves to go fishing. One time My uncle, my grandpa and I went on
a fishing trip and I fell into the water."
"What happened then? Alex said.
"I couldn't swim at the time, so my uncle jumped in the water with me and pulled
me into the boat. My grandpa remarked that he 'fished me out'." The waitress came
with their food,asked if they needed everything, and left again. Jason picked up
his fork.
"What about you, Brandon? Any fond or strange memories about your family?" Jason
said.
"I have a good one. You remember that gold watch I showed you? Alex and Jason
nodded.
"Well, when I first got it, it was a piece of junk. It didn't work and needed
a lot of new parts. My grandfather and I spent a month fixing it. It took
a long time, but it was worth it." They ate in silence for a while, then
Brandon turned to Alex.
"Alex, it's your turn. What good memories do you have of your parents."
Alex glared at him.
"Foster parents, you mean." Brandon froze, then continued.
"Yeah. Well, you've been with them since you ten. You must have had at
least one good moment."
"When I first living with them, they did everything to make me feel at home.
Whenever I felt sad about something they took me out to get ice cream."
Alex finished his breakfast.
"Let's hurry up and pay so we can get on the road again." The waitress
returned to gave them the check. Jason dug around in his pockets.
"Eh, guys, I think I lost the money..."
"What!?" Alex and Brandon yelled together.
"You can't pay?" The waitress said. "We're have to see the manager about this."
****************************************************
"Jason, you are such an idiot!" Brandon complained as Jason continued driving.
They had spent two hours washing dishes to pay for the food. Alex and Brandon
were both angry at him. Upon returning to the car afterwards, Jason found the money
pouch under his seat. But now they were almost to the house they would be staying
out.
"You didn't even think to check the car?" Alex said.
"Well, neither did you two. So stop picking on me." Jason said. He pointed to a house
ahead of them.
"By the way, that's my grandparent's house."