So, I'm very sorry for the long wait and I hope you will all forgive me! And this chapter may be kinda boring, but it will let you see what our friend is like.


I got a decent night's sleep that night. It had been a while since that has happened and I felt ready for another day on the road. This time I have to make my way to the Des Moines area. Iowa wasn't originally in my plans, but the higher ups always throw me a curve ball half way through. Last time the curve ball was Eureka, Oregon. At least this one is closer to my current location. Kansas is nice enough. I don't think I'd want to live here. I've heard stories of the unpredictable winters. Of all the places I've visited this time around, I'd pick Tucson. I can live with heat. Besides, every joint i walked into felt like a walk-in freezer.

After I shave I step outside to look at my haul. Not many drivers do this, and I feel unsafe if I don't. Every morning I check my truck and today I am happy that there are no visible concerns. While I walk around my truck examining all the major components I think of the people I watched in the diner last night. Still intrigued at their relationship, I hope it was their magic spell that put me to bed so well at ease.

Hauling lumber was not my original idea. As a kid I dreamed of being an astronaut. I was spellbound watching the missions on tv. Even after they became old news, I was watching. Each time one came on my eyes would open wider and my heart would leap. My parents weren't too thrilled with the idea. They called me a stupid dreamer and said I could never do something like that. After my dad died when I was 8, my world revolved around the Nasa program. Mom thought I was worthless.

Before my dad died my mom embodied the perfect house wife; always looking pristine and well kept. I remember, and miss, her dresses with her gloves and hats. But as I grew into my teens mom embraced the 60's. Her dresses and skirts got shorter and shorter. My mom brought all her boyfriends home, too. She became the slut of our neighborhood. One night when I was just 11 her latest boyfriend came in my room when I was asleep. I'll never forget that night and the things he made me do. Mom kept this boyfriend around a lot longer than any of the others. Eventually I told her what he did, but she was too drunk or high to care by then. I moved out when I was 15.

I managed to stay in school and for years I studied hard. I wanted to be just like Alan Shepard and John Glenn. I applied for the Air Force Academy the minute I was eligible. It wasn't exactly a popular thing to do at the time, but I was determined. However, I was quickly looked over since I had no nomination or family history. Instead, I joined the Air Force. I was excited that I was qualified to begin training as a pilot! The process to determine this took almost a year, but I began training as a fighter pilot soon after. I was expected to join the fight in Vietnam. A month before deploying, though, I broke my leg and was pulled from the list. It was such a bad injury that I was never considered again. When my enlistment was up, I decided I'd had enough. The war ended just months later.

My mind drifted back to the present as I checked the final gauge in my cabin. I was ready to hit the road.