The journey from their home to Grandma's was 100 miles by car and they had already done 50, Jeff and Lucy had decided to leave early in the morning so that their five sons would all still asleep but now it was midday and they were very much awake, Gordon and Alan were already bickering whilst John was trying to read.
"John, don't read too much or you'll get car sick," Lucy looked round at the six year old, his ginger head was buried in a book about the planets.
John looked up, "I don't get car sick."
"Yes you do, put it down honey."
Scott leant on his hand, they were surrounded by sand and desert, the last car they had passed had been an hour ago, "how many more miles Dad?"
"Another forty at least son, we'll stop for our picnic soon."
Scott nodded solemnly, "by the time we get to Grandma's, it'll be dark."
"You like visiting Grandma," Lucy scolded, "and don't make faces."
Virgil giggled, "you'll be stuck with that face one day."
Gordon poked John in the arm with his goldfish plush, "Johnny, say hi to Florence!"
"Stop it, stop poking me!
Lucy stroked Alan's golden hair from where he sat in his car seat directly behind her and Jeff, the three year old was still asleep and she smiled fondly, "Jeff, we should pull over soon before the next argument starts."
Jeff nodded, "there's a lovely stretch coming up in about ten miles if everyone can hold on until then."
Lucy looked back at her four older boys, "hmm, okay."
Gordon sat up, "I-Spy with my little eye, something beginning with, J!"
Scott rolled his eyes, "John?"
Gordon giggled cheerfully, "nope, guess again Scotty."
"Do I have to?"
Lucy begged with her eyes, "son," her eldest had just entered his teenage years and it was showing in his moods.
"Fine. Juice?"
"Nope."
"Virgil, any guesses?" Scott rolled his eyes.
"J, umm, jam?"
"Nooo, do you guys give up?"
John sighed, "yep."
"Jaguar!"
"You didn't see a jaguar Gordon, that's stupid."
Jeff frowned, "Scott, stop it."
"I'll do one then," he sulked and looked out of the window seeing cacti darting past, "I spy with my..."
"Blue eyes!"
"Yes, blue eyes, something beginning with C."
"Cat?" Gordon asked.
"No."
John grinned, "cactuses."
Virgil smiled, "cacti John, that's the plural."
"Smartypants," John frowned, "are we really going to play this game for ten miles? I have a book."
"I-Spy with my little eye, something beginning with C," Virgil smirked.
"Cactus."
"We've done that one, Gords."
Scott huffed and rested his head back against the cushioned seat, "I'm so bored."
"Join in the game then," Lucy smiled, "Scooter, be nice to your brothers."
The ten miles passed painfully and they pulled in to a lay by, desert had turned into forest and everyone was happier to feel fresh air as opposed to air conditioning and desert temperatures, Scott passed Virgil a sandwich then smiled as his two year younger brother rested against him, Lucy held Alan on her lap as he ate crackers, Gordon was still playing with his fish and had already run off from the group twice and John had found a reading spot.
Jeff looked over the map, "thirty miles to go give or take."
"Good, our boys look knackered, apart from Gordon," Lucy glanced over at the fish loving boy who was running around.
"That's normal," Jeff grinned proudly, "don't worry about him sweetheart."
Scott gave Virgil a piece of rope, "now you try."
"How did you do that?"
"Want me to show you again?" Scott raised an eyebrow, "I think you'll be able to do it."
Virgil bit his lip then twisted the rope around threading one end to the other, "argh, it went wrong!"
Jeff smiled fondly, "need a hand, boys?"
Scott shook his head, "he'll get it Dad, I know he will."
Virgil started again and examined Scott's example, "that goes here, pull here...Scott, I got it!
Scott smirked, "easy right?"
Lucy checked the time, "let's go angels, we still have a long journey before reaching your Grandma's."
Another game of I-Spy started but there were less voices involved, Lucy looked back over her shoulder to see Gordon and Virgil playing along but John had turned back to his book and Scott had fallen asleep against Virgil's shoulder, Alan was sleeping peacefully and she smiled at Jeff.
"Yep. They're great boys sweetheart," Jeff smiled as he looked ahead at the road.
