Start of the Journey

Today was the day, Raphael was driving an older 4 door sedan, with more than enough trunk space, to go pick up the Pines twins. His mind wandering, as the pavement seemed to roll past him, if this was how he would like to spend the last true summer of his life. Away from his friends and family, along with any adventures or misshapes to be found. He cracks a smile as his thoughts turn to Serena and a few others, ok maybe some time away would do some definite good. He'd swear that even gods tremble a little at the thought of an enraged or driven Serena. On that point, not telling her that he was going to disappear for the summer was probably not the smartest move, but he would deal with that when he came back. Once more on the matters of today, he reasoned, if nothing else, that he could just disappear into the woods for a few weeks or head off on a road trip for the same amount of time.

Turning down his music a touch as he pulls into the Pines driveway, he parks and makes his way to the front door. With one foot on the stairs leading up to the porch the front door is thrown open and Mabel comes running out screaming, "Raphael!".

A smile blossoms across the teen's face as he bends down to match the ball of positivity's hug. The thought of, I guess even in the worst case scenario there are worse ways to spend a summer, flashes through his mind.

Looking past Mabel to the doorway he spots Dipper standing next to his mother while the twin's luggage rests just off to the side, lining the hallway wall.

He calls out to Dipper, "Hey man, you excited and ready to go?". Dipper obviously swallows down some nerves and answers with, "Yeah I'm good to go, we've got everything by the door ready."

Releasing Mabel from the hug, Raphael addresses the two preteens, "How about you two say goodbye and load up the car, while I talk to your mom."

With that Mabel seems to remember something and turns her head to look at the driveway, a frown begins to form as she asks, "Raphael? Where's your car?"

Seeing through the little girl's thoughts Raphael chuckles, "Sorry Mabel, but I have put in far too much time, effort, and my into my baby to take her on a roadtrip to a relatively unknown place and leave her in poor conditions for the summer. Plus she doesn't have much spare space for luggage, so we are taking this car instead."

Disheartened Mabel trudges back to the front door letting out a depressed, "I guess that makes sense."

Passing Dipper the keys as he walks past to converse with their mother, "Good morning Miss Pines, lovely day to start the summer isn't it."

The soft smile that Mrs. Pines had already been wearing only got bigger, "It truly is, you wouldn't believe how excited the twins are for going on this adventure with you. They were both all packed two days ago and this morning you hung by the door like lost puppies."

"Mom!"

Chuckling at her son's outcry she continues, "But on a more serious note, thank you. I know you have a thousand and one different things you could be doing this summer, so I'm really grateful that you are going to be watching over them. We both know that they needed to get out more, but even so I couldn't help worrying." As she finishes a shot of bittersweet sadness is injected into her demeanor, there's no doubt that she loves her kids far more then Raphael possibly could ever know.

Now carrying his own downtrodden feeling he began to console the soon to be lonely mother, "I'm sure they would have been fine, they're good kids who have had wonderful parents. And I'll be sure to make them write home every week."

Mrs. Pines pulls him into a tight hug and whispered a heartfelt thank you into his ear.

After a few moments, the silence was broken by the sounds of a car horn blasting and the cries from the ever eccentric Mabel calling from the front passenger seat for the two to hurry it up. Putting some pep in her step, Mrs. Pines walks with Raphael over to the car. While Raphael does some last checks and shifts some of the bags in the trunk around she gives her final goodbyes to the twins, and tells them to behave themselves. After all was said and done, she handed Raphael a fifty, citing travel expenses, and wished the trio the best on their journey.

Thus began the summer.

"Well they're gone."

"Don't worry they will be fine, plus now you have more time to spend with your husband."

"I know, I'm just thankful that you convinced Raphael to go along with them."

"Don't think to much of it, I think he needs the trip as much if not more than your kids. As I don't think that he has truly come to terms with what his father's death means. Although he does hides it well."

Author notes:

- Any comments on the structure of the text would be helpful. Ie: In paragraphs or line per line. As well as how dialogue should be conveyed.

- Also if you notice too much repetition while reading that would be helpful to know, along with what.

- Have a good day.