Chapter 16 - The Platypus & Plan

(4 minutes later)

James, with an umbrella in hand, opened up the garage doors with the rest of the family, plus Ron and Monique in tow. Ron and Kim huddled together under an umbrella of their own as did Monique, Ann, and the Tweebs.

Amidst all of the storage decorations for Halloween and Christmas, there stood a 1984 GL Koala 15-passenger van. Two of the bench seats were removed for the luggage. The front hood, the front wheel hubcaps and the rear doors were all orange while everything else was teal. There was also a small-fedora-shaped rust stain on the roof. Otherwise, the vehicle was in good shape.

"The Platypus!" James exclaimed with great joy while folding his umbrella.

"The Platypus?" Monique questioned, folding up her umbrella.

"The Platypus..." Kim groaned, sinking her hands into her overalls pockets.

"Totally love the teal, MrDrP!" Ron grinned.

"I knew that when Joss and Larry were added to our travel party, we needed a Plan B." James explained, "So we decided to bring in the Platypus!"

"You didn't tell me you had an extra vehicle in the back, Mr. P!" Monique exclaimed.

"We actually have not used that vehicle in two years, Monique." James replied, scratching his back.

Ann also added, "Trip to the Carlsbad Caverns in Missouri...not so well."

Kim exclaimed, "Mom...we vowed not to speak of the ant incident ever again!"

"A word of sage advice, Kim." Ron added, "Never step on an antpile, even if by accident."

She then turned to James and said, "Dad! Are you even sure if the thing still runs?"

James smiled, "Watch and learn, Kimberly!"

He got in the van and immediately started up the engine. He also drove it outside the garage and turned off the engine.

"Even if the thing is in running condition, Dad, will it even survive the entire two weeks in Utah?" Kim asked.

"Trust me, she will!" James insisted.

"No offense intended, Mr. P, but the van looks kinda boring and bleh..." Monique said, observing the exterior of the van.

"It was that way, Monique. That is until me and the boys...what is the family-friendly use of the word that kids use these days? 'Pimped'!"

"I believe the answer you are looking for is tricked, Dad." Kim muttered.

"Ah, there's the word! Yes! Tricked out the interior!" James replied, walking around to the side of the van that has the sliding door.

James opened the door to reveal the interior.

Kim and Monique were wowed by the interior.

"Yep, the boys installed a TV/DVD combo in the front seats and in the second row as well." he said, pointing to the two TV/DVD combo installed in both the front seats and

Jim also said, "We installed a MP3 jack and Kimmunicator charger in the second row bench..."

"...for our sis in the third row." Tim finished.

"Aww...thanks, Tweebs!" Kim smiled at her brothers.

"Now I gotta ask a vital question, MrDrP." Ron said.

"Yes, Ronald?" James asked.

"Does the van have any cupholders that can hold a king-sized Slurpster?" Ron asked.

"Oh definitely, Ronald! We have two cupholders in the front, four in the second row, and two in the rear." James replied, pointing to the cupholders in the van that could adjust to any size of drink.

"Boo-yah! We are in the zone!" Ron exclaimed. Rufus also cheered as well.

"What are exactly going to be the seating arrangements for the trip, Dad?" Kim asked that all-important question after a rumble of thunder.

"Simple, Kimberly. Me and Ann will be in the front, obviously. The boys and Joss will sit in the middle. And you, Larry and Ron will sit in the back." James explained the arrangements.

Kim sighed, "Well, at least with the MP3 jack, I can imagine myself at a Britina concert rather than a weird comic-con..."

(3 hours later)

The Possibles decided to pick up Bueno Nacho for dinner to try and come up with a travel plan on how to spend their two weeks in Utah. Monique went back to her house, so it was the Possible family, Ron, and Rufus. Thankfully, the storm moved out of the area.

"Can you pass some of the Diablo sauce packets to me, MrDrP?" Ron asked.

"I sure can, Ronald!" James replied, passing down a couple packets of Diablo Sauce to Ron. Ron then applied it to his Grande-sized Naco. Rufus could taste the spiciness of the sauce on his lips.

"So Dad, what is exactly the plan to visit the national parks?" Kim questioned. She had put down her fork, for she ordered a taco salad.

"We are going to be visiting the parks from west to east, Kimmie-cub!" James explained the battle plan, "After spending the 10th and 11th on the interstate, and after we pick up your cousin Joss in Laramie, Wyoming, we are going to visit Zion on the 12th and 13thand then Bryce Canyon on the 14th and 15th. We will be spending the weekend of the 16th, 17th and 18th at Salt Lake City and then resume our national park visiting with Capitol Reef on the 19th and 20th. Canyonlands will be on the 21st and 22nd and Arches will be on the 23rd and 24th. After all that, we will drive back home on the 25th and 26th, for we plan to stay for the night at Georgetown."

"So why is Larry involved in the trip?" Kim inquired.

"He wanted to go to SLCCC 06, which is on the weekend of the 16th, 17th and 18th." James said, finishing up his chimmorito.

"Can you translate that in parent-speak for me, Dad? Abbreviations are so not my thing!" Kim insisted on what he meant.

"Salt Lake City Comic-Con 06." James repied with the translation. "It's being held at the Salt Palace Convention Center downtown."

"At least that is one place on the trip that I am definitely not going to." Kim said, folding her arms.

"Someone has to watch him because June said that he cannot be left alone in a crowd of people." James added.

Kim pleaded, "Please don't let it be me! Please don't let it be me!" Her full attention was to her dad, for little did she know that the Tweebs were pouring Diablo Sauce into her salad.

"Hmm...we'll figure it out at Larry's house in Boulder!" James proclaimed.

Kim breathed a sigh of relief. "Nice save, Dad!" She then picked up her fork to resume eating her salad. She ate a couple leaves of lettuce and onions...and then realized the heat of the Diablo Sauce by beginning to sweat.

"Uhm, KP? Did you get the last Diablo Sauce packet?" Ron asked.

"I so did not...why?" Kim asked, sweating and her face turning red.

"Hey sis, are you red..." Jim taunted.

Tim finished the taunt "...with envy?"

"TWEEBS! I'm going to get you for this!" Kim exclaimed, rushing up from her chair as she began chasing the Tweebs throughout the house.

James sighed, "This is going to be a long two weeks with those kids..."