Chapter 6: Last Conversation

Glad to have safely landed at Denver International Airport, Ephram thanked his lucky stars as he set foot out of the arriving gate. He breathed a sigh of relief. The airport personnel directed all the traffic to baggage claim. With backpack in tow, Ephram strolled pass the revolving baggage conveyor belts and headed towards the exit.

He sniffed the cool crisp Colorado air as he stepped onto the curb. The sun had set behind the mountains and a brisk wind developed. He looked at the sky and figured he'd be home in time for David Letterman. The empty feeling in his stomach made him realize how hungry he was. After all, he was a growing boy. At this rate, even his father's repugnant cuisine sounded appetizing - as long as it was halfway edible.

While waiting for the shuttle bus to the bus terminal, he bought a Snapple and a pack of Twinkies from the vending machines. He sat on the bench ravenously devouring his snack. For some reason, he never remembered Twinkies ever tasted so good. But food always seemed to taste extra good when you're famished. He crammed the last piece of Twinkie into his mouth and washed it down with the remaining swig of Snapple. He watched the white shuttle bus roll into the station.

The shuttle bus was packed with travelers. Ephram stood the whole way. He observed his fellow riding companions and mentally guessed their destinations. Some of them had full luggage including skis and snow gear. No doubt they were vacationers headed to the Aspens. There were some business types clinging onto their expensive attaché cases looking strikingly professional. They were headed to Denver Metro area. Then there were those aimless people with blank and lost looks on their faces. Those were obviously the residents of some nearby town. Ephram chuckled to himself.

The shuttle dropped them off in front of the Denver Bus Terminal. Andy had offered to pick him up in Denver but he refused. He wanted independence and opt to take the bus back to Everwood. Naturally, Andy worried about Ephram traveling by himself after dark. But Ephram reminded him that he wasn't dealing with New York, this was Everwood. There is no crime here. Finally, after continuous nagging, Ephram persuaded Andy to pick just him up at The Everwood Bus Depot. This way, Andy didn't have to drive four hours to Denver.

Ephram climbed up the steps aboard the Everwood bound bus. It was the oldest rickety bus he'd ever seen. And he thought the Greyhounds were bad. Those were luxury compared to this. The windows were grimy. It was a surprise you can even see thru them. The metal bolts holding the bus together were orange with rust and the brown foamy seats had an old moldy smell. He moved to the back of the bus and took a window seat. He dared not put his backpack in the overhead compartment. God only knows what was spawning in there. His backpack sat in the empty seat next to him.

Once a few more people entered the bus, the bus driver started the ignition. The engine sounded like a sick cow. Ephram wondered how this bus ever passed inspection. He looked around and noticed only a handful of people were headed to Everwood. He couldn't imagine anyone actually having a burning desire to visit Everwood - the land of the zombies. As the bus made its way onto Interstate 70 South, Ephram whipped out his cell phone and dialed his father's cell number.

"Hello?" His father picked up on the second ring.

"Hey dad! Guess who!" Ephram said.

"Ah! It's my favorite son!" Andy humored.

"Of course I'm your favorite son. You don't have a choice since I'm your ONLY son." Ephram laughed.

"Where are you?" Andy asked.

"I'm on the bus." Ephram answered. "And I'm starving. I hope you have something to eat in the house, cause if you don't, I'm going to eat Delia." Ephram said in jest.

"Hey. Don't joke about your sister like that." Andy was glad to hear Ephram's voice. "But don't worry, there's food. And the best part is - I didn't cook it. Nina knew you were getting back today so she made baked ziti and scalloped potatoes."

"Mmm sounds good." Ephram said licking his lips. "All I have is half a pack of M&M's to keep me going until then. So, did you miss me?"

"Yea, it's way too quiet around here. I missed arguing with you. Ha." Andy chuckled. "No, seriously, I really did miss you a lot. Can't wait to see you."

"What time you picking me up at the Depot?"

"I'm already at the Depot."

"What? Don't you know I won't be there for another three hours?!"

"I know. But I'm just anxious to see you."

"Hope you brought something to read. Is Delia with you?"

"No, she's at Nina's. Delia wanted to come but Nina and Sam were making ice cream sundaes, so she couldn't resist."

"What?! She chose ice cream over me. My feelings are hurt now." Ephram pouted.

"Well, you'll get over it. She's creating a sundae for you as we speak."

"Aw, I knew she had a heart of gold." Ephram said.

"Are you kidding? Delia loves her brother."

"Damn!" Ephram swore as the bus flew over a pothole and jerked on the brakes making every inch of the bus rattle.

"What is it?" Andy questioned. "Hello?"

"Yea, I'm here. I just slammed my face against the seat in front of me. This moron bus is going to friggin' fall apart. I swear, of all the buses, I get stuck with riding in this stupid shit box." Ephram rambled while rubbing his nose.

"Always the dramatic one." Andy sighed. "Watch your tongue. I don't appreciate the cussing."

"Sorry. I forget we're not in New York anymore. I need a censor bleep every time I open my mouth now. God forbid I should say a major faux pas in front of all those innocents that live in Leave-It-To-Beaver-Ville." Ephram said.

"Speaking of New York, did you bring it?" Andy asked.

"Yes, dad. It's in my backpack. I know how much you ached for a Bagel Boy bagel. I got them this morning. Fresh. Wait until you sink your teeth into these babies. Nothing beats a New York bagel."

"You're the best!"

"Yea, I know."

Ephram enjoyed talking to his father even though he got a kick out of purposely being the bee in his bonnet. They talked about New York and Ephram's grandparents. This was the first decent conversation they've ever had. Both Andy and Ephram knew it was a breakthrough. Even though they would be seeing each other shortly, neither of them wanted to get off the phone. Perhaps it was a sign. God wouldn't be cruel enough to split them apart without one last conversation.

"Can't wait to get home." Ephram yawned.

"I thought you hated coming back to Everwood." Andy asked.

"Hate is a strong word. I don't hate Everwood. You know dad, I've been thinking. I wanted to say." Ephram hesitated. He wanted to get something off his chest.

"Yes?"

"I wanted to say that I may dislike Everwood but I have reason to come back. The reasons are you and Delia." Ephram loathed touchy-feely situations but it was easier to say it over the phone rather than face to face. At least this way, he couldn't breakdown into a puddle of tears in front of his father. "Just - sorry for being such a pain-in-the-a- I mean elbow, for the past year." He caught himself before saying another "bad word."

"Ephram." Andy hadn't expected this at all. It was so unlike Ephram to say things of that nature. "No, you weren't a pain."

"Yes. I was. I did things just to spite you. You know that. But I didn't mean to. I never meant to hurt you." Hell, he was never good with words.

"I love you too." Andy said. He understood where his son was going with this.

"Dido." Ephram smiled. He felt warm inside. Another jolt of the bus shook the interior as it hit a turn. The metal pieces vibrated violently against each other and for a minute, Ephram really thought the bolts holding the bus together were going to bounce off the sides. "Oh Lord." Ephram groaned.

"You ok?"

"Don't know how much more I can take of this bus. I don't think this bus has brakes. It's going like 80 miles an hour. And every time it hits a turn, I think the whole thing is gonna flip over."

"Hang in there. You still on the I70?"

"Yea, we just hit the exit for Route 5." Ephram squinted out the window at the passing signs.

"So that means another two hours or so." Andy calculated. "You want to tell me why you're so chipper today?"

"Nothing." Ephram started. "Well, I met a girl." He admitted with a grin.

"Aha! I knew it!! I knew there was a girl involved. Where'd you meet her? In New York?"

"No, at the airport in Milwaukee. But she's from New York. She was on a connecting flight to Kansas City. Visiting an aunt."

"So, you like her?" Andy pried.

"She's cool." Ephram said casually. He was glad his father wasn't there to see his wide grin. "We exchanged phone numbers. And get this, not only has she heard of Everwood, she's actually been to Everwood!!! She was just passing thru but still!"

"Yea, you like her." Andy teased.

"She says I'm intriguingly cryptic!! No one's ever said that about me."

"Geez, I could've told you that." Andy retorted humorously. "OK, what was your pick up line?"

"There was no pick up line. We talked about Kafka."

"Excuse me? Did you say Kafka?" Andy cut off in surprise. "As in Franz Kafka, the author?"

"No, I'm talking about Kafka the rock band." Ephram shot back. "Of course I'm talking about the author!"

"I'm impressed Ephram. Wow. I didn't think you were into that stuff."

"Ah dad, I'm not as mindless as you think. She was reading The Metamorphosis and we started discussing it. One thing led to another and we found out we had stuff in common. She's real smart." Ephram said. "But I owe it all to Mrs. Connor's English class. Thank God I paid attention when we read that book." He giggled.

"Ephram, Ephram, Ephram. I always had a hunch you went for the brainy type. So, does this girl have a name? And when do I get to meet her?" He joked.

"Her name's Jewels. It's short for Juliana. And not a chance in hell are you ever going to meet her."

"Do I really cramp your style that badly?" Andy humored.

"Yes, you do." Ephram replied. "Last thing I need is for you to flash her with my naked baby pictures."

"C'mon, I never do that! You are so paranoid." Andy laughed. "Is Jewels cute?"

"Da-ad! I'm not talking about this anymore." Ephram blushed.

As the conversation was getting more interesting, a loud bang was heard somewhere in the rear which sent the bus swiveling from side to side throwing the passengers around like sacks of grain. A few people shrieked. Ephram's shoulder hit the side window and almost dropped his phone. He yelped in pain.

"Hello? Ephram? You there?" Andy grew concerned.

"Oh my God!! Dad, something's wrong with the bus!!" Ephram cried. "Oh God!!"

"Calm down. Tell me what's happened." Andy said gravely.

"I think a tire blew. We're losing control." Ephram screamed. Another thud and the cell phone went flying out of his hand. He got out of his seat and searched for the phone on his hands and knees.

"Ephram? Ephram??" Andy yelled into the phone. Ephram found the phone nestled between someone's purse and a shoe.

"Dad?" Ephram said into the phone. He was still crouched on the aisle of the bus.

"Ephram! Are you alright?"

"I'm ok. I dropped the phone." He panted. "Dad, the bus is not stopping!!!!!" He said almost in tears. 'What are we going to do?!"

"Are you in your seat?" Andy asked anxiously.

"No, I'm in the aisle." He stood up in the aisle.

"Go back to your seat and hold on."

"Holy shit!!!! We're gonna go over the ridge!!" He shouted. Horror froze all his limbs as the bus whirled around and saw the direction the vehicle was heading.

"Ephram!!!! What's going on????" Andy hollered into the phone. "Ephram???"

"Dad!" Ephram sobbed. "I love you dad. I love y-." He never got to finish his sentence.

The bus driver slammed onto the brakes and maneuvered the bus to stay on the road. Every one in the bus lost their footing. Objects and people bounced around the interior like snow inside a snow globe when shook. Unfortunately with all the weight shifting to the side, the bus lost its balance, did a side wheelie and toppled over. Because of the velocity, it pivoted noisily across the road with the loud screeching of metal. Crashing thru the metal barrier, the whole bus was sent over the edge of the cliff. Bus parts flew off and scattered around the area. The bus tumbled down the slanting hill and eventually came to a stop as it hit the thick foliage. All that was left of the bus was a giant deformed scrap of metal. There was silence in the wreckage.

"Ephram?! Hello????" Andy screamed on the top of his lungs into his phone. His blood went cold as he heard nothing but static. He redialed Ephram's phone three times getting the same message that "the number he was trying to reach had been disabled." He frantically dialed 911 for help as he ran out of the Everwood Bus Depot. With his heart pounding in his mouth, he hurried to his car and drove in the direction of Route 5.

* end of chapter 6 *