Chapter 26: The Camping Trip, part 1!
A WEEK LATER!
At eight am in the morning, Simon and Jeanette loaded their car with the camping gear. Wanting to leave an hour early; Simon knew it wasn't easy to get the kids ready at a specific time.
His father, Dave, siblings, and sister-in-laws were regretfully invited to come along, they assumed when Simon said a 'family trip' that he meant everyone. Simon assures them that he and Jeanette need more quality time with the kids, alone.
Just last night everyone had spent the night at the old Seville home. Dave gave Simon a few suggestions on how to get to the chosen campsite in order to beat traffic. In the morning they all got up to have breakfast and helped with loading up the car. After breakfast, Tom, Mary and Vince got dressed. The three of them then gleefully hopped into the car with excitement. This is their very first camping trip with their parents.
Simon hefted up the last suitcase into trunk. He nearly had a heart attack, when the horn honked loudly. "Will you get in the back seat, already!!" He yelled, knowing that it was his mischievous son in the front seat.
"But dad it was an accident!" Vince tries to explain.
"I don't want to hear your excuses, just get in the back seat!" Simon told his son in a firm voice.
"Ok!" Vince snapped back as he climbed into back.
Checking everything was in order, Simon wanted to make sure of one last thing. "Wait a sec, did you make sure you went to the bathroom before you got in the car?"
"I don't have to go." Vince shook his head.
"If you make me stop within an hour of this trip, I am really not going to be happy with you!"
Alvin glanced at Theodore and Dave and smirked. "Oh, yeah. I can tell that this will be a fun trip." Dave and Theodore just shake their heads in reply.
"I heard that Alvin." Simon said as he peered around from behind the car. After closing the trunk, Simon faces his dad and siblings. "Ok, that should do it. Where's Jeanette?"
As if on queue, Jeanette comes out with cooler and a handbag with her sisters right beside her. She hugs her sisters then she gets into the front passenger side of the car.
With a wave 'goodbye' from everyone, Simon starts driving off.
----------------------
20 MINUTES AFTER
ARRIVING TO THE CAMPSITE!
The young Seville family found a perfect spot in a well-known campsite four hours late, right beside a beautiful lake. Other campers had just arrived and setting up their tents. Those that came in motor homes had their chairs and portable barbeques prepared for the evening.
Simon pulls out the tent and had it all set up within 15 minutes with the help of his children, of course.
Jeanette had brought out the rest of their camping gear out and started to set it up while Simon fussed with the portable barbeque. Meanwhile, Vince, Tom, and Mary started to head straight for the lake that was nearby.
"Hey, don't you three dare go too far!" Simon shouted after the kids had run off.
"We won't." The three chimed at once.
"Excuse me?" Came a voice from behind Jeanette and Simon. When they turned they saw one of their neighbouring camper, a middle age woman.
"Are you Simon and Jeanette from the Chipmunks and the Chipette's?" She asked in a bashful manner.
"Ah, yes we are. Why?" Jeanette asked.
"Oh, I was just wondering. I'm an old fan of you guys."
"How sweet." Jeanette said.
"I was wondering what ever happened to you two? I mean the last time I heard of anything was the time your book came out." The women said as she gestured towards Simon.
"Well as you can see we have been very busy." Simon said as he pointed towards the lake where his kids were currently playing.
"Oh, they are so adorable. The two of you must be very proud?"
Simon and Jeanette nodded and smiled with a hint of pride.
"Anyway, my name is Barb. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. My family and I are just two camp sites over."
"Thanks." Jeanette and Simon chimed at once.
-------------
Meanwhile, the three young chipmunks seem to found a stop for playing by the water's shore. Their feet were bare, shoes and socks not far away from where the three were playing. It simply felt good to have them off so they could enjoy the cool refreshing sensation of the lake.
"I can't wait till we could go swimming." Mary said as she stretched out the last bit of kinks from her neck.
"Yeah." Both boys replied in unison.
Vincent bends down and picks up a few pebbles and starts throwing them outward in the lake. Tom notices that there were swimmers out near were the pebbles were landing. He frowns and faces his brother.
"Don't throw rocks." He says in an angry tone.
"Why?"
"Because you might hit those kids out there, you twit."
"I won't hit them."
"Still, there's still a chance you might."
"Why don't you go be a nerd somewhere else?"
"That's it. I'm going to tell mom on you." Tom said as he walked out of the water to grab his shoes.
"Go ahead. You're such a mama's boy." Vince cried.
"I am not." Tom said in defence forgetting his shoes temporarily.
"Are too, Turkey-butt!"
"Am not and don't call me a Turkey-butt!"
"You both are acting like Turkeys." Mary said with a sigh. "I've had enough. I'm going to sit with mom and dad."
The brothers watched their sister storm up to their campsite with her socks and shoes in her hands then drew their attention back to each other.
"You're still a Turkey-butt." Vince said with a smirk.
"Oooh! Don't start with that."
-------------
That evening Simon is still trying to connect the propane to the portable barbeque. He begins to twist the knob tighter until it slips and he scraps his knuckles on the edge of the barbeque.
"Ow," Simon complains loudly. He brings his hand up to inspect the scratches. With a sigh of relief, Simon can tell that they are only minor scratches.
"Er, having troubles, oh great mechanical one?" Jeanette scoffed sweetly.
"I almost have it, Jeanette. The problem is that I had brought the wrong size wrench with me and that is why I'm having problems connecting this small propane tank to the barbeque." Simon explained.
"Well, if you weren't so busy telling the rest of us to hurry this morning, then maybe you wouldn't have forgotten the wrench." Jeanette told him.
"Well, maybe if your sisters hadn't kept getting in my way..."
"Ha! What about your brothers? They are the worst of the bunch..."
"Alvin maybe, but not Theodore." Simon said standing up for his younger brother.
"Gee, mom and dad are starting to sound like Aunt Brittany and Uncle Alvin." Vince whispered to Tom and Mary. Both of them respond by stifling their giggles.
"Are you having some problems with your barbeque?" Barb asked as she walked up with her husband by her side.
"We are, actually." Jeanette replies honestly to them before glaring at Simon. "Someone forgot to bring the right size wrench, apparently."
"Why don't you come by our campsite? I have a whole toolbox of different sizes of wrenches. Maybe I have the one you need?" Barb's husband suggested.
"I have a better idea," Barb stepped in. "Why don't all of you join with our family for dinner tonight?"
"Oh, we don't want to impose." Simon said with a hint of pride.
"Nonsense. We insist." Barb replied in a firm voice.
"Come on, we have more then enough salmon to share." Her husband added.
"Mmm, salmon." Vincent began smacking his lips and rubbing his tummy as he stood up from the log he sat on.
"Alright," Jeanette caved in knowing now that her kids have a craving for salmon. "But we will make the smores."
"Deal." Barb agreed smilingly.
Simon and Jeanette grab graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolates before following Barb and her husband to their campsite.
--------------
THE NEXT DAY!
"Vincent, you are such a brat!!" Tom yelled, as one of the kids they were playing with runs off crying.
"Yeah, Vince. Why do you have to be so mean sometimes?" Mary asked.
"Well, someone had to tell him that he runs like a girl." Vince said as he gestured toward screaming kid. "Look at him, boy, what a pansy."
"You are such a idiot." Tom retorted with a frown.
"Oh yeah?" Vince glared.
Both boys began to glare into each other's eyes for a bit, until Tom finally let out a sigh. "You know, Vince? Sometimes I really wish I didn't have you for a brother." he then walked away without another word. There were just some days he just felt he couldn't even look at his Vince without wanting to scream.
Vince just stood there, he pondered on how to react to his brother's comment. He turns to his sister to see if she had anything to say about it. Mary just shrugged her shoulders and followed behind Tom back to the campsite.
Vincent had a strong feeling that Tom was going to tell their parents about the name calling he made all day to the kids around camp. He was in no mood to hear one of mom or dad's lectures on behaviour around other people, so he tried to think of a way he could get out of this situation. Instead of going back to camp, Vince decides to go for a walk by himself along a nearby path.
--------------
As dinnertime comes around, Jeanette calls out for the triplets. When Tom and Mary showed up, there was no sign of Vincent. Minutes ticked by, when Vincent didn't show up Jeanette started to get worried.
"Guys where is Vincent." She said placing her hands on her hips.
"Who knows, who cares?" Tom grumbled.
"You don't mean that, Tom. Now where is your brother?" Jeanette said with concern.
"We're not sure, Mom. Both Tom and him had a fight, and he took off along the path over there." Mary said pointing to a nearby path.
Simon walked up and managed to catch the last bit on what Mary said. "Hmm, I better go look for him." He said in a serious tone.
--------------
Meanwhile, an angry Vince walked down an unfamiliar path until his stomach rumbled in protest. Frustrated, he decided to turn back only to notice that he was completely lost; he wasn't sure which way was back to the campsite. Tearfully he looked up to see the nightfall is coming. From a far-away distance a coyote's howl called out. The noise was scary to bring a chill down his spin.
Panicking as he tried to run down the narrow path. Without looking where he was going he slips and falls down a hill. Finally he stops tumbling; Vincent turns over and sat up. That's when he noticed that the fall caused him to receive a small cut on his leg that was now bleeding. This was defiantly not becoming a good family vacation trip he shook his head.
"I want my daddy." He cried. The tears ran down his face as he rolled himself into a little ball.
Vincent stopped crying when he heard footsteps approaching him. He whips the tears from his face and looks up and sees a male chipmunk about the age of twelve. His eyes were light blue, and his hair kind of scruffy. Vince was not sure where this kid came from, but he was sure glad to see him.
"Are you ok?" Asked the strange young chipmunk.
"No! I'm lost, I'm hurt, and I'm hungry!" Vince said tearfully.
"It's getting dark, you better come with me if you want to survive the night."
Without arguing Vincent accepted a helping hand from this new friend. Together they walked up to a nearby cave.
-------------
TWO HOURS LATER...
When Simon finally returns without Vincent, Jeanette now begins to panic. Some of the campers, which spoke to Jeanette earlier and found out their son is missing, went up to Simon to lie out a search plan to find him. When a rough idea is planned out, Simon left the meet to be with his family.
"Well, what's going on?" Jeanette demanded.
"We are going to get up first thing in the morning and start a search party." Simon said. "I myself would have continued to search, but it started to get too dark to see."
"I hope he's alright." Jeanette said. Her face showing fear – mother's fear.
"Me too." Simon added, as he sunk his head in guilt. A part of him felt threatened that it was a possibility that the Illuminati had something to do with Vince's disappearance. He prayed that that was not the case. It had been years since Illuminati had anything to do with him, but he couldn't rule out that possibility just yet.
Jeanette could tell Simon was hurting so much with all of this and she decided to ask if he was all right. "How are you holding up?"
"I'd be lying if I said that I didn't need a stiff drink and a smoke right now." Simon openly admitted.
Both Simon and Jeanette looked into each other's eyes, knowing how scared the other was. Just then they looked over to see their other two children, Tom and Mary and walked up to join them.
Tom looked up at his parents with tears rolling down his face, knowing it was his fault that Vince wasn't yet found.
"Mom, Dad I'm so sorry." Tom sobbed, "It's my fault Vincent ran away. I told him I didn't want him for a brother."
"Oh, Tom." Jeanette reached down, and gave her son a hug. "It's not your fault."
As Tom cries on her shoulder, Jeanette picks him up and carries him to their tent. Simon sat down in front of the campfire and stares into the flames. Mary walks up to him and sits down on his lap. She begins to meld in with his hug.
"I don't want you to worry, daddy. Vince is alright."
"He is, is he?" Simon said as he held his daughter tight, paying close attention to her confident words.
"Ah uh, someone is with him."
"Really? Who?" He asked out of curiously.
"The Angel said a friend was with him." She added shortly before she yawned.
Simon looked at his daughter with confusion written on his face decided not to ask any more questions he held Mary tightly against him. A few minutes later passed before he finally carries her back to the tent. Simon laid Mary down in her sleeping bag. He sits for a moment and watches Jeanette curled up with Tom, and Mary resting comfortably in her own sleeping bag. A small sigh escapes his lips. He wished that Vincent could be here too. Unable to sleep, Simon decides to go back and sit beside the campfire for a little while longer.
He closed his eyes to hear the noises around the camp, especially the crackling sound of the fire. Suddenly, he hears a familiar voice in his mind.
"Do not fear my friend. I'll look after your son."
Simon opened eyes and watched the crackling of the fire. A chill ran down his spin. He couldn't help but wonder why he was hearing that voice; he knew whom it belong but to believe it; it was something he could only hope for.
A WEEK LATER!
At eight am in the morning, Simon and Jeanette loaded their car with the camping gear. Wanting to leave an hour early; Simon knew it wasn't easy to get the kids ready at a specific time.
His father, Dave, siblings, and sister-in-laws were regretfully invited to come along, they assumed when Simon said a 'family trip' that he meant everyone. Simon assures them that he and Jeanette need more quality time with the kids, alone.
Just last night everyone had spent the night at the old Seville home. Dave gave Simon a few suggestions on how to get to the chosen campsite in order to beat traffic. In the morning they all got up to have breakfast and helped with loading up the car. After breakfast, Tom, Mary and Vince got dressed. The three of them then gleefully hopped into the car with excitement. This is their very first camping trip with their parents.
Simon hefted up the last suitcase into trunk. He nearly had a heart attack, when the horn honked loudly. "Will you get in the back seat, already!!" He yelled, knowing that it was his mischievous son in the front seat.
"But dad it was an accident!" Vince tries to explain.
"I don't want to hear your excuses, just get in the back seat!" Simon told his son in a firm voice.
"Ok!" Vince snapped back as he climbed into back.
Checking everything was in order, Simon wanted to make sure of one last thing. "Wait a sec, did you make sure you went to the bathroom before you got in the car?"
"I don't have to go." Vince shook his head.
"If you make me stop within an hour of this trip, I am really not going to be happy with you!"
Alvin glanced at Theodore and Dave and smirked. "Oh, yeah. I can tell that this will be a fun trip." Dave and Theodore just shake their heads in reply.
"I heard that Alvin." Simon said as he peered around from behind the car. After closing the trunk, Simon faces his dad and siblings. "Ok, that should do it. Where's Jeanette?"
As if on queue, Jeanette comes out with cooler and a handbag with her sisters right beside her. She hugs her sisters then she gets into the front passenger side of the car.
With a wave 'goodbye' from everyone, Simon starts driving off.
----------------------
20 MINUTES AFTER
ARRIVING TO THE CAMPSITE!
The young Seville family found a perfect spot in a well-known campsite four hours late, right beside a beautiful lake. Other campers had just arrived and setting up their tents. Those that came in motor homes had their chairs and portable barbeques prepared for the evening.
Simon pulls out the tent and had it all set up within 15 minutes with the help of his children, of course.
Jeanette had brought out the rest of their camping gear out and started to set it up while Simon fussed with the portable barbeque. Meanwhile, Vince, Tom, and Mary started to head straight for the lake that was nearby.
"Hey, don't you three dare go too far!" Simon shouted after the kids had run off.
"We won't." The three chimed at once.
"Excuse me?" Came a voice from behind Jeanette and Simon. When they turned they saw one of their neighbouring camper, a middle age woman.
"Are you Simon and Jeanette from the Chipmunks and the Chipette's?" She asked in a bashful manner.
"Ah, yes we are. Why?" Jeanette asked.
"Oh, I was just wondering. I'm an old fan of you guys."
"How sweet." Jeanette said.
"I was wondering what ever happened to you two? I mean the last time I heard of anything was the time your book came out." The women said as she gestured towards Simon.
"Well as you can see we have been very busy." Simon said as he pointed towards the lake where his kids were currently playing.
"Oh, they are so adorable. The two of you must be very proud?"
Simon and Jeanette nodded and smiled with a hint of pride.
"Anyway, my name is Barb. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. My family and I are just two camp sites over."
"Thanks." Jeanette and Simon chimed at once.
-------------
Meanwhile, the three young chipmunks seem to found a stop for playing by the water's shore. Their feet were bare, shoes and socks not far away from where the three were playing. It simply felt good to have them off so they could enjoy the cool refreshing sensation of the lake.
"I can't wait till we could go swimming." Mary said as she stretched out the last bit of kinks from her neck.
"Yeah." Both boys replied in unison.
Vincent bends down and picks up a few pebbles and starts throwing them outward in the lake. Tom notices that there were swimmers out near were the pebbles were landing. He frowns and faces his brother.
"Don't throw rocks." He says in an angry tone.
"Why?"
"Because you might hit those kids out there, you twit."
"I won't hit them."
"Still, there's still a chance you might."
"Why don't you go be a nerd somewhere else?"
"That's it. I'm going to tell mom on you." Tom said as he walked out of the water to grab his shoes.
"Go ahead. You're such a mama's boy." Vince cried.
"I am not." Tom said in defence forgetting his shoes temporarily.
"Are too, Turkey-butt!"
"Am not and don't call me a Turkey-butt!"
"You both are acting like Turkeys." Mary said with a sigh. "I've had enough. I'm going to sit with mom and dad."
The brothers watched their sister storm up to their campsite with her socks and shoes in her hands then drew their attention back to each other.
"You're still a Turkey-butt." Vince said with a smirk.
"Oooh! Don't start with that."
-------------
That evening Simon is still trying to connect the propane to the portable barbeque. He begins to twist the knob tighter until it slips and he scraps his knuckles on the edge of the barbeque.
"Ow," Simon complains loudly. He brings his hand up to inspect the scratches. With a sigh of relief, Simon can tell that they are only minor scratches.
"Er, having troubles, oh great mechanical one?" Jeanette scoffed sweetly.
"I almost have it, Jeanette. The problem is that I had brought the wrong size wrench with me and that is why I'm having problems connecting this small propane tank to the barbeque." Simon explained.
"Well, if you weren't so busy telling the rest of us to hurry this morning, then maybe you wouldn't have forgotten the wrench." Jeanette told him.
"Well, maybe if your sisters hadn't kept getting in my way..."
"Ha! What about your brothers? They are the worst of the bunch..."
"Alvin maybe, but not Theodore." Simon said standing up for his younger brother.
"Gee, mom and dad are starting to sound like Aunt Brittany and Uncle Alvin." Vince whispered to Tom and Mary. Both of them respond by stifling their giggles.
"Are you having some problems with your barbeque?" Barb asked as she walked up with her husband by her side.
"We are, actually." Jeanette replies honestly to them before glaring at Simon. "Someone forgot to bring the right size wrench, apparently."
"Why don't you come by our campsite? I have a whole toolbox of different sizes of wrenches. Maybe I have the one you need?" Barb's husband suggested.
"I have a better idea," Barb stepped in. "Why don't all of you join with our family for dinner tonight?"
"Oh, we don't want to impose." Simon said with a hint of pride.
"Nonsense. We insist." Barb replied in a firm voice.
"Come on, we have more then enough salmon to share." Her husband added.
"Mmm, salmon." Vincent began smacking his lips and rubbing his tummy as he stood up from the log he sat on.
"Alright," Jeanette caved in knowing now that her kids have a craving for salmon. "But we will make the smores."
"Deal." Barb agreed smilingly.
Simon and Jeanette grab graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolates before following Barb and her husband to their campsite.
--------------
THE NEXT DAY!
"Vincent, you are such a brat!!" Tom yelled, as one of the kids they were playing with runs off crying.
"Yeah, Vince. Why do you have to be so mean sometimes?" Mary asked.
"Well, someone had to tell him that he runs like a girl." Vince said as he gestured toward screaming kid. "Look at him, boy, what a pansy."
"You are such a idiot." Tom retorted with a frown.
"Oh yeah?" Vince glared.
Both boys began to glare into each other's eyes for a bit, until Tom finally let out a sigh. "You know, Vince? Sometimes I really wish I didn't have you for a brother." he then walked away without another word. There were just some days he just felt he couldn't even look at his Vince without wanting to scream.
Vince just stood there, he pondered on how to react to his brother's comment. He turns to his sister to see if she had anything to say about it. Mary just shrugged her shoulders and followed behind Tom back to the campsite.
Vincent had a strong feeling that Tom was going to tell their parents about the name calling he made all day to the kids around camp. He was in no mood to hear one of mom or dad's lectures on behaviour around other people, so he tried to think of a way he could get out of this situation. Instead of going back to camp, Vince decides to go for a walk by himself along a nearby path.
--------------
As dinnertime comes around, Jeanette calls out for the triplets. When Tom and Mary showed up, there was no sign of Vincent. Minutes ticked by, when Vincent didn't show up Jeanette started to get worried.
"Guys where is Vincent." She said placing her hands on her hips.
"Who knows, who cares?" Tom grumbled.
"You don't mean that, Tom. Now where is your brother?" Jeanette said with concern.
"We're not sure, Mom. Both Tom and him had a fight, and he took off along the path over there." Mary said pointing to a nearby path.
Simon walked up and managed to catch the last bit on what Mary said. "Hmm, I better go look for him." He said in a serious tone.
--------------
Meanwhile, an angry Vince walked down an unfamiliar path until his stomach rumbled in protest. Frustrated, he decided to turn back only to notice that he was completely lost; he wasn't sure which way was back to the campsite. Tearfully he looked up to see the nightfall is coming. From a far-away distance a coyote's howl called out. The noise was scary to bring a chill down his spin.
Panicking as he tried to run down the narrow path. Without looking where he was going he slips and falls down a hill. Finally he stops tumbling; Vincent turns over and sat up. That's when he noticed that the fall caused him to receive a small cut on his leg that was now bleeding. This was defiantly not becoming a good family vacation trip he shook his head.
"I want my daddy." He cried. The tears ran down his face as he rolled himself into a little ball.
Vincent stopped crying when he heard footsteps approaching him. He whips the tears from his face and looks up and sees a male chipmunk about the age of twelve. His eyes were light blue, and his hair kind of scruffy. Vince was not sure where this kid came from, but he was sure glad to see him.
"Are you ok?" Asked the strange young chipmunk.
"No! I'm lost, I'm hurt, and I'm hungry!" Vince said tearfully.
"It's getting dark, you better come with me if you want to survive the night."
Without arguing Vincent accepted a helping hand from this new friend. Together they walked up to a nearby cave.
-------------
TWO HOURS LATER...
When Simon finally returns without Vincent, Jeanette now begins to panic. Some of the campers, which spoke to Jeanette earlier and found out their son is missing, went up to Simon to lie out a search plan to find him. When a rough idea is planned out, Simon left the meet to be with his family.
"Well, what's going on?" Jeanette demanded.
"We are going to get up first thing in the morning and start a search party." Simon said. "I myself would have continued to search, but it started to get too dark to see."
"I hope he's alright." Jeanette said. Her face showing fear – mother's fear.
"Me too." Simon added, as he sunk his head in guilt. A part of him felt threatened that it was a possibility that the Illuminati had something to do with Vince's disappearance. He prayed that that was not the case. It had been years since Illuminati had anything to do with him, but he couldn't rule out that possibility just yet.
Jeanette could tell Simon was hurting so much with all of this and she decided to ask if he was all right. "How are you holding up?"
"I'd be lying if I said that I didn't need a stiff drink and a smoke right now." Simon openly admitted.
Both Simon and Jeanette looked into each other's eyes, knowing how scared the other was. Just then they looked over to see their other two children, Tom and Mary and walked up to join them.
Tom looked up at his parents with tears rolling down his face, knowing it was his fault that Vince wasn't yet found.
"Mom, Dad I'm so sorry." Tom sobbed, "It's my fault Vincent ran away. I told him I didn't want him for a brother."
"Oh, Tom." Jeanette reached down, and gave her son a hug. "It's not your fault."
As Tom cries on her shoulder, Jeanette picks him up and carries him to their tent. Simon sat down in front of the campfire and stares into the flames. Mary walks up to him and sits down on his lap. She begins to meld in with his hug.
"I don't want you to worry, daddy. Vince is alright."
"He is, is he?" Simon said as he held his daughter tight, paying close attention to her confident words.
"Ah uh, someone is with him."
"Really? Who?" He asked out of curiously.
"The Angel said a friend was with him." She added shortly before she yawned.
Simon looked at his daughter with confusion written on his face decided not to ask any more questions he held Mary tightly against him. A few minutes later passed before he finally carries her back to the tent. Simon laid Mary down in her sleeping bag. He sits for a moment and watches Jeanette curled up with Tom, and Mary resting comfortably in her own sleeping bag. A small sigh escapes his lips. He wished that Vincent could be here too. Unable to sleep, Simon decides to go back and sit beside the campfire for a little while longer.
He closed his eyes to hear the noises around the camp, especially the crackling sound of the fire. Suddenly, he hears a familiar voice in his mind.
"Do not fear my friend. I'll look after your son."
Simon opened eyes and watched the crackling of the fire. A chill ran down his spin. He couldn't help but wonder why he was hearing that voice; he knew whom it belong but to believe it; it was something he could only hope for.