Lane woke up with a start, rubbing the sleep from his eyes he rolled over in bed and looked at the alarm clock. 4:30AM. "Perfect timing." He thought to himself as he pushed back the covers, swinging his bare legs over the edge of the bed, his feet touching the cold, wooden floor. He moved toward his desk, having undressed quickly last night he had thrown his jeans over the back of the chair. Picking them up he pulled them on before securing his belt around his waist. He then reached for a t-shirt and pulled it over his head. He finally pulled on a pair of socks and then his boots, he reached for his cowboy hat and placed it on his head as he walked out the door, down the hallway toward the kitchen. "Mornin' Mama..what's for breakfast?" Lane asked as he entered the kitchen, he could smell bacon frying but he chose to ignore his senses, instead making small-talk with his mother. "Mornin' Lane, I'm makin' your favorite. Bacon and eggs. With the eggs fried in the bacon grease, just like ya like 'em." His mama said, smiling over her shoulder as her son took a seat at the table. "There's fresh juice in the refrigerator if you'd like some." She said as she lifted the spatula to scramble the eggs in the frying pan.
It was at this time that Lane's father, Clyde, chose to make his entrance from the barn. "Lane, we got lotsa work to do today..you'd best eat up." He said as he hung his barn coat on one of the pegs. Lane just nodded, reaching into the refrigerator to fill his glass. "Ya know Dad, I been thinkin'..." "Well that's always good..whatcha been thinkin' 'bout?" Clyde asked, spearing some of the eggs his wife had just placed infront of him before bringing the fork to his mouth. "Well, Dad…you know how much I love rodeoin'……and I been thinkin'…..I think I wanna start rodeoin' more. Ya know that kid I met at the High School Finals last year? Tuff Hedeman. He called me up the other day, him and one of his buddies are goin' pro…..they need another guy to split travelin' expenses…" Lane paused, looking toward his father hoping to see what his reaction was. "Well Lane, you're a grown man now….I 'spect you oughta be makin' your own decisions, don't ya think?" Clyde said, trying to keep his smile hidden. "Well, yes sir..but..I.." Lane quickly shut his mouth, realizing his dad had more to say. "Lane, go on..you know you want to..you just be sure to call your Mama and me every now and then..ya hear?" Clyde winked at his wife who had seated herself at the other end of the table. Lane looked toward his Mama, noticing a few tears in her blue eyes. "Aww, come on now Mama..I won't be gone forever. I'll come back every chance I get. And I'll call ya..every night." Elsie smiled. "Lane, I ain't cryin' 'cause you'll be gone..I'm cryin' 'cause you're all grown up! You were the only one I had left at home..and now you're leavin' too." She noticed the tender look in her son's eye when he looked at her. "Aww, Lane…go on! Go call Tuff and tell him you'll go with 'em…" She smiled, seeing her son's face light up as he jumped from his chair and made his way toward the telephone.
