It is time for Chapter 3. Please remove your shoes before entering and enjoy the show.
I quietly reenter the bus, feeling the burning sensation on my leg from the half dozen mosquito bits. Happy to discover the common area along with the kitchen is empty from any souls besides my own. Taking that walk did nothing to smooth the anxious whirlwind of emotions, if anything they started to expand in size. Much like the fear one experiences as a young child when they break a vase sitting on the shelf, afraid of admitting you did it, afraid not to say anything. Knowing any moment you'll be caught with nowhere to escape to. And I didn't even do anything this time! I come to my room on the furthest end of the bus suddenly knocked by a wave of tiredness I strip off the robe and Kermit falling into bed again sleep over powers me in matter of moments.
"Mom time to get up." I try my best to get my ears to stop working at the sound of Jack's voice leaking through the door. Lifting up my head to appear over at the clock, 6:45 damn Irene. Not only did she have to fuck our schedules around she made sure were all awake during the drive. Her reasoning? God only knows. All it does is fill the day with boredom full of card games and movies we have watched a good dozen times.
"Alright I'm up I'll be out in a few minutes." With those words I hear the sound of his feet walking down the hallway, likely to grab something for breakfast. Annie always being an early riser had properly emptied the box of Cheerios though Jack had specifically requested she leave it for him. But since when do teenagers listen to anyone? Irene I am sure is on the phone giving the world unwanted wake up calls to make sure everything on the schedule and the route is good to go. While as for Carey I am fairly confident when I say he's lying in his bed staring at the ceiling trying to create enough mondiam to get up, much like myself.
"Annie! What the hell is wrong with you?" Great what everyone wishes for first in the morning, bickering! It's wonderful to know my predication was right. Sighing while harshly yanking the covers off of my body and sit up all the while listening to Annie's response to Jack's question; the volume slowly increasing with each word. I make way over to the bureau dresser pulling out a semi-crappy outfit to lounge around in. We won't arrive at the venue or the hotel for at least six and half-hours, which meant six and half-hours until a shower. Thank God for deodorant and other various body sprays. Completely dressed I leave the room, the disagreement between the two still brewing strong.
"Jack just eat the Wheaties and I'll make sure to buy a few more boxes of the other at the next venue, okay?" It was hardly a question I had asked it while tossing the box of champions across to him, and left his general area before he could respond. Judging by the mutters of protest and general sulkiness followed by the sound of the food hitting the bowel he accepted the agreement of sorts.
"Oh and Annie?" I call out from the cab of bus as I looked down at Irene's clipboard that she held.
"Yeah what is it Molly?"
"You are banned from the next box of Cheerios, if I or anyone catches you eating any without permission first you will be grounded for two days."
"What? That's not fair!" Echoed by the sound of Jack's cackling of twisted satisfaction. Hey the girl did hog the cereal it'll be one way to correctly teach her how to share, plus it's too damn early to think completely logically. Finding myself too tired and unwilling to explain my reasons to Annie or to lecture Jack on impolite behavior I just ignore it, and keep on reading. The interee is actually the same as it was last evening when Irene and I discussed it. I don't know if I was hoping it had by some miracle had changed or what but it certainly hadn't.
I catch Carey from the corner off my eye he's trapped somewhere between asleep and awake, and his body was at war for one to over power the other. He throws himself down the couch right onto the remote.
"Ouch! Damn it!" He curses while removing the object from underneath him, and with that the final victor became awake. Taking no notice of the teasing laughter from the two at the kitchen table and his mom's annoyed look he sits down again, this time looking first. Catch myself holding back a sincere smile, something a few hours prior I would not have done, I would laughed right out loud teasing him gently the same as Jack and Annie. Now it's different, afraid he'd take my reaction as some kind of flirting. Oh hell I really don't know, it just doesn't feel right, nothing does.
"Mom, Carey want to play a game of monopoly with us?" Jack calls out for the two of us, as Irene turns the key in the ignition. Carey shrugs sure in response while standing, again and taking a sit next to Annie. Having nothing else to do I nod and join them by sitting by Jack. We all decide upon our tokens Annie the top hat, Carey the shoe, Jack the money bag, and for myself the Scotch dog. The game begins as the bus pulls out onto the open road.