For AK. With help from Sineater.
The drive home from holiday was long and arduous. Jeff had been called into work – no surprise to any of his boys – and had offered to send his boys home by plane, but Alan hadn't been very well for the last couple of days and the three oldest had decided to turn the trip home into a small road trip where they could stop off frequently for Alan if he needed it.
They hadn't told Jeff that Scott had cashed out the plane tickets and hired a car.
The trip was not that long really. Florida to Kansas could be driven non-stop in just under 22 hours. But John had got on his computer and booked regular hotels and they basically travelled only a short distance each day, stopping somewhere special every day to make the trip more interesting. Only four extra days, but they were still on vacation from their universities and schools so the eldest felt it didn't matter and the youngest were just happy to have extra downtime with their absent siblings, even if Alan wasn't feeling his best.
The first day they set off early and drove three hours to Anastasia State Park, where they hired a sailboat and sailed the Salt Run tidal marsh. Virgil got out his sketchbook and busied himself with the wildlife – not his brothers on this occasion – catching some herons, a spoonbill and an osprey, while Scott and John took Gordon and Alan shelling in the late afternoon.
John had managed to secure them a two-bed apartment right on the beach, and that night they ate takeout on the large porch as the sun set and the stars came out. Alan fell asleep huddled between Scott and John while Gordon fought off sleep beside Virgil.
The eldest three exchanged fond glances as Scott picked up Alan and Virgil took Gordon and they retired early for the night. Alan had no problems that night.
Scott made a point of calling their Grandma that night (and every night) to let her know they were all alright, and Sally had just been pleased that they were able to spend some time together. She fielded Jeff's questions when he phoned to ask to talk to the boys and they weren't there.
The next day they were up early again, this time heading for the slightly longer drive to Atlanta. Here John had secured tickets to the Georgia Aquarium, where they had booked for Gordon to swim with the sharks. As he was only twelve, he was accompanied by Scott as he was the only one over 18, while Virgil, John and Alan had gone to see the penguins.
Gordon was so full of what he had learnt in the 2½ hour program and Alan was almost as enthusiastic about the penguins, they almost competed with each other to see who could be the noisiest. John retired early to his room in the motel, and the rest of them weren't too long in joining him, the youngest two talking themselves to sleep.
The next leg took the five to Nashville. They had set out even earlier, John doing the driving this time, and Scott had both Gordon and Alan asleep on him by the time they arrived. But leaving that early meant they could see more of the city, and after dropping the car off at the hotel, they hopped the Hop On Hop Off bus and just drove around the legendary town.
They all ate together at a burger joint before separating. Virgil went to the First Art Museum and John took Alan to the Adventure Science Centre and Scott took Gordon to the Nashville Zoo.
Dinner was another take-away while everyone talked to everyone else about the exciting things they had seen and done that day, and yet again the youngest two fell asleep on the eldest.
Day four, their last day before home, found them in St Louis. John had again booked a motel for the night, but they had no plans for today other than mooch around and eat.
And eat they did. Scott made sure that they tried some of St. Louis famous ribs, which they shamelessly indulged in – a lot.
They ate and they mooched and they ate.
And they slept. Alan had been feeling much better, and they hoped that whatever it was that he'd had, he was over it now.
They got up very late.
Last leg of the journey and Scott drove. They stopped over in Kansas city for late lunch and then in Osage City for a light dinner, swapped drivers and arrived at Grandma's home in the late evening.
Once more Scott was in the back, Gordon asleep on one side, Alan on the other, and this time Scott too was asleep, arms around both his brothers and lulled by the motion and their warmth.
Sally took a picture. Scott asleep was a precious thing, and with his two youngest it was priceless.