Chapter 2: On The Road...Eventually.
It's about ten past nine. Of course Sam and Rick are running late; apparently Emily had her piano lesson. I call it bad planning. I mean, shouldn't they not have scheduled the freaking thing the night we're leaving. What the fuck? ...
Right after my self induced ranting, they pull into the driveway. Mom and Ryan had the rental van loaded. It was a spacious 2009 Dodge [something]. It was big and black, and would easily fit nine people. I find it to be kind of cool, classy, and for some reason awfully unique. I think I'll call it the Ghetto . I like that. Our 'Ghetto Van'. Anyways, Once everybody's luggage was loaded (into the bottom compartments) we took off. Ryan drove and my mom sat at shot gun. Behind them sat Rick, Sam, and Emily. And last, [but not least,] sat Amy, Max, and I. I sat back and turned up my ipod. I knew that this was gonna be the longest amount of time I've ever spent sitting in a car. "Matt…M-m-matt….MATTHEW!" "huh what? woah-uhm?"I drunkly replied. I was just about to heave. "Shit. Mom, I'm car sick.". "You just need some food in you're belly buddy. We're at an iHop in Virginia. Come on, it's just about 6:30. We're almost there, promise." I lazily got out of the car seat, stumbled in to the eatery and joined the rest of my family. I couldn't help but laugh. We all looked like the undead. Even the waitress could tell we weren't from around the area. After a cup of fruit and a bite of toast, I felt a little better, but in all honesty that was the worse morning I have ever weathered. Later that day, the exhaustion began to set in, and some of us were getting closer and closer to each other's throats. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? I'm sooooooo boooorrreeeedddd…." moaned Emily. "Hey Emily." my sister replied wearily. "Yeah Amy?" "Do us all a favor and put a sock in it!" Rick and Sam laughed. My mom looked pissed. Max was dead asleep. Ryan tried to ignore it. And I held in the nearly explosive laughter. I had to admit, as fed up as I was being stuck in a car for eighteen hours with these people, It was getting quite entertaining. "Welcome to North Carolina everybody!" Ryan jubilantly exclaimed. "Well It's about time!" "Thank god…" "MOMMY I GOTTA PEE!" "Just hold it!" Ryan entered into the banter : "only three in a half more hours." Utter silence. The banter broke out again, now but now it was bitching rather than relief. "mmm wonderful…" "My pants are wet!" "God dammit!" "This is a rental you better not stain that seat!" "gross." After Little Emily's "accident" was resolved with a quick stop at a truck stop and a change of pants we were on the road again.