ROAD TRIP CHAPTER 2

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Jon pulled out of the driveway and they were on their way. Three blocks way Jon saw a convenience store and pulled in.

"I thought you already got gas this morning," Shannon questioned him.

"Yeah but you forgot to pack something important to my mental well being," the boy told her.

"Beer is not essential to your well being, dufus," she rolled her eyes at him.

"Just wait here for a minute, I'll be right back," Jon got out of the truck and went in. Going to the candy isle he looked at the selections. "So much chocolate, so little time."

After looking at all the varieties of candy bars the teenager just decided to get two of every kind. Suddenly, there was a large crash outside. Looking up, Jon saw the cashier come out from behind the counter to see what was going on. Apparently a teenage skateboarder had wiped out and injured himself.

Seeing that Shannon was rushing over to the teen with her red tackle box in hand, her traveling companion shook his head in confusion and took his booty to the checkout. As he approached he saw someone behind the cash register. The kid behind the counter didn't look as if he worked here and as Jon got closer he saw the other boy was emptying out the till.

"Hey there," he said to the kid. "Can you help a brother out?" He laid all the candy down on by the register.

"Ah, sure dude," the teen said nervously as he reached over to supposedly check Jon out.

Grabbing his arm, the Special Ops trained clone pulled the criminal partially over the counter. Getting him in an immobilization hold Jon said, "The old bait and switch, nice try."

"Dude, we can cut you in," the criminal pleaded.

Rolling his eyes Jon replied, "Yeah sure ya betcha."

"What is going on here?" queried the clerk as he came back in.

"I caught this kid with his hand in the cookie jar while you were outside checking on his partner," the clone answered. "If you tell my friend out there what is going on, she will hold the other one until the police arrive." Seeing the clerk was frozen he added, "Now."

"Yeah, right," the college age kid shook himself and went back outside. Watching out the window, Jon saw the accomplice try to bolt. As quickly as he moved, he wasn't fast enough to get away from the girl that Jon sparred with regularly. In three easy moves, she had him on the ground and secured. Looking down at his prisoner he bragged, "Taught her everything she knows."

The convenience store clerk came back in and said distractedly, "I'm going to call the cops now."

"You do that," Jon told him.

Thirty minutes later, both John and Shannon had handed their prisoners over and given their account of the attempted robbery. The police had given them a hard time for putting themselves in danger but in the end thanked them for their assistance.

Jon went out front to help Shannon retrieve her tackle box. Picking us the items that had been scattered during the emergency he asked, "Why is it that your tackle box has no fishing gear in it?"

"It does, dork. I have antibacterial spray, band aids, needle nose pliers and many other essential medical supplies needed for a fishing expedition," she explained.

Looking at the contents he asked, "Bug spray? What for?"

"Your uncle's friend Murray insisted I needed it and your Aunt Janet gave me the rest," Shannon told him as she finished repacking the first aid kit.

Jon looked at the tackle box in disgust. "I feel insulted!"

"Oh, cheer up, Jack found out and sent you a present," she soothed as she handed him a box from the bed of the truck.

Opening it he found a ball cap with cup holders attached. The note attached read, 'Soda only, Mini-Me.'

"Righteous, old man!" he exclaimed as he put the hat on.

The clerk came up to them and handed Jon a bag. "It's on me for saving my butt."

Looking in the bag, Jon saw all the candy he had picked up earlier. "Sweet! Here these are for you," he said as he handed the bag to his traveling companion.

She looked into the bag. "Essential for your well being, huh?" she smirked at him. "I have trained you well, grasshopper."

Jon just smiled as she took credit for something he had learned from his ex-wife in his former life. He would have to remember to thank Jack for jogging his memory on co-existing with a female.

"Well, now that this crisis is over, how about we get back to our road trip?" he prompted. "This has put us behind schedule."

"Can you please take that hat off before we get going?" Shannon begged him, "I'd rather not be seen with you if you are going to wear it in public."

Smiling, Jon took the hat off and threw it behind his seat. Offering his hand to his companion, he helped her up into the cab. Whistling, he came around to the driver's side and got in.

"Okely dokely, now we can get this show on the road," he said getting in touch with his inner Flanders. Pulling out of the parking lot, he headed for I-25 South.

Looking at her maps, Shannon told him, "It is a good thing we packed camping equipment. We are never going to make it to my original stopping point. There is a KOA we can camp at instead."

"Yes, dear," Jon replied. "It's not like I planned for there to be robbery."

Sighing, she turned to him. "I know. I'm just anxious to get on with this trip. I don't know about you but I really needed to get away from the Springs."

"Now that you mentioned it, the 'family' was getting a bit up in my business," he said. "Oh, get this, the reason Jack called earlier was to find out if I had any idea what I was getting into with a co-ed road trip just the two of us. The old pervert."

"Oh, ewww. I hope you set him straight. I love you, but you are like my evil twin or something," Shannon shuddered.

"That is exactly it!" Jon exclaimed, "I don't know why people think two persons of the opposite sex cannot be just friends. Oh and you are the evil one in this sibling relationship."

"How can you say that?" she argued.

"Three words: Uncle Danny's drawing," he said.

"Ok, we share the evil tendencies," she compromised.

"Whatever you say, O Evil One," came the comeback. Jon muttered under his breath, "Hopefully this won't end like most of my 'family' trips."

Suddenly he yelped in pain.

Shannon sat there glaring at him after slapping his arm. "I don't know how but I get the feeling you just jinxed us."

Many thanks to Shannon! You have helped me keep my loose grip on sanity these last couple of months.

Just a warning to my reader: Real Life is currently kicking my behind on a daily basis and I don't know when I will be able to post again. The only writing I have been doing is updating and rewriting my resume lately. Feel free to send me plot bunnies that Shannon and I may not have thought of, I am an insy-tiny bit stuck.