Theodore was hard at work, cooking up a souffle in a makeshift kitchen area for an exam he was studying for. Back in the fall, Theodore had finally managed to save up enough money to afford the tuition to attend chefs college, thanks to the small job he previously had as a short order cook at the local diner, and Dave's almost daily generous tips were of big help as well. The timer dinged, and Theodore removed his souffle from the oven, with all the delicacy of scooping up an injured baby kitten. Theodore easily rested his souffle on top of the oven, and admired the work he had just completed. Unfortunately, the phone started ringing, which startled Theodore, as he watched his souffle fall flat from the sudden burst of loud noise. Theodore groaned before he answered the phone.
"Hello?" Theodore said.
"Hi, Theodore!" Dave said.
"Oh, hi Dave." Theodore said.
"What are you up to?" Dave asked.
"Oh, nothing much," Theodore said, "I was just making an upside down cake..."
"I see," Dave said, not picking up on Theodore's uncharactertistic sarcasm, "how's chefs college been working out for you?"
"Actually, it's been alot tougher and more challenging that I had anticipated," Theodore admitted, "but I've been picking up on some excellent skills this past year... I sure do hope I'll be able to open up a restaurant of my own someday."
Dave smiled. "I'm sure you will, Theodore. Five star cuisine, definitely."
Theodore smiled.
"Well, the reason I called was because I was just speaking with Alvin..." Dave began.
"Oh yeah, I heard from him yesterday," Theodore said, "apparently the NBA is interested in signing him on."
"Right," Dave said, "well, anyway, Alvin and I got to talking, and he's really interested in us fellahs getting together for a family outing this summer."
"Really?" Theodore asked. "That sounds like a great idea!"
"You'd like to then?" Dave asked.
"Sure!" Theodore said. "I have an exam coming up, though."
"I understand," Dave said, "and I know both Alvin and Simon have graduations coming up, I think we'll shoot for after things have calmed down for everyone."
"I'm really excited," Theodore said, "it'll be great to see you and my brothers again!"
"Well, I'll let you get back to your cake, Theodore," Dave said, "and I'll see you when summer arrives!"
"Okay, Dave!" Theodore squeaked.
When evening rolled around, Simon relayed the news to Jeanette when she returned home from work.
"Guess who I got a call from today?" Simon asked.
"Brittany?" Jeanette asked.
"No, Dave." Simon said.
"Oh, what's he up to?" Jeanette asked.
"He, Alvin, and Theodore are making plans for us to get together and spend a little time with one another this summer." Simon told her.
"Oh, that sounds like fun." Jeanette said.
"I know I would certainly be looking forward to it." Simon said.
The next several weeks were quite chaotic for everybody, but it was a pleasing and satisfying time for all. Alvin and Simon graduated from their respective universities, meanwhile, Theodore just passed his final cooking exam for the semester. Theodore was looking forward to continuing his education, wanting to obtain all of the skills he can, so that he can open his own restaurant in the future. Alvin was also really excited about his possible future with the NBA. Simon was still trying to decide which career choice to go with. But for the time being, the Seville brothers put their endeveaours on hold, and they got together at the house they once shared with Dave when they were boys one evening. Having the boys in the house again, even for a short time, brought Dave much happiness, and he and the boys discussed their plans for the summer in the den.
"It doesn't matter to me what you fellahs decide on," Dave said, "I'll do whatever you want to do, go wherever you want to go, it makes no difference to me."
The problem was the boys weren't exactly sure what they wanted to do.
"I honestly haven't really thought about it, Dave." Alvin said.
"Nor have I." Simon added.
"I was so busy concentrating on my exams that I just assumed you already had something in mind." Theodore said.
"Well, I know you three are grown up now," Dave said, "I figured you would like to make up your own minds about what you would like to do."
"Obviously, the purpose of our outing would be to provide all of us with the opportunity to get caught up with each other's lives," Simon said, "whatever we decide on should reflect something that we all would like to do, that would bring us together, as a family, thus bringing us some closure, all the while we have some fun at the same time."
"You know," Theodore said, "even though we've been to alot of places around the world, there's a number of places here in our own country we've never really had a chance of seeing... I think it would be kind of nice if we could go someplace here for our little trip."
"Come to think of it," Alvin said, "I always have wanted to see the Grand Canyon, up close, and personal."
"Even though we've be to Washington before," Simon said, "I have always really wanted to take a tour through the Smithsonian Institute, and see of all of the different historical exhibits they have on display."
"I always to visit Hershey, Pennsylvania!" Theodore said. "Either that, or New Oreleans... or maybe even..."
"Boys, I think I just got an idea." Dave said.
"What's that?" The boys asked.
"Why don't we just take a week for ourselves, and just go on a cross-country road trip, and visit all of these places?" Dave suggested.
The brothers agreed on that, it was a very exciting plan, and would provide the perfect combination of temporarily forgetting about life, and bonding with the family. The Sevilles made their plans, and were set to leave the middle of the following week. Back at their place, Simon was packing up a suitcase for himself.
"Wouldn't you like to come along, Jeanette?" Simon asked. "It would give you a chance to get out of the house, get away from work, and just be able to relax and enjoy yourself as well."
"Oh, no, Simon," Jeanette said, "this is an opportunity for you and your brothers to spend some quality time together. You see me all the time, but how often, other than holidays, do you get to see your brothers? I think it's nice for you guys to be able to get together for a short time, so go on and enjoy yourselves."
"Very well then." Simon said.
It was a bright, warm, sunny Thursday when each of the Seville brothers met up at the house, ready for their cross country trek with Dave, who was tying down their luggage onto the rack atop of their rental SUV.
"Why don't I drive for a little while?" Alvin suggested.
"No." The others said.
"You have a tendancy to weave in and out of traffic," Simon said, "not to mention you're not one to follow the posted speed limit... perhaps I should drive."
"You? What about the time you almost got us killed when you came this close to driving into that other car, head on?" Alvin asked.
"There were no clearly marked signs indicating it was a one way street, Alvin." Simon said.
"Fellahs, fellahs, it doesn't matter," Dave said, "I'll drive, you fellahs just enjoy the ride."
While the trip was under way, the sounds of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore conversing about where they are in their lives, and how their lives have been recently seemed like music to Dave's ears. It was just like old times. After spending much of the day driving, they finally reached their first destination of interest, the Grand Canyon, but the time the sun had set. Knowing they had the whole day ahead of them the next day, they decided to go ahead and call it a day for themselves, they got a suite for themselves nearby, and enjoyed dinner of the kind of French cuisine the boys always enjoyed so well.
While the Seville men were enjoying the first evening of their little vacation, back in paradise, Jeanette continually paced back and forth in the apartment, in a state of nervousness and anxiousness. As a little girl, Jeanette was always surrounded by her sisters, and Miss Miller. During the little time she spent at college, she was always surrounded by other students who lived on campus in the dormatory, and even had a roommate, despite their clashing personalities. And since then, Jeanette sharing an apartment with Simon, she always had her boyfriend at her side. In her mind, it was more apparent now than ever that Jeanette had a fear of being alone. It wasn't like her coming home from work in time for Simon to leave for night school, knowing he would be returning late into the evening, waking up next to him in the morning, and spending both breakfast and lunch with him before she was to leave for her afternoon and early evening shift at the bookstore. This time, Simon wouldn't be coming home later in the evening, and wouldn't be coming home for the next handful of evenings at that.
Jeanette felt like she was about to freak out. Playing Brittany's new CD make her situation both better and worse, as on the one hand, hearing the familiar voice of her older sister brought some comfort to her, but at the same time, it was only her voice, not her person, which drove Jeanette even crazier than before. Jeanette wished to see Brittany again, but if she knows her older sister, she was probably too preoccupied in writing new songs, recording new songs, gaining publicity, and spreading her image to the public. Jeanette then thought about how long it had been since she last saw Eleanor. She was missing her younger sister too. If the boys were able to reunite for a family outing, why couldn't the girls? Two of them at least? After another restless night, Jeanette awoke the next morning, purusing through the contacts on her phone, before she came across Eleanor's number. She dialed it, and almost felt the breath escape her lungs when she heard the familiar hello on the other end.
"Ellie? It's me!" Jeanette said.
"Jeanette?" Eleanor asked.
"Yeah!" Jeanette said.
"Jean! Great to hear from you!" Eleanor said. "How are you?"
"I'm about at my wits end." Jeanette said with a forced chuckle.
"Say, did you get a copy of Brittany's new CD in the mail?" Eleanor asked.
"I sure did, isn't it great?" Jeanette asked.
"I honestly don't know, I haven't really had a chance to listen to it yet," Eleanor said, "I've been really busy lately."
"Oh?"
"Yes, I'm not entirely sure the whole basketball scene is really working out for me," Eleanor said, "so I've been trying to have my courses changed so I can focus on soccer instead."
"That always was your sport." Jeanette said.
"Exactly. As much as I love the rush and intensity of basketball, soccer is just really more my speed," Eleanor said.
"Well, listen, Simon and the boys got together with Dave for a little vacation," Jeanette said, "I don't suppose maybe you'd like to get together for a weekend, would you?"
Eleanor sighed. "I really would love to Jeanette, I haven't seen you in so long, but I've got some really big games this weekend that I can't really afford to miss."
Jeanette sadly nodded. "I understand."
"But we really should hook up for a breather from life sometime, and with Brittany too." Eleanor said.
"Yeah, that'd be great." Jeanette said. "Well, I guess I won't keep you then, I'll talk to you soon."
"Okay." Eleanor said. "I love you, sis."
"You too, sis." Jeanette said, before the sister hung up.
By this time, Jeanette started to feel slightly hopeless. With both of her sisters busy with their own lives, Jeanette really felt she had no other alternatives left. She did, at least, look forward to work. That allowed her to be surrounded by other people who populated the bookstore on a daily basis, and later that afternoon, when she was on her shift, Jeanette's anxieties melted away as she helped customer after customer, and watched the rest of the literary world go by. By midshift, when Jeanette accompanied Roberta on their usual meal break for soup and sandwiches at the nearby Panera, something donned on Jeanette that seemed like a solution to her problems.
"Say Roberta, I was wondering, what are you doing this weekend?" Jeanette asked.
"Nothin'," Roberta said, with a mouthful of cucumber salad, "it's what I've been doing everyday for the past week... I go home, I sit in the chair, and I stare."
"Are you serious?" Jeanette asked.
"Dead serious," Roberta said, as she took a sip of her soup, "this break up from Charleigh has really messed me up."
"I'll be honest with you, Roberta," Jeanette said, "with Simon gone on vacation with his brothers and father, I'm losing my mind in that apartment all by myself... I thought maybe you'd like to come over and spend the weekend."
"Now that sounds like fun!" Roberta squeaked.
"It'd be great for both of us," Jeanette said, "I can forget about my lonliness, you can forget about Charleigh, we can just have a weekend of doing whatever we want."
"I'm game!" Roberta said. "My car's been repossessed, so do you think you could drop by my place and pick me up tomorrow?
"Sure I can!" Jeanette said.
"Cool, I'll pack a few little things tonight, then I'll just wait to here from you tomorrow and get ready." Roberta said.
"Sounds like a plan!" Jeanette said.