"How much longer?" "Come on, Mom. Can't you drive faster?" "Isn't there a way around the traffic?" "Don't you know any short-cuts?" "The drive down was shorter." "Colt's breathing on me. Make him stop." "Are we almost home?" "Mo-om! Colt's breathing me! Make him STOP!" "Mom! Devin punched me!"
Tayler sighed. She wondered why she thought driving on a family vacation was a good idea. Then her phone alerted with a text. "Hope your ride is calmer than mine. Apparently Jon is breathing on Colby. Really? How old are they?" Tayler couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"What is it, Mom?" "Who sent you a message?" "Does Jon miss us?" "Is it a message from Jon?" "Is he coming to meet us?"
"None of your business; none of your business; not answered in this message; no; and no. Now, if the two of you would go back to playing on your iPiddle do-dads this trip would go so much faster. Put your earbobs in and you won't hear each other." She bit her lip as the boys began correcting her right away.
"Really, Mom? Not even you are that dumb." "IPiddle? That's the best you could come up with?" "What's an earbob? Seriously? Try to be more creative next time, would ya?" They snorted as they took out their electronics and their earbuds, diving into their own little worlds.
"STOP TOUCHING EACH OTHER!" Joe shouted. "If I have to pull over, neither of you is going to like it!"
"Uh oh. I think JoeJoe is weally, weally angwy!" Colby giggled as he leaned over onto Jon, who immediately shoved him against the window of the driver's side backseat door.
"THAT'S IT!" Joe snarled as he yanked the wheel and slammed on the breaks, bringing the SUV to a screeching halt on the side of the interstate. "Get out. Get out now."
"You can't mean…" Jon stuttered.
"I mean that the two of you need to get out now. Onto the shoulder of the road. NOW!" Joe thundered. Jon opened the door that did not face passing traffic. "You have 45 seconds to work this out before I leave your asses here. Time starts now. GO!" Jon and Colby hopped out of the vehicle and stared at each other. "I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" Joe yelled as he took his foot off the brakes.
Colby yelled, "I am sorry I was picking on you, Jon! And I am sorry that I made fun of Joe! I hope that we can ride the rest of the way. I PROMISE I WON'T BOTHER YOU ANYMORE!"
Jon grabbed Colby's hand and shook it vigorously. "I won't shove you anymore. I'll stay on my side and nap. No more childish antics! PROMISE!"
Joe hit the brakes and the guys dove into the backseat. Before they could situate themselves and buckle in, he took off. "Tayler needs to get Jon under control. I can't take much more of this." he muttered to Galina.
In the back seat, Jon sent a message to Tayler. "Joe is being mean. He kicked Colby and I out of the car and almost made us walk to New Hampshire. Tell Galina to make him be nice, please."
In the front seat, Galina sent another text. "Save me! Why did I think road trippin' with these guys would be fun?"
Tayler laughed at the messages. She replied to Jon, "I'm sure it's not that bad. You guys have traveled many roads together. You can work this out." To Galina she said, "If you need an escape and aren't through Pennsylvania, I can meet up with you and give you a place to hide. Won't they be back in a week?"
Joe glared in the rear view mirror and began to growl. "I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"
Galina responded, "How close are you to Philly?"