I was just about getting close to Grandpa Mort's, until I started to hear a vibrate on my phone. The only thought it could be was Auntie Chilli and/or Uncle Bandit. I was able to pull off to the side of the road, in effort to answer the incoming call. After turning off the truck, the incoming call was from my older adopted brother. Out of the one person I wasn't ready to answer the call. Since he berated at me through a text message on the day, before the summer trip. At first, I would rather simply ignore the call... reject the call... or in any means block it. With the passing of our parents, I couldn't. I answered the call. After of course taking a few deep breaths.

"Hello."

There was a brief silence, following the introduction.

Andy?

"Hey, Blake."

I just recently looked at the email you sent... about the accident. The parents passing...

"Yes, Blake." I answered. "I'm sorry, it took a bit to get you filled with what has happened."

Are you okay?

I sighed. "I'm managing... getting myself back up on the feet. And of course, having help of course."

The distant relatives?

I nodded. "You could say... however, so far they had hel-"

With that email you sent?

Annoyed. "Blake, after what you just messaged me, I was heartbroken... and even though you were getting a life on your own..." I than stopped. "To be honest, this isn't a good time to bicker. I just gone through the accident too, and was out for hours."

Yeah, basically you're just getting started to bond with the distant relatives and forgotten about your "real" relatives.

"That's not fair." I retort. "Along with you, I was able to inform the same style of messages by email."

Look, I'm not going to waste my time to hear your rhetoric. I know you and those relatives are starting to form a relationship. Don't forget about what I had gone through with the parents-

"For God's sake, Blake! Just for once, you can't let it go, especially after they just passed-"

I don't really have to care about them. They're dead to me, remember?

"Of course, after our first meet up." I remembered. "That's when I don't tell you these activities that I do with them."

And why is that I have to ask?

That was when I set my foot down. "If you just to how you're talking to me and the words you said to me. Even the message you sent me. That's how we're fractured right now. Why don't you give it some time to think about all the words you said to me and get back to me, whenever you're ready to be mature and start treating me like a brother. Instead being a 'Keyboard' PC/Woke Warrior you're! Especially, before a funeral would be arranged, but won't start until everyone's onboard."

Don't expect me to show up.

I hung up the phone. "FUCK..!" I tossed the phone out the window into the dirt grass. Tears came down, as anger came over me, as I hit the wheel. "Fuckin' PC 'Keyboard Warrior'!" It took a few minutes of me to compose myself, before unbuckling my seatbelt to collect my phone. Afterwards, I hopped back in and continue on the road to Grandpa Mort's.

After a brief stop, I was able to see Grandpa Mort was working on tree stump, he recently chopped down. For a moment of my time, I was able to brush myself off, after a phone call that could have been building back in the family. When I was ready, I exited out of the car and he gasped to thought if it was someone else.

"Hi, Grandpa Mort." I smiled.

"Andy! What a surprise to see you here." he dropped his tool and came over to me with a hug. Even our tails wag. "I see you're driving my ol' beauty."

"That's why I came over to see you, Grandpa Mort. I wanted to say 'thank you' for the truck you gave me."

He smiled. "No worries, Andy. The 'Ol' Beauty' working right-o?"

"I can't complain. However, I'm sure maintenance work could be done and I could always arrange it down the road." I assured him.

"Good."

I looked over at the stump. "I noticed you're working on the stump. You chopped down a tree, recently?"

"Yeah, I needed a clearing in my yard. However, it's always a bugger." he answered, as he wiped the sweat, before putting back on his hat.

"I could tell, perhaps I could give a try." I offered to help him.

"Oh no, that's alright. It was about the time, I needed a break." he assured. "Perhaps, I could ask you for help."

"What's that?"

"To have some company." he answered, with a smile.

"I would love too. What do you want to do?"

He looked at the woods. "How about a walk in bush?"

I nodded with agreement. "I needed a walk anyway. I just have to be aware of time, because I'll be picking up Bluey and Bingo."

"Not at all." he assured me. "I think you needed a walk to clear your mind a bit."

From what he said, it would be regarding about my parents passing... or something else. We than started our walk into the woods. Remind me of some of the woods that I often seen back in California. Although, this walk, there were lot of steep hills to climb down and climb back up. Even along the way, there was a small creek that we passed through. At one point, we managed to stop at a spot that he buried a backpack.

"You buried a backpack here?" I questioned.

He pulled out some snacks. "Just in case, if I'm hungry. Want something to eat?"

"I'm not too hungry, but a light will do. Thank you." he gave some pumpkin seeds. He even brought out some bottle of waters. To be surprised, I could barely taste the lukewarm water.

"Something on your mind, mate?" he than asked me.

"Lot of things, actually." I answered. "More than just about my parents passing."

"Do you want to share it?"

I breathed a bit, with hesitation. "Well... just before I got here. I just got off the phone with my older adopted brother."

"He just found out?"

"It was from the email I sent out to him, with other family members. Of course, with help." I answered. "Let's just say he and I are not peas and carrots."

"Just sibling rivalry, I'm sure."

A shook of my head said otherwise. "No, it's not. More deeper."

"Oh?"

"Well, I told this to Uncle Bandit and Auntie Chilli... my brother and I stopped talking to each other, after I told him about the trip I was going to. Here, with my parents. He was furious. It wasn't because of me, but something our parents and him can't solve."

"I see... he could have a change of heart, after your folks passed."

"Not even close. He wouldn't even care, since they're dead to him." I added.

"Good Heavens!" he was shocked.

"I shouldn't have answered the phone." I regretted about answering the phone. "It only brought back the bitterness between us, before the trip."

"You know, kid. I wouldn't be able to say or how I feel, because I don't know about it. However, I would say, he shouldn't say those things, especially after your guys folks passed away." he than added. "At the same time, he just learned of the passing and perhaps needed time to adjust a bit."

"I gave him that advice and especially from the words he said to me too." I sighed. "I don't think we'll be able to fix it."

He patted me on the shoulder. "You know about your Aunties Chilli and Brandy haven't spoke for a long time, right?"

"Of course, they told me about their story." I do recall my aunties telling me separately about their troubles. "Even though their stories were different, especially about having children."

"Doesn't mean, it can't be the same." I nodded, after his statement. "Alright, let's go up a bit and we could canoe around the lake, before you have to travel back. Are you on board?"

"Yes, please." I accepted.

"And I don't believe, you haven't met Maynard, yet?"

"I may not, remember. Due to the accident." I couldn't remember. However, I do know that he hangs out with him by the lake, fishing.

"No worries, they could get us set up. C'mon." We continued along the hike.

It didn't take too long, before we arrived at a small dock. Someone was just fishing at the pier.

"Hey, Maynard!" Grandpa Mort waved his hat, in greeting.

"Lovely day, ain't it, Mort." the Irish Greyhound spoke.

"It is. We're just going to burrow a canoe for a bit. Just until, he's ready to leave to pick them up."

"The aliens?!" Maynard looked at the sky that I chuckled.

"No, the kids." Grandpa Mort stated. "That reminds me, Andy, this is Maynard. Maynard, Andy."

"Hello mate." Maynard smiled and greeted.

"Hello." I greeted back. "The kids were Bluey and Bingo."

"Wait a minute! You're related to them?!"

I nodded. "Distant. I came down here nearly a month back."

"Oh yeah! You were with your-" he was than interrupted by Grandpa Mort. "... oh, yes. Of course, enjoy yourself."

We retrieve the gear, before a pull from Maynard's fishing pole fell into the water. "Barra Bite!" He hurries to catch his catch of the day, while me and Grandpa Mort laughed. After we got into the canoe, Maynard caught his fish, as he came back ashore. Just after he went to shore, Grandpa Mort and myself started to row.