David C. McLavic - 2. Chapter 2

When Mary Lou graduated from high school, Mom decided she wanted to see her sister who lived in Pennsylvania. Dad said Mom wanted to enroll Mary Lou in the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, her alma mater.

Dad got the car serviced, Uncle Joe would take care of the house while we were gone.

Early Monday morning, Mom woke us at 6 in the morning. We had packed the night before. Beth Ann ended up packing twice, Mom had to check everything, and Dad had a rack on the top of the car. Mary Lou’s trunk was lifted and tied in place. I asked Dad why all of her clothes. That was when I learned why we were going East.

Mom wanted to leave by 7 in the morning, we left at 8. Mom had to clean the morning dishes and drop off her contact information at the Medical Center. She had to tell them about going East, seeing her sister, and enrolling Mary Lou at Penn State, her alma mater. Dad finally went and got her. It was 8 in the morning when we left. I rode up front with Dad. Mom and the girls rode in the back.

We drove for 4 hours when Mom said we should start looking for a place to have lunch. I could tell Dad was getting a little upset. I think he took road around cities so he wouldn’t have to stop.

“David, there is a diner lust ahead stop there.” I checked my watch, it was one o’clock. Dad pulled into the parking lot, and Mom and the girls got out. Dad yelled to order for us he was going to get gas. I knew Dad was getting a little angry.

Driving back to the diner, Mom wanted to know what took us so long. I checked my watch, we were\ gone 30 minutes. Lunch over, the girls had to use the restroom. Dad was mumbling to himself.

Back in the car, lunch lasted 2 hours. Back on the road, Dad drove faster than he had before when we left home. At 6 pm. Mom told Dad to look for a place to spend the night. It was 8 when Dad pulled into a motel. He reserved two rooms, the girls in one, Dad and I in the other room.

Six o’clock came early, so I thought. Dad got dressed and said he would be right back. Thirty minutes later, Dad arrived with milk for me and coffee for him. “There is breakfast for you in the car.”

Dad went to get Mom and the girls, I ate a pancake with jelly on it in the car. I watched as Mom was saying something to Dad and she wasn’t happy. That is when I realized Mom wasn’t in a hurry to see her sister or enroll Mary Lou.

The back seats were very quiet. Once in a while, I would hear a gasp and maybe a huff. Dad pulled into a restaurant at 1:30 for lunch. Mom got out with the girls, Dad said he was going for gas. As it turned out, not only did he get gas and have his oil checked, but he got two hot dogs, a carton of milk for me, and a coffee for him. I don’t know if it was not having the girls with us but that was the best lunch I ever had. Returning to the restaurant, we walked in and Mom and the girls were finishing their salads. Dad had coffee and I had milk. Mom got up and headed to the bathroom with the girls. The waitress brought the check, and Dad took it and paid. He left and I followed him to the car. Then we waited.

We must have waited at least a half hour before we saw Mom and the girls coming out of the restaurant. They got in the back, Mom slammed the door shut. Dad put the car in gear and drove away. Nothing said.

As Dad drove we would hear a humpf from the back seat. Mom was expecting an apology but I knew Dad wasn’t going to say anything.

At 8 pm, Dad pulled into a hotel. He got out, and registered for two rooms. He handed Mom a key, “Dinner is served until 9.” I watched Mom and the girls get out of the car and entered the hotel. Dad and I went for gas.

When we returned, the dining room was closed. “Are you hungry?”I shook my head no. Dad left and returned about 29 minutes later with a hotdog and a cartoon of milk for me. He had a coffee.

In the morning, the dining room was open. Mom and the girls were eating when we entered. Dad looked at Mom and the girls, “Come on, let’s have breakfast.” Dad ordered for both of us, pancakes and sausages. Dad had coffee I had milk.

Back in the car, Mom was in a better mood. She started telling us about her sister and the farm. Dad stopped for lunch, then we were in Virginia when Mom said to drive until we found a motel or hotel, in Ohio. Da,d, smiled and he drove faster,

We stopped in Columbus, Ohio for the night. I wasn’t hungry, I was tired. I fell asleep with my clothes on. When I woke up, I had a blanket on, and Dad was getting dressed.

“Hurry and get a shower. We’ll have breakfast here and lunch in Pennsylvania.” I think I was still a little sleepy when Dad stopped me and helped me to get undressed. I got in the shower when all at once I got a cold shower. That woke me up and Dad was laughing.

Dressed we went for breakfast. Mom said she called her sister and she can’t wait to see her. After breakfast, Mom rode up front and I rode in the back.

Four hours later, we crossed into Pennsylvania, Mom said we still had a way to go, and Dad turned off the main highway onto a double-lane road. Then he turned onto a dirt road and finally, Mom recognized the sign leading to the farm. From the time we entered Pennsylvania, it took us three hours to get to this turn-off for the farm. I expected a short trip to the farmhouse but it took us about 30 minutes before we saw the house. Dad stopped the car, there was a boy on the porch and when he saw the car stop, he yelled, “They are here."