Vacation of a Lifetime
By Tad White
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About this ebook
In the not-so-distant future, the world's population has expanded to undesirable levels. Crushing poverty is overwhelming cities everywhere. Countries around the world are frantically racing to discover new ways to regulate the problem. Instead of using barbaric tactics like other countries, the United States has chosen a "new" method to tackle the explosive population growth.
When Cody's family is treated to a vacation, they're more than ready to escape the smog-filled city. Headed for a tropical getaway, they'll find that some things aren't what they seem.
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Vacation of a Lifetime - Tad White
Chapter 1
Five more minutes!
the young boy’s mother called from across the hall.
Cody peered into the rusted mirror and combed his ruffled brown hair with his hand. His baby blue eyes danced with excitement. I’ll be right there, Mommy.
He turned and ran toward the kitchen, but the lights were off. A lone candle flickered on the table. Where was his mother? She called to him only a few moments ago, and now she was gone. He glanced around, worried something might have happened. Cody pulled his arms to his chest and trembled.
With a flip of a switch, the lights popped back on. His parents stood before him. Happy Birthday!
Relief washed across his face. He didn’t mean to get scared so easily. On the table was a small, homemade buttercream cake. Next to the cake sat a large present. His family couldn’t afford much since they sat on the edge of poverty. His father, an underpaid factory worker, was barely ever home. Even working as much as he did, they barely had the money to afford their small, tattered apartment.
His parents started to sing Happy Birthday
to him.
Cody laughed, unable to take his eyes off his cake and the big present. The cake was adorned with a candle shaped into the number six. After they finished singing, he blew out the candle and his mother placed a slice of cake on a paper towel in front of him.
Would you like to open your present, Sweetie?
she asked.
He nodded excitedly. What could it be? As he tore into the wrapping paper, his smile grew wider. With the paper tossed aside, he lifted the box lid and peeked inside the package. A medium-sized stuffed bear looked back at him. It was almost a fourth of his size! He pulled the bear out of the box and squeezed it. Snuggled in his arms, it was a perfect fit. It was the best present ever.
His father’s fingers wrapped around a cigar. He mumbled, his voice raspy and smoke-filled, And what do we say, Son?
Cody’s eyes darted upward. He raced over to his mother and gave her a hug. Thank you!
***
His father picked up a newspaper, rustled the sheets, and glanced at the headline. He spoke with the cigar between his lips. Says here, European countries began the barbaric method China used years ago...
Cody looked over with a troubled expression.
His father caught himself and changed his tone. We don’t need to worry about that. Right? Tell you what, Champ, I’ve got another surprise for you.
Cody cocked his head. He liked surprises.
His father flicked his cigar ashes into an ashtray, then grinned. We’re going on vacation.
Off to the side, his mother’s eyes widened. Vacation? But we can’t even afford schooling. Where did you get the money for this?
He waved his hand through the air. "Don’t worry about it; we all need one. It’ll do us wonders