Just like Old Times

By Skylar Zane

Every year, Charlie Walker goes on an adventure just like in the movies he loves but now he lives with his daughter, Olivia and she thinks it is time for him to stop. Charlie is determined to carry on his tradition and he is able to escape from his family. Olivia and her brother, Zack go after him and together the three of them have an adventure no one could have planned

• Language: English
• Publisher: Skylar Zane
• Release date: Feb 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463308745

Book preview

JUST LIKE OLD TIMES

By

SKYLAR ZANE

Copyright © 2018 by Skylar Zane

First Edition

All rights reserved

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, living or dead, places or events are entirely coincidental. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be stored in a retrieval system or redistributed to anyone by electronic, mechanical, photocopy or recording for commercial or non-commercial purposes without permission of the author.

CHAPTER ONE

I wonder what the normal people are doing Olivia had been looking for her father’s remote control all morning and after searching under the sofa, she got on her feet and went to the window. She watches people on their way to work and sighs once more.

Oh, to have a regular nine to five job this day

It had been quite a weekend for her. She had her preteen granddaughter and toddler brother for the entire weekend so the parents, Olivia’s daughter and son-in-law went on a little getaway. Olivia closes her eyes but right in the middle of her daydream, the sound of a TV is heard from another room. A man’s voice yells out.

Where’s my remote?

Olivia takes a deep breath before responding I’m looking for it. She goes back to her sofa and gets on her hands and knees to search again. Her father’ Charlie’ comes into the room. Olivia had been taking care of her father for a year. His health had forced him to retire.

I’m going to miss my show. Charlie told her in a low voice

Can’t you just get up and change the channel?

I shouldn’t have to do that. Why didn’t you keep them out of my room?

Olivia could see it was going to be another rough morning her father was in a grumpy mood.

They didn’t go in your room. Olivia moved to the arm chair.

How do you know? Charlie sits on the sofa right where Olivia is still hunting around

Because you screamed your head off if they came anywhere close to you

Why can’t I find it?

She stops searching, looks up at Charlie. Her father expected her to know where everything was at a minutes’ notice but all she could say was I don’t know.

I always know where it is when those kids aren’t here. Where are they now?"

They left after breakfast.

Are they coming back?

"No

Good, all the yelling in the hallway, the loud television, the weird music and the video games. You have no idea what I went through this weekend."

You’re preaching to the choir Dad

What’s for breakfast?

You had breakfast at five this morning when I found you in the kitchen cooking. You woke up the whole house, remember

Then what’s for lunch He asked.

It’s ten o’clock in the morning and I’m still looking for your remote.

I’ll do it myself, just like always.

No, I’ll do it.

Olivia can’t get up fast enough to stop Charlie from going in the kitchen. She can hear him banging pots and decides to just sit on the floor until the doorbell rings. She goes to the front door and when she opens it, she greets the attractive, stylish woman standing in front of her, her mother Grace. Charlie and Grace had been divorced for three years.

Hi Mom

You look exhausted; it must be your father.

Yes, plus my grandchildren were here for the weekend.

"I remember those days.’

Grace puts her arm around Olivia to comfort her as they go into the living room. As they enter the sound of cabinets and pots banging can be heard

Is that him? Grace said

He’s driving me crazy.

What is he doing?

He’s making lunch.

You let him cook? her mother was surprised

Let him, I can’t stop him, I found him making breakfast at 5:00 in the morning.

Western omelet, Hash browns and Polish sausage.

How did you know?

Forty years experience Grace said

A loud crash comes from kitchen. What is he up to now? Olivia and Grace hurried to the kitchen and are in doorway as Charlie starts swearing at a pile of pots on the floor.

DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!

Temper, temper

Charlie looks at his ex-wife. What are you doing here?

Why is this a bad time?

We are just about to have lunch.

It’s ten in the morning

Would you feel better if I called it brunch instead?

Now we call it brunch Olivia said to herself as she bends down and picks up the pots as Grace moved towards the stove to see what’s cooking

I came to visit my daughter but now I came to see what’s cooking? Ham steak and French Fries, deep fried in grease.

You can’t eat that, remember what they doctor said. Olivia stood up to look in the frying pan on the stove.

Charlie puts down his cooking spoon and walks away from the stove. Doctors, Huh

I’ll make you salmon with a salad. I have Bean Sprouts, Alfalfa sprouts, Arugula, Romaine and mushrooms. Olivia finished putting the pots away and gets to her feet. She turns off the stove, gets salad from fridge, Charlie isn’t pleased.

I want real food, not grass!Charlie sits at table. Did you find my remote?

I’ll look for it again after lunch.

I know where it is. Grace said quickly

How could you, you weren’t even here.

Grace sits at the table across from Charlie, they stare each other down like fighters. Oh God, here it comes Olivia mumbles as her parents face off

Try me Grace was challenging her ex- husband

Okay, Miss Know-it-all, where is my remote?

Do you still have that ugly recliner?

The one you hated, oh yeah I certainly do

It’s in the tiny gap towards the back; you have been sitting on it

I looked there

Look again farther down; you never could feel anything back there

Did you just call me a fat ass?

Only if you find your remote in that chair Grace smiled.

Charlie doesn’t move at first then slowly gets up, staring at his former wife the whole time then leaves the kitchen talking to his self.

I’ll prove you don’t know what you’re talking about and you still think I don’t know anything, that’s why I divorced you*

I divorced you she yelled to him

Grace starts to laugh as Olivia makes a salad and cuts her finger. Ouch!

Sit, I’ll do it. Grace guides her daughter towards the table and Olivia sits at the table as Grace takes over making the salad. Olivia groans.

You look like you had a really rough weekend?

Does it show?

You can’t hide anything from Mom

"I spent the entire weekend refereeing the battle of the bands. When did they bring back vinyl records?

I didn’t know they were back

Dad played his records and my granddaughter played her records

Does he still play his old 78 records on Saturday mornings?

Yes, bright and early every Saturday while he eats his breakfast Olivia puts her head on the table and continues talking to her mother.

I can’t hear you Grace picks up her daughter’s head.

What am I going to do with him, he smuggles food into his room. All the things he shouldn’t have, fast foods, fried foods, things with tons of sugar. Doesn’t he know it’s not good for him to eat that way anymore?

He knows but he refuses to accept it and he never will. What goes with the salad?

Salmon Olivia replied

I’ll show you how to cook it the way he likes it Grace gets the salmon from fridge and as she cooks it, Charlie yells from his room.

Where’s my lunch?

Charlie slams his bedroom door very loud, Grace starts to laugh. I think you father found his remote

When she is done cooking, Grace puts the salmon on one plate, the salad on another and gives them to