The Trip

By Ed Jackson

This is a fiction story suitable for most teenagers and young adults. The story starts with Rupert graduating from high school and losing his job at a hardware store. Joyce loses her parents to home invaders, and she and Rupert pool their money and begin a trip from San Diego across the southern United States. They assist several people on their trip, and both agree that they want to spend part of their lives helping people. Good fortune on Rupert's part allows them to follow their dreams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781642145946

Book preview

Rupert Johnson

My stories start with a character. It doesn’t matter much which character, just so it is one who will talk to me.

Sometimes He begins by introducing himself. Sometimes He begins by introducing another character. Sometimes He can begin by giving some background so you can understand the story.

Let’s start with Rupert Johnson. He is bashful, so I will tell you something about him. Rupert is only eighteen, a lot younger than most of the people who start my stories. He just graduated from high school, he is good-looking, he is of average height (5'8") and light (128 pounds), but he is fast and could outrun all except Ralph Gibson in his class. He could even outrun Bob Martin, the high-scoring left end of the football team. He lived in a small desert town north of San Diego, California. His mother insisted he work at the local Spring Valley Hardware Store after school and on Saturdays, so he didn’t participate in many after school activities. He didn’t make much money, but he saved every bit he brought home. He didn’t buy music or go to movies. He had asked for a raise but didn’t get a reply yet. Then he asked off for two days to go camping with his school friend, Greg. Mr. Marks told him his services were no longer required; he had been replaced.

This was a complete surprise to Rupert, who had planned to work until September, saving as much money as he could and buy a car to drive across the United States. His mother said he could buy a car after he graduated. He has already saved $5,970, but he found he was going to need another $2,000 to get what his mother considered a decent car. He figured he got enough money from friends for graduation to buy gas for the trip, and he hoped to get enough work along the way for food. He would sleep in his car and wash his clothes in Laundromats. He never spent his quarters; he saved them in a large jar, which he stored on a shelf in his closet. He never discussed his plan with anyone except Greg; he was going to buy his car, tell his mother, get insurance, fill the car with gas, and leave town.

Now what would Rupert do?

He didn’t sleep well that night. The next morning, he ate the breakfast his mother prepared before she left for work. He dressed for work and walked away from the downtown area; he didn’t want to see who was working at the hardware store in his place. He walked until he was tired, then he turned into the city park. He was going to turn around when he recognized Joyce Wilson sitting on a bench under the big oak tree. He could tell even from where he had stopped that she was crying. She had graduated with his class; he thought she was pretty, but he didn’t date because of his work. He moved ahead slowly and sat down.

She tried to wipe her eyes with the tissue she had in her hand, but it was already soaked. Rupert pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and moved it so it touched her hand. She took it without opening her eyes and wiped her eyes and her face with it. She opened her eyes and turned her face toward Rupert.

Oh, she said, covering her face with his handkerchief. He waited for her to pull down the handkerchief. She lowered it but still covered her mouth. I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say.

Rupert said, It is okay. I didn’t mean to intrude. Is there something I can do to help you?

Joyce lowered the handkerchief to her lap and shook her head no. I don’t think anyone can help me now, she said, looking down at her hands.

Rupert sat there, not knowing what he could say to make her feel better.

Joyce sat there dabbing at the corners of her eyes, which were still leaking tears slowly.

Would it help to talk about your problem, or would you rather I just walk away?

No, no, she said hurriedly. I came here to be alone, but I don’t really want to be alone.

Then I am glad I came along, he said.

He thought she was trying to work up the courage to tell him what her problem was, but she kept looking at her hands and said nothing. Finally she took a deep breath, then she let it all out through her nose. Then she took another breath and slowly let it out. She said, Okay, but you must promise to never tell anyone that I told you.

Rupert nodded his head yes and said, I will never tell anyone.

She wiped her eyes lightly, took another breath, and opened her mouth. She closed her mouth. She shook her head no, and she took another breath.

Rupert said, It’s all right if you don’t tell me now. We can talk about it later if you want.

No, I want to talk about it now. It is just harder than I thought it would be.

I understand. I have plenty of time today. We can just sit here awhile.

Thank you, Joyce said. She dabbed at her eyes again although they were dry, then she sat there looking straight ahead.

Very quietly, she said, I’m an orphan now.

What do you mean? Rupert said just as quietly. I know your parents.

They both were killed last night, she said in a whisper.

Oh, I am so sorry. Can you tell me about it?

I don’t know, she whispered back.

Rupert scooted nearer and pulled her to him. She laid her head on his shoulder. Finally she stood up.

They had been walking aimlessly for most of the morning, holding hands and talking quietly when they came to Rupert’s house a second time. He stopped and said, Would you like to come in and have a Coke or something?

She hesitated. He said quickly, There’s no one at home. Mom’s working.

She nodded yes.

He sat two glasses of Coke in front of her, picked up the recorder remote, and turned it on to some soft music his mother had recorded. He listened to her music sometimes when she wasn’t home. They sat listening to the music and sipping their drinks.

He said quietly, I’m glad you told me, and I am real sorry you had to be the one who found them. But I am happy the police were so nice to you.

She said, I am tired now. Can I sleep for a while in your bed?

Yes. My room is in the back, upstairs, past the bathroom.

She went upstairs. He heard her in the bathroom, and then it was silent. He listened to music and drank his Coke. Her glass was still half full. He fixed a sandwich for lunch and sat on the front porch eating it. There was very little traffic in front of their house. Late in the afternoon, he fixed a sandwich and a glass of milk for her, went upstairs, and knocked on his bedroom door. He knocked three times until she finally answered.

I made you a sandwich. Would you like to come down and eat? he said to the closed door.

He heard her say yes, so he went back to the kitchen. He heard the water running in the bathroom upstairs, and she came to the kitchen.

Mmm, this is good. I didn’t eat breakfast.

You didn’t sleep last night, did you?

No, it was light when the police left. They offered to get me a motel room, but I told them I would go to a friend’s house. I didn’t know it would be yours.

You said they told you not to talk about what happened.

Yes. They think they know who at least one person might be, and they want to try to get both of them together. They said it may take a week. I don’t know how they can keep it quiet with all the flashing lights and all the cars that were there.

You said they told you to not go back to the house?

Shyly, she said, Yes. Do you think your mother would let me stay here?

I am sure she will. We have a guest bedroom upstairs. My mother will like you. She likes everyone.

She ate the last of her sandwich and drank her milk.

Money

Will you take me with you? I’d like to see all those states.

Joyce, I would really like to take you with me. I think it would be fun, and there are so many things we could talk about. What about the police? What would they say about you leaving town?

They said I am not a suspect in killing my parents. They have a suspect, and they are continuing the investigation. I will talk to Mom’s lawyer if you will tell me I can go with you. I would like to be gone until the police catch both of the guys that killed my folks. I am not ever going to stay in that house again.

I told you I don’t have enough money for a car, gas, and food, and when I tell Mom, I am sure she will say I can’t go.

Joyce was nodding her head. I know that. I know there is money in Mom’s account. Some of it is mine. I am on the account, and I can pay my own way. I will give you the money you need for the car. I will get enough for gas, motels, food, whatever we need.

Rupert was pacing back and forth in front of Joyce in the park where they met three days ago. She continued, I can’t go back in that house. Your mother has been very good to me, letting me stay with you guys, and I will talk to her about going.

She doesn’t know I plan to go. How will I break that to her? She wants me to find another job and go on to college.

I will talk to her. The trip will be good for both of us. I need to leave town. I think it is best for you to leave also. It will be good to get away from your mother, who is running your life.

When they got home, Rupert went to the kitchen, washed and dried the dishes in the sink, and put them away. He heard Joyce go out the front door as he was finishing, so he went upstairs to his bedroom, which functioned as an office with a desk and computer. He read through his meager e-mail and spent an hour looking through Facebook.

Joyce had come back and was in the bathroom when he came downstairs. He sat on the couch and waited for her.

Here’s a check for $5,000. They told me at the bank that your account is there too, so you can deposit it now and go ahead and write your check on however much you need. Can I go with you to look for the car?

He was stunned. He had never seen that much money at one time. Well, he had more than that in his bank account, but he didn’t count that.

You don’t waste time, do you? Did you go to the lawyer too?

Yes, I wanted to be sure I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Mr. Lewis didn’t know my parents were dead. He said to get my own bank account and transfer the rest of the money to it. He will have the house cleaned when the cops announce their deaths, and he will put everything in storage for me and sell the house. I can leave anytime. She had signed some papers that allowed Mr. Lewis to take care of everything.

Rupert took the check and gave her a long hug, or maybe they just clung to each other. It was the first time they had really touched each other if you didn’t count holding hands.

They walked, holding hands, to the nearest used car dealer. The salesman came out of his little office at the back of the lot when they stepped on his property. He asked what they were looking for and began to extoll the good points of each car they walked past. Price wasn’t one of their good points, but he could lower the prices. He was still selling while Joyce was pulling Rupert off the lot.

They walked past the next lot with newer cars, being careful not to step off the sidewalk. The third lot was the Ford dealer. The front of his lot was full of new cars and pickups. The far side was used cars. There was his car. It was a shiny black Lincoln Town Car. There was no price on the window. Rupert opened the door and got in. He looked all around and finally found the controls for the driver’s seat on the side of the seat. He raised it up with the electric switch, moved it forward, moved it down a little, then leaned back and felt it was perfect. It looked new and even smelled new.

Joyce looked around at other cars, but when she saw Rupert still sitting in the Lincoln, she walked back and got in the passenger side. He told her how to adjust her seat. She raised it and moved it forward a little.

A man in brown suit with a white shirt and a red tie appeared at Rupert’s door. Rupert tried to lower the window, but it wouldn’t budge. As he opened Rupert’s door, the man said, Hi, folks. My name is John. You have picked one of the best cars we have, only three years old, and I took it in trade for a new car yesterday. I didn’t even clean it up. It’s in perfect condition. He handed Rupert a key. Here, you have to turn it on to operate the windows.

Rupert took the key and said, How much does it cost?

The man said, Son, that isn’t the way you buy a car. You drive it first then come back, and we will talk about money. Do you have a license?

Yes, sir, for three years. I drive my mother’s car when she will let me.

Well, start it up. Drive it out to the edge of town and back, then come inside, and we will work out the best deal you can get on this car.

Rupert put the key in and turned it. The salesman had closed his door. He rolled the window down. He found the seat control again and moved the seat forward a little more. Don’t forget to adjust the mirrors, the salesman said.

The inside mirror was very stiff and difficult to move, and it took a minute to find the controls for the outside mirrors with the salesman pointing at the electric controls. His mother’s car didn’t have all these electric controls. John leaned in and showed him where the control switches were for the steering wheel.

Rupert got the car out of its space and turned left on the road. He was glad there was no other traffic. It was so quiet, he wasn’t sure the engine was running. When he got to the edge of town, he kept driving; at the roadside park, he turned in and parked. He moved the seat back and forward again. He was beginning to feel he was really in control of this car. He turned to Joyce. Would you like to drive it back?

She nodded yes and got out and walked around the car. Rupert showed her where the seat controls were, but she already knew from moving the passenger seat. She pulled in the lot and parked near John in front of the showroom. Before she turned the engine off, she turned the radio on and punched all the station buttons, making a face of displeasure at the stations that were selected. She shut the car off and got out.

On the way back to the car lot, she had explained to Rupert that she went with her daddy to buy his last car, and she learned not to accept the sales price. You had to talk down the price. He admitted he didn’t know that, and he asked her to help him with that.

As they entered the building with the new cars parked inside, the manager came up and patted John on the back; he introduced himself and told John to give these fine people a good deal on this nice car. When they were seated and had refused anything to drink, John lifted a paper from the desk that separated them and started talking about all the extras this car came with.

Joyce said, We think we know enough about the car. What we would like now is the lowest price you will consider for the car.

John looked shocked; he usually dealt with the male on such details.

Yes, of course. He looked at the top of the paper in his hand. Well, I think the best we can do is nine thousand—

I said the lowest price you would consider, Joyce cut in softly.

Yes, of course, that is our lowest we could consider.

Thank you for your time. She stood with Rupert quickly rising, although he didn’t understand why. She walked out the door into the showroom with Rupert following and John trying to catch up.

Wait just a minute, miss, he was saying as he tried to cut off Rupert, thinking she would wait. She didn’t. She was at the big showroom door when the manager came rushing out of his office.

Wait, please, what is the problem? He wanted to know, looking from John to Joyce.

She stopped