“Girls, please!” Nora fretted.
When Rachel turned her attention to Emily, Nora walked over to speak to Wally.
“Let’s get on the road,” Randy broke in. “We’ve got a long trip ahead of us.”
“Daddy, can’t Wally go?” Rachel begged.
“No,” Randy shook his head. “Family only.” He glanced over his shoulder at Wally. “Thank you for dropping her off. Now, have a safe trip back home.”
“Randy?” Nora gulped, embarrassed.
“Honey,” Randy argued in a failed attempt at whispering, “it’s either Grant or Wally. I can’t deal with both. You pick.”
“Don’t be silly,” Nora scoffed. “Wally, you are more than welcome to join us.”
To everyone’s surprise, Wally quickly agreed.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Joanna mumbled. “She was just trying to be polite.”
“I have an itinerary for everyone,” Nora said as she pulled several pieces of paper out of her tote bag. “I typed them up last night, and I put your names on them. Wally, you’ll have to share with Rachel because I didn’t realize you would be joining us, so I didn’t make you your own copy.”
“Tell me she’s joking,” David said as he stared down at the piece of paper he was handed.
“Afraid not, Son,” Randy laughed.
“Cohen Family Vacation Schedule,” Emily read aloud.
“Plus Wally,” Wally added with a raise of his finger and an obnoxious laugh that made Randy’s skin crawl.
Nora looked around, a single itinerary still in her hand. “Where’s our other child, Randy?”
Joanna stared at her paper. “He probably ran while he had the chance,” she snickered. “Honestly, Mother, is this thing really necessary? We are all adults here.”
“Grant!” Rachel yelled. She turned to her mother. “Why was I being rushed if he’s not ready yet?”
“He’s ready,” Nora insisted. “He’s just being a tad bit difficult.”
“Grant, hurry up!” David called toward the house. “We better hurry,” he laughed to his wife. “We were supposed to be on the highway seven minutes ago according to the schedule.”
“Okay, seriously, has anyone checked to make sure he didn’t skip the country?” Joanna threw out. “I would hate to wait around all afternoon if he’s no longer stateside.”
“Grant!” Randy hollered, his eyes burning a hole through Wally. “Get out here, now, Son!”
Grant eventually strolled out of the garage door dribbling his basketball. He was wearing headphones and a backward, Tar Heels cap.
Randy met him half-way up the drive, and, with one quick swipe, the iPod was in his hand. “Now turn the hat around, so you don’t look like you belong to a street gang,” Randy said harshly.
“Unbelievable,” David mumbled under his breath.
Nora swallowed hard. “Randy,” she interceded, “it’s okay; that’s how all the kids are wearing their hats these days.”
“Grant!” Wally exclaimed. “Man, it’s been awhile. We’ve got some catching up to do.”
Grant nodded. “Yeah and judging by that shirt you’re wearing, I’d say you’ve got about three decades to go.”
Wally laughed. “That was funny,” he said as he put his arm around Rachel. “I always forget how funny he is.”
“Some might say rude,” Emily shoved Grant.
“Give me my music back,” Grant insisted as he reached for his iPod.
“Turn the hat around,” Randy countered.
“I don’t want to,” Grant snapped back.
“Did that sound like a suggestion to you?” Randy asked sternly as he jerked Grant toward him. Though Grant was every bit of six foot tall, he seemed small next to his father.
“Let go of me,” he protested as he jerked away.
“Dad,” David sighed, “I think it’s probably best if you pick your battles, and the hat doesn’t really seem like a big deal.” He shuddered as he heard the words come from his mouth. “However,” he added, “Dad did ask you to turn the hat around, Grant, so why don’t you just do it, and this doesn’t have to turn into an issue.”
“Why don’t you just mind your own business?” Grant shot back.
“Come-here, and you listen to me,” David said as he grabbed his brother by the shoulders. “You have a serious attitude problem.”
“David,” Melissa scolded, “when you go after him like that, you automatically make it a confrontation instead of a conversation, and that’s not helping the situation.”
“It’s just a hat!” Grant exclaimed.
