Grant sank down and rested his head in Melissa’s lap as David laughed to himself, noticing that his brother was no longer even wearing the hat that had delayed them a good ten minutes. Melissa played with Grant’s hair as he began to quote, “I said to myself, you know Grant you’ll find that you are not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You’re by no means alone on that score, you’ll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them—if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It’s a beautiful reciprocal arrangement.”
“Wow,” Rachel sighed when he was done.
“Yeah,” Wally agreed. “That was deep, man. Someone should write that down.”
“Someone already has, you moron,” Joanna rolled her eyes. “J.D. Salinger, ever heard of him? Grant stole that straight out of Catcher in the Rye.”
“Busted,” Emily laughed, peering over her seat and sticking her tongue out at Grant.
“Dude, do you have a photographic memory or something?” Wally asked seriously.
“We all have photographic memories, Wally,” Grant mused, “some of us just don’t have any film.”
“Grant, are you wearing a seatbelt?” Randy chuckled over his shoulder.
“Of course,” Grant lied as he stared up at Melissa with a mischievous grin.
Joanna turned around in her seat and smiled at David. “Like I said,” she nodded.
“Exactly,” David said, closing his eyes and nodding his head.
“Hey, Dad,” Rachel said eagerly, “Wally brought along his new demo. I thought maybe you could put it in and let everybody give it a listen.”
Randy gazed over at Nora only to find her warning him with her eyes. Randy muttered something about the van’s CD player not working, and everyone sat tensely, hoping the explanation would suffice.
“That’s too bad,” Wally sighed. “I was really hoping that you guys could give me your honest opinions of it.”
“Then, by all means, put it in,” Grant laughed, and Melissa put her hand over his mouth, giving both of them a case of the giggles.
“Son, didn’t I just get finished telling you that the CD player is broken!” Randy barked. And, in the back, Grant and Melissa got more tickled than they already were.
“I’ll tell you what I think, Walter,” Grant offered after a moment. “I think you are comparable to one of the most brilliant artists of all time…”
“Really?” Rachel asked, surprised by the sincerity she heard in her brother’s compliment.
“Sure,” Grant grinned. “Wally definitely has Van Gogh’s ear for music.”
“I don’t get it,” Wally shook his head amidst the laughter. “Was he in a band?”
Emily offered Wally a consolatory pat on the knee. “I think he probably meant to say Van Halen,” she shrugged as she shot Grant a hateful glance.
“Cool,” Wally nodded. “Thanks, Grant.”
The van fell silent as everyone pondered their own thoughts.
“I have an idea for a game,” Wally said, just as Grant was beginning to enjoy the silence.
“Just because we have a cop in the car, and I think this may become pertinent later,” Grant quipped, “is it still considered road rage if the person is in the same car as you?”
Randy pulled into a convenience store a couple hours after lunch, and the kids piled out of the van. “Boys, bring me one of those frosted honey buns from in there,” Randy called as he began pumping gas.
“Make it quick; we’re a little off schedule,” Nora added seriously as Grant and Emily raced playfully across the parking lot. She didn’t seem to notice that the kids ignored her warning as she freshened her makeup with help from the van’s side mirror.
Inside the store, David and Grant stood in front of the drink cooler, both scanning the selection with their eyes.
“Exactly how tall are you now, Grant?” David smiled, making conversation.
“Why? Did you need to include that in the police report?” Grant asked with a condescending smirk.
“Don’t be like that,” David sighed. “Last night was last night; I was a cop, and you, my friend, were breaking the law. Today, right now, you’re just my slightly annoying, extremely rebellious kid brother.”
Grant opened the door to the cooler. “Well, big brother, why don’t you just stay out of my business? You’ve never had any problem staying out of my life before, so don’t try to get too involved now.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” David snapped, unashamedly hurt by Grant’s words.
“Just back off,” Grant insisted. “That was all it meant.”
“Just tell me the truth about what is bothering you, and I’ll help you deal with it. I promise,” David begged.
“That’s funny coming from you,” Grant rolled his eyes. “I’ll play with you later, Grant. I’ll teach you how to play that video game next time, Grant. I’m doing my best to get to come to one of your games, Grant.” Grant’s tone shifted from mocking to just plain angry. “Does that all sound familiar, David? If it doesn’t, it should. All were broken promises. Something always got in the way. Something was always more important than me, so I’m sorry if a promise doesn’t mean that much coming from you.”
“I was off at college by the time you were born, Grant,” David pled. “I had school and responsibilities and friends and girlfriends. This might come as a surprise, but they don’t just let you cut class at West Point because your little brother misses you. By the time I graduated and went to work, you were living in Germany, and I’m sorry that I missed out on so much of your life, but I won’t let you get away with feeling sorry for yourself because this is the way that I remember it. I remember driving to North Carolina to see you when you and Mom and Dad came home to visit. You were five, and I remember how you fell down and skinned your knee; Dad demanded that you get up and not shed a tear, and you lifted your arms to me, and I held you until you stopped crying. One weekend when you were seven, I remember sleeping in the living room in a tent made out of bed sheets; my legs were hanging out, and I was cold and wanted to go get a blanket, but I wouldn’t move because you were asleep on my arm. So, little brother, don’t play that card with me.”
“I guess that all I ever wanted was for you to love me the way you loved Ike,” Grant shrugged.
“Grant,” David sighed, shocked by his brother’s candor.
