The Last Days

Read The Last Days for Free Online Page A

Book: Read The Last Days for Free Online
Authors: Gary Chesla
have been the boy John was hoping for when she was born. He wasn’t disappointed she was a girl, he had just been hoping their first child would be a boy.
    She followed him around everywhere he went. If he was working on the car, she worked on the car. If John took something apart, Cindy took something apart. When he took the washer apart to fix the motor, Cindy took the TV apart. Fortunately John discovered what she was doing and had been able to stop her before she had taken more apart than he could put back together.
    She also enjoyed going fishing with her dad, whenever he had the time to fish. Her second favorite part of fishing was pulling a fish out of the water. Her favorite thing was pushing the worms on the fishing hook.
     
    “Fishing sounds good. If you two guys can catch three nice big fish, I’ll make us fish for dinner.” Barb smiled. “Why don’t you take Cindy down to the creek and see how they are biting today?” Barb smiled.
    Cindy looked excited as she stared at her dad, waiting for him to say OK.
    Little Cindy’s smile melted away all of John’s frustrations and he smiled at her.
    “OK.” John said. “But I’m afraid we don’t have any bait.”
    “I’ll go get us some.” Cindy shouted as she ran into her room and returned with her yellow bucket and shovel.
     
    John laughed. “You go dig us up some worms and I’ll get our fishing poles and meet you outside.”
    Cindy squealed with delight and ran out the back door.
     
    Barb gave John a smile. She was happy to see the stress that had constantly been on his face the past few days, be replaced by a smile and that twinkle in his eyes that had made her fall in love with him seven years ago.

Chapter 5
     
    Mike and Kelly crossed the road and walked through the grass back to their camp sight.
    Mike knelt down on his knees when he got close to their RV to let Kimmy slide off his back.
    They were returning from a hike on the Natural Bridge trail. The trail was about a mile and a half long, round trip. Kimmy got tired after half a mile and Mike had to carry her the rest of the way. Seven year olds always seemed to have an endless supply of energy, except when you wanted them to do something.
    Mike was sure if he had insisted, she would have been able to easily finish the hike under her own power. But he knew Kimmy liked to get piggy back rides from her dad as much as he liked giving her rides on his back. After all it was their vacation and vacations were for having fun and enjoying yourself.
    Kimmy hopped off of Mike’s back and ran over to the cooler that sat next to the RV. She opened the lid and pulled out a bottle of Mountain Dew. She quickly removed the cap and took a long drink. When she lowered the bottle from her mouth she let a long breath, followed by a burp and a little giggle.
    “Kimmy!” Kelly exclaimed. “That’s not very lady like!”
    Mike laughed.
    “She gets that from you.” Kelly smirked. “If ‘your daughter’ grows up to have the manners of a drunken sailor it’s your fault!”
    Mike smiled but he knew better than to say anything.
    “You young lady, put the cap back on that bottle. You can drink the rest of it later. Go get your towel and shampoo. You and I are going over to the shower house and get cleaned up for dinner.” Kelly ordered.
    Kelly walked over to the RV and opened the door. As she went inside, her head popped back out and she looked at Mike. “Are you going to come with us? Want me to get your towel?”
    “No thanks. I think I’m going to take a break first. ‘Your daughter’ is getting heavy!” Mike grinned.
    Kelly smiled. “If ‘your daughter’ didn’t eat like her father she wouldn’t weigh so much.”
    Mike laughed as Kelly disappeared inside the RV.
    Whenever Kimmy did anything questionable she was always his daughter. Whenever she did something good, she was Kelly’s daughter. Kimmy was an ornery kid, which meant most of the time she was his daughter.
     
    Mike laid back on his

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