Kickin' It on Route 66 ~ Chapter 2 - 8
Title: Kickin’ It On Route 66
State: Missouri ~ Chapter 2-8
Rating: PG
Pairing: adam/kris, OMCs
Summary: The Allen-Lamberts take a road trip along Historic Route 66
Disclaimer: I don’t own Adam or Kris. This story is fiction. Other major characters are fictional; the places they visit in this story are real.
Dedicated to adamluvr36_fic ~ just because ♥
Day at Six Flags over Mid America. Another action packed day and some drama. May need some tissues and something to hug.
Time for a Allen-Lambert universe mini series. Hannah is 12 years old, Josh is 7 years old. Mrs. Willowby comes along too! Get ready for Americana and nostalgia.
Overview map of The Mother Road ~ http://www.historic66.com/description/map.html
Retrace the trip ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/45756.html#cutid1
Masterlist of Allen-Lambert universe ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/21722.html#cutid1
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
ROAD TRIP DAY 15:
EUREKA, MISSOURI
Hannah sat on the porch, waiting for everyone else to get ready. They’d gotten up early, had breakfast, then started getting ready to go to Six Flags. She was ready first so she tried to stay out of the way. Her Daddy and Papa could be heard inside, trying to wrangle her little brother.
Last night, they looked at the park’s map and decided what to see and do. There were different areas to the park, like Disney had, and they picked a couple of rides in each. The young lady was happy with what they decided on except for one thing ~ she wanted to go to the water park, Hurricane Harbor, but her parents said no. When she pressed, her Daddy said it was because they had the one day and the water park was an all day activity. Besides, they’d been to the water park in Springfield Illinois last week and he was sure itouldn’t be the last one they’d come across on their trip.
Just because they’d be going to another one some time didn’t mean she didn’t want to go to this one.
Mrs. Willowby came out, her favorite giant bag over her shoulder and floppy hat on her head. Joshie ran out next, followed by Kris. Adam came out last and locked up.
“Ready to go Sweetpea?” he asked, extending his hand.
Hannah grabbed her own hat and bag and took hold.
As they started the short walk to the theme park, joining up with other campers heading the same way, the girl was aware of her swimsuit under her shorts and t-shirt. She had slipped it on unnoticed when she got dressed … just in case her parents changed their minds.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Walking up to the park entrance, Hannah glanced over and saw Hurricane Harbor spread out, screams and splashes on the morning breeze. Her Papa gave her hand a squeeze and they entered the park.
Just inside the entrance were a lot of shopping and eating places. Considering they had just had breakfast and didn’t want to spend too much time shopping, they were going to explore on the way back out. The park offered a service where you could buy your souvenirs and they would be held for you by the exit to pick up on your way out rather than lug them around the park. The adults, who did most of the carrying, thought the park should get a Nobel Peace Prize for such measures.
The first attractions they headed for were part of the 1904 World’s Fair area, highlighting traditional amusements ~ old cars, Ferris wheel, and miniature train. Intermixed with that, they were going to enjoy the sites of DC Comics Plaza.
At Caricature Artists, you could have yourself made into a cartoon in ten minutes. They didn’t have time for everyone so Kris and Hannah decided to play their trump card. Back at the Knights Action Park, when they had the paddleboat race, Kris and Hannah had won and Adam and Joshie had to do something of the winners choosing.
Now was the time.
Both willingly went in ~ Adam thought they were getting off pretty easy ~ and came out with a cartoon of Joshie in a school desk and Adam in full GlamNation regalia with his cane.
“How did you walk in there in shorts, t-shirt, no make up, and come out looking like a Glam God?” Kris asked, absolutely dumbfounded.
“What can I say?” Adam smirked, “The artist saw me during that tour two … three … six times.”
At the Moon Antique Cars, the kids got the chance to drive replicas of 1911 Cadillacs. Mind you, they were on tracks but it was the idea of chauffeuring the adults that made this an attractive ride. Adam sat this one out so Kris and Mrs. Willowby took back seats in their two cars and let the kids drive.
“Keep your foot on the peddle,” Kris kept reminding Joshie, the car jerking as the boy kept taking his foot off.
Mrs. Willowby thoroughly enjoyed her ride until the track went right under the wooden roller coaster and the ground shook as thrill seekers zipped over her head.
At the end of the ride, Adam asked Kris how it went.
“When that boy reaches 16, you can give him driving lessons. I’ve done my duty.”
Leaving the World’s Fair area behind for the time being, they lined up for The Log Flume in DC Comics Plaza. Granted, this incarnation wasn’t as thrilling as some more modern variations but it wasn’t meant to be; it was a family ride that was meant only to cool them down, not drown them. Kris and Adam sat in the front of the log since the theory goes that the more weight you have in the front, the faster the drop. A bonus for the guys was the possibility that the resulting wave would go over them and hit those behind.
The log went up the first conveyor belt and followed the trough. They passed through trees and at some point picked up speed. Within a minute, they started up a higher belt, the gages shaking the log.
“Here we go!” Kris called out, waiting for the others to get soaked.
Well, the drop wasn’t much of a drop and the resulting wave didn’t go as far as Kris and Adam wanted. Instead, it stopped after it hit both men squarely in the face. The kids laughed.
“I know what you two were up to,” Mrs. Willowby chided. “Shame on you both for trying to soak your children.”
The first thrill ride of the day was SHAZAM. Adam and Kris got in one car with Josh between them and the girls had their own. This ride was known as a scrambler ~ three long arms revolving around a center post and each group of seats on the arm spun as well. It was a back and forth motion; one moment you’re hurled towards the center post then spun around and hurled towards the edge of the ride, fences and the line of people coming towards you at breakneck speed. The person sitting on the outer side of the seat tended to get smushed as the ride sped up. Adam took up that spot in his car and Mrs. Willowby in hers; they didn’t want the kids getting hurt. By the time the ride ended, the men were completely dry … from the water anyway.
“Who’s up for a drink?” Mrs. Willowby asked, putting her hat back on her head.
“Can we go on Scooby-Do first?” Hannah asked.
Kris looked at the queue. He’d seen online that the line could get long but it was small right now.
“Sure, then we can get a drink and enjoy some leisurely rides.”
Mrs. Willowby offered to wait with their things. Scooby-Do Ghostblasters was a target game and she didn’t feel like going into a giant video game, even for five minutes.
The family got a car to themselves and when the ride was loaded, the staff explained how the target guns worked. Green spots would pop up throughout the ride and when you aimed your gun on the target, you’d see a red light. The green would change color when you hit the target and you accumulated points.
The cars moved forward on the underwater track. Dilapidated buildings and overgrown grass lined each side as they headed towards the tunnel. There were signs on the walls. One read ‘CAUTION: Ghost and Villains lurk around every corner!’; another read ‘Beware’ with a skull and crossbones over it; and at the top of the tunnel, the sign read ‘Haunted Swamp’.
Black light made the ride glow in sickly greens and neon purples. Holograms and pop-up figures came out of the shadows and green targets blinked everywhere. Hannah discovered if you shot at a flower, you got squirted! The constant beeping of laser guns got annoying but the kids enjoyed it so who cared. Throughout the ride, Shaggy kept yelling out ‘Scooby-Do, where are you?!’ and Scooby answered, the only understandable world being ‘Shaggy’. The scenery progressed from swamp to ancient temples to old ships to a haunted carnival to a haunted house to a dungeon and finally to a police station with the villains locked behind bars.
Back in the daylight, they joined up with their nanny for some more gentile amusements. They took a leisurely ride around the entire park on the Tommy G. Robertson Train, and then took a turn on the Grand Old Carousel. Before stopping for lunch, the men had one more topsy-turvy ride planned.
They may not have been going to Hurricane Harbor but they were getting wet none the less. Thunder River was a whitewater rapids ride, touted as the wildest in the Mid-West. The big round ‘boats’ held a dozen passengers and once they were secured in and sent down the river, they quickly figured out where the thunder came into it. The entire waterway circled the Mr. Freeze Roller Coaster and when it zoomed over them, the sky shook with a roar.
The ride started off tame enough. They bobbed down the water, past a group of rocks and unexpectedly got squirted with jets of water. Distracted by that, it took a moment or two to realize the round boat had sped up and was now in whitewater. The craft bounced up and down, small waves soaking them.
“I wish we’d brought our swimsuits,” Kris shouted out.
I did, Hannah thought to herself, suddenly fearful when her t-shirt got wet that the bright colors underneath would show through.
The waters started to calm and the roller coaster that had been on their right was now on their left; they’d nearly completed a circle and hadn’t realized it. The boat drifted under a bridge into a holding area with other passengers waiting to disembark, getting one last splash from a waterfall.
“I’m glad we waited for lunch,” Mrs. Willowby commented, holding her stomach.
“Didn’t you like it?”
“Of course I did Joshua, I’m just happy my stomach is staying where it belongs.”
“This is where we split up for a while,” Adam began.
The kids were surprised … as they were meant to be.
“Kris is going with Joshie to Bugs Bunny’s National Park. The rides there are geared towards his age and Hannah and I are going to visit the wild side.”
The girl almost blurted out ‘Hurricane Harbor’ but bit her tongue instead. She looked at the park map in her Papa’s outstretched hands and noticed they were getting closer to it. Maybe when her parents caught a glimpse of how much fun it was, they’d change their minds.
“Why’s Daddy going with me and not you?”
“You want to answer this one baby or should I?”
Kris blushed slightly, “I’m going with you because your Papa can’t fit in some of the rides but I can.”
“Cause you’re the Pocket Idol!” their son blurted.
It seems Kris was destined to never live that title down.
“Anyway, when we get back together, we’ll get a bite to eat and do some damage to our credit cards.”
Mrs. Willowby decided to stick with Kris and Joshie. She said there was a lovely bench with her name on at the area’s train station and she was going to relax and do some train spotting. They could pick her up when they were ready to move on.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
The Screamin’ Eagle had once held the Guinness World’s Record as the fastest roller coaster. The wooden classic out-and-back coaster was painted red, white and blue and seemed to disappear into the trees. After chatting with a woman in front of them, they learned much of the coaster was hidden from view and it actually took up the entire northern border of the park. She said it was a great ride for kids, looking at Hannah, but also a great ride for adults who appreciated the more traditional coaster rides.
The line moved pretty quickly within the wooden ‘shed’ and soon the red cars pulled up and they got in. The seats were really comfortable though Adam found the pull down restraint a little tight for him. Hannah was literally bouncing in her seat with anticipation so how could he mind a little discomfort when it made her so happy.
It seemed to take forever as the cars clicked up the first incline, above the nearby trees and towards the blue sky. Reaching the top, there was a small steady drop, a turn, a little hill and then … whoosh! The Screamin’ Eagle earned her name, wind whipping past their ears, the cars rattling on the tracks. They went up another hill then just as they were about to come down, the riders caught sight of the track laid out before them, disappearing into the distance. They made a turn into the bottom of the ‘L’ layout, another giant coaster coming up before them. Everyone had their hands up, screaming their lungs out. For once, Adam wasn’t the loudest. There were tons of hills and dips and quick turns. Suddenly, they were in a covered incline and the cars came to an abrupt halt and slowly clicked back into the ‘shed’.
“Papa, lean down,” Hannah said once they’d gotten out.
“Is my hair all over the place?”
“Yeah … but,” she reached in, tugged and removed a leafy branch.
“Thanks Sweetpea. Ready for another ride?”
She nodded and they moved on. Adam looked over his shoulder at the Screamin’ Eagle. He grinned, ranking it as the second best ‘woody’ he’d had in the woods.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Kris found an empty bench and plunked his butt, relieved not to be moving. He was still a young man but sometimes he felt like he was getting too old for some things, like cramming himself into kiddie rides. Marvin the Martian’s Camp Invasion jostled him up and down and around and around in a metal can and when he finally got fresh air, he was in Elmer Fudd’s Weather Balloon spinning in circles. Joshie was now on the third story of Bugs Bunny’s Fun Fort with a bunch of others kids.
Screaming came his way on the warm summer breeze and he looked in the direction of the Illinois area where his husband and daughter were. Kris wasn’t sure but he was certain he could hear Adam’s distinctive voice over every other.
He was very familiar with Adam’s scream.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
The two Allen-Lamberts went from one screamer to another, from horizontal speed to vertical swing. Sky Screamer was one of the park’s newest rides, a 23 story high swing ride rotating at 43 mph. They’d been on rides like this before that lifted them less than ten feet off the ground. This one was taking them above every other ride.
The dual seats were connected and suspended by chains from a patriotic support that reminded Hannah of the Statue of Liberty’s crown if you took two of them and made a circle. Adam lifted her up into the outer seat then got in himself, his long legs just off the ground. When the ride attendant came around to lower their restraint, he checked, double checked and tripled checked it. When he was satisfied it would hold them tight, he relaxed.
“Do you think we can see your Daddy and brother?”
“Papa don’t be silly, you can’t see them from up here,” she laughed.
When the ride was ready to go, it slowly went up, then about twenty feet off the ground it started turning, gradually gaining speed. The force started swinging their seat away from the center support until they were nearly sideways. She grabbed her Papa’s arm, knowing that she was safe when she was with him.
“Are you okay?!” he yelled.
“Yes!” she yelled back.
When they got back to earth, they met up with the rest of the family and headed towards Chouteau’s Market for lunch. It was crowded but they managed to get seats for Calico Sal’s Famous Home-style Chicken Dinner. The meal was chicken strips served with biscuits and two sides, including mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh coleslaw, mac and cheese, green beans or fries. While they ate, the adults talked about going to the Studio Backlot area then heading back to the campground. Hannah knew her time was running out and decided to go for it.
“Since it’s not too late, can we go to Hurricane Harbor … please?”
“Hannah, we already discussed this. We are not going to Hurricane Harbor,” Kris declared
“But is so hot out. Wouldn’t it feel good to cool down?”
“We can swim in the pool at the campground.”
“But it’s so small!”
“Hannah … the answer is ‘no’. End of discussion.”
“Papa, can I go have my picture taken with Bugs and Sylvester?” their boy asked, referring to the character meet and greets happening around the corner from their restaurant.
Adam looked at his watch. They had a few stops to make in this area but it was all close so they could probably fit it in.
“We’ll have to see Joshie.”
Hannah couldn’t believe it. Again, her baby brother got to do something he wanted and she couldn’t. She was beyond sad and getting angry. When they went to get Old West pictures taken at the Photo Emporium, the photographer asked them not to smile because folks back then didn’t smile for photos; she had no trouble keeping a serious face. After the pictures were taken, they went shopping in Marquette’s Market, an old trading post full of toys, candy and souvenirs. When they finished, Joshie asked again if he could go.
“Ten minutes then we move on,” Adam explained.
Mrs. Willowby offered to take him over while Hannah stayed with her parents. She heard people around her talking about the water park … saw kids coming her way soaked to the skin. It wouldn’t take long to go on a few rides. Why couldn’t her Daddy and Papa understand that?
“I have to use the washroom,” she said.
“Adam, why don’t you take her and I’ll wait for the others.”
“Sure thing. Let’s go sweetie.”
The walked out of sight of Kris and while she went into the women’s side, Adam waited outside for her. Hannah went into a stall and stood there for some time, convincing herself she had to do this, that they’d given her no choice.
Peeking around the corner, she spotted her Papa signing an autograph and posing for a picture. With his back turned to her, she ran off into the crowd.
“Please Mr. Lambert, one more picture?” the mother begged, her two teenaged daughters at his sides.
“Just one more. I’m waiting for my daughter.”
“Yes of course. Thank you. Okay, say ‘cheese’.”
He smiled and wished them a good day. He turned towards the washrooms and didn’t see Hannah; she must still be inside. After ten minutes passed and she didn’t come out, he got worried. Maybe she came down sick. Even though he wasn’t interested in women in the physical sense, he was still a man and couldn’t just walk in and invade their privacy. He called up a picture of his girl on his phone and stopped some ladies going in, asking if they could see if she was alright. They all agreed but one by one came out saying they didn’t see.
But they had to have seen her. She’s supposed to be in there. Where else could she go?
Adam had no choice. He stood in the doorway and called out to her, “Hannah?! Hannah answer me! Sweetpea its Papa, answer me! Are you okay?!”
“What’s wrong?”
He turned around and found the rest of his family.
“Hannah went in there over ten minutes ago and she hasn’t come out. I asked some ladies going in to if they see if she’s okay but they don’t see her.”
“Allow me,” Mrs. Willowby declared, charging in. “Miss Hannah, you come out right now!”
“What if she’s sick again?”
Kris held tight to Joshua’s hand. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation. She couldn’t have left without you seeing right?”
“Right …,” then it dawned on him, “… wrong. Some fans wanted a photo. I only turned my back for a minute but I mean she wouldn’t run off; she knows better than that.” The blood rushed out of his face. “But what if someone made her leave … oh my God Kris, what if …!”
Kris drew his shaking love into a one armed hug. “Easy lover, we don’t know anything yet. I’m sure she’s alright.”
Mrs. Willowby came out some time later. She was keeping a calm face but there was panic in her eyes. She walked right up to the men and kept her voice low, not wanting to scare Joshie.
“I checked every stall and she is not in there.”
Adam and Kris cast terrified looks at each other; their worst nightmare could be coming true. Kris knelt down in front of their son, a fake smile on his face.
“Joshie Bear, how about you and Mrs. Willowby go pick up our souvenirs then go back to the campground? Papa, Hannah and I will be there as soon as we can.”
“Have we seen everything?” he asked, thankfully unaware of the drama developing.
Mrs. Willowby took his hand from Kris. “We’ve seen everything we’re going to see today. Let’s get our shopping like your Papa said and go back to the campground. You know, we can rent DVDs at the General Store. Let’s plan a movie night for everyone else.”
“Yay … movies.”
Both men gave their son a big hug and kiss. While the boy was occupied, they each thanked her for being here and she said to keep them updated of every development. Once the two were out of sight, Adam’s shaky legs gave out and Kris helped him to a bench before calling park security. Security arrived a couple of minutes later. Adam and Kris showed them pictures of Hannah they had on their phone and the moment they realized they were dealing with the missing child of celebrities, they put a call into the police. The security they had split up, three going with each parent. The men were asked questions, trying to determine where the girl could have gone if she ran away on her own. Adam thought she might go back to the rides they’d just come from and Kris had an inkling she might be at the one spot she’d been dying to go to … Hurricane Harbor.
Kris ran towards the water park and security radioed ahead, telling the staff to keep an eye out for her and forwarding a picture from Kris’ phone. He weaved in and out of water slides, a lazy river and jumped right into Hook’s Lagoon, his clothes getting soaked but not caring as he pushed his way through the crowd, yelling out his daughter’s name.
With every dead end, the panic grew in his heart. What if Adam was right? What if someone had taken her?
“Mr. Allen,” one of the security said, “she’s been spotted.”
“Where?!”
“Wahoo Racer, a water slide at the far end of the park.”
The group took off, Kris praying she was there.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Hannah removed her shorts, sandals and t-shirt, revealing her swimsuit, and shoved them in her bag, leaving it beside the fence. Once she had her blue racer, she began the three storey stair climb up to the top of the six-lane slide and its three drops. When she reached the top, she was directed to one of the yellow slides and told to get in position but not to take off until given the signal. Once all the lanes were filled, the attendant raised her hand:
“On your mark … get set … go!”
Everyone pushed off and mere seconds later, she was bouncing on the speed bumps at the bottom and coming to a stop, waves of water soaking her. She looked around and cheered when she realized she had won.
Then she got up and spotted her Daddy and three people in Six Flags shirts staring at her, arms crossed, faces not happy. She got up slowly and walked towards them. She’d never seen her Daddy so mad and found she couldn’t open her mouth to defend herself.
It didn’t matter cause Kris didn’t want to hear any excuses … not right now.
“Where are your clothes?” he asked, barely keeping his voice steady.
“By the fence,” she whispered.
“Get them … now.”
“Yes sir.” She ran and collected her things then came straight back. “Daddy, I ….”
“No. I don’t want to hear it, not now. We’ll talk when we get back to the campground.” He placed a heavy hand on her shoulder and turned her towards the security officers still with them. “You owe this people an apology. You took them away from helping someone really in trouble because you couldn’t get your way.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done this.”
They accepted her apology then walked them back to the park entrance. On the way, Kris called Adam and told him he’d found their wayward daughter and said they’d meet him at the park entrance. Kris did not let go of her hand the entire way. When they got to the entrance, Adam was waiting, his face in obvious conflict. Kris knew the feeling; on one hand he wanted to gather her into his arms and cry out his relief and on the other he was so mad he didn’t want to say anything he’d regret later. Kris also felt guilt in that if they’d talked to their girl about why they didn’t want her off on her own, she more than likely wouldn’t have done this.
A plain clothes police officer was waiting. After reassurances and apologies for causing such a fuss, the officer offered to give them a lift back to the campground. If it had been a regular cop car, they would have turned him down, not wanting to draw attention but it was an unmarked vehicle so they accepted.
Hannah and Kris sat in the back while Adam took up the passenger seat. It was a very short ride but the longest of Hannah’s life. She’d been clutching her fingers and chewing her lips, wishing she’d just listened to them. Adam turned around and finally spoke to their girl.
“We are very disappointed in what you did Hannah but we still love you. There’s nothing you could do that would ever change that.”
Kris still didn’t feel ready to speak but he reached out and grasped her hands, giving them a gentle squeeze. She nodded again and she knew he was silently letting her know he loved her too.
Mrs. Willowby and Joshie were waiting on the porch of their cottage. When the trio got out of the car, Josh ran to his sister and gave her a big hug.
“I’m sorry you got in trouble.”
“Don’t be,” she replied, “I deserve it.”
The nanny gave her a kiss on the forehead then told her to go inside, dry off and change.
“You too laddie,” she said to Kris, noticing he was wet as well.
“I’m fine,” he replied. “I need to go for a walk … think about what to say to her.”
“I’m coming too.”
Mrs. Willowby stayed with the children while the men found a private place to talk.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
That evening, after a homemade meal that they hardly touched, Mrs. Willowby took Joshie outside to make a campfire while Adam and Kris talked with their daughter.
“Why did you disobey us?” Kris began. “We made it very clear that we weren’t going to the water park today.”
“I guess I really wanted to go.”
“There has to more to it than that,” Adam commented. “You’ve never purposely run off like that before.”
“I just ….”
“Yeah?”
“I just … I just wish you’d trust me more … let me go places on my own … do things I want to do.”
“So this is about us not letting you run around Busch Stadium.”
“Yes, and … at the science center, I wanted to do things and you wouldn’t let me.”
“You mean Cyberville and the star show?” Kris asked.
She nodded.
“That was a matter of time Sweetpea. We only have so much time in a day and some things have to be left out.”
“But Josh gets do everything he wants … you don’t say ‘no’ to him.”
“Of course we do. We’ve told him no plenty of times,” Adam replied.
“Not recently and ….”
“Go on.”
“Well, even back home my friends get to go out by themselves, do things on their own. You never let me … I just wish you’d let me sometimes.”
It was obvious to the boys that they really needed to have this long overdue discussion. They’d have it later with their son, on his level, but with Hannah it could no longer wait.
“Sweetheart,” Adam began, looking to his husband for reassurance and lovingly receiving it, “you know that you have a privileged life, that you don’t have to worry about money and that you sometimes get the chance to do other things your friends don’t?”
“Yeah, I know. Joshie and I are lucky you and Daddy are famous.”
“But there’s also a downside to be famous,” Kris continued. “Sometimes there are people out there who want things from us … want to … to hurt us. And sometimes to do that, they go after the people we love. When you ran off and we didn’t know where you were, we thought someone had taken you from us.”
“You mean, like, kidnapped.”
“Yes. We were afraid to talk about this with you kids … we didn’t want to frighten you,” Adam added. “We understand how you could think we were holding the reins too tight and we’re both sorry. But we hope you understand now that it’s not safe for you to go running off by yourself, especially in a strange place. We’re trying our best to keep and your brother safe but if you think we’re holding you back too much, please talk to us and we’ll try and work it out.”
“We just couldn’t handle it if any one in our family got hurt,” Kris concluded, his emotions finally coming out.
Hannah climbed into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and crying.
“I … love you guys … I’m sorry … I scared you … promise … I won’t do it again.”
Kris hung on tight, his own waterfall of tears matching hers. Adam moved onto the couch and caught both of them up, adding his tears to the mix.
Outside around the campfire, Joshie looked at his nanny.
“Are those sad tears or happy tears,” he asked, hearing the crying inside.
Mrs. Willowby patted his arm.
“A bit of both my dear … a bit of both.”
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Six Flags Mid America ~ http://www.sixflags.com/stLouis/index.aspx
Adam caricature ~ http://adamquotedaily.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/cartoon.jpg
Joshie’s caricature ~ http://www.picturesof.net/_images_300/cartoon_caricature_little_boy_seated_at_a_school_desk_royalty_free_080812-035148-107042.jpg
Moon Antique Cars ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOH-mPRiMfE
Log Flume ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpdCpVp73Vw
Shazam! ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIInXC-LaLc
Scooby-Do Ghostblasters ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEsMoG4JMUw
Thunder River ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWby82ORqZI
♥♥ Screamin’ Eagle RC ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YQ_RCXcmEo
Sky Screamer ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMjQvGKbUWk
Marvin the Martian Camp Invasion ~ http://www.coastercommunity.com/gallery2/d/11665-4/MARVIN+THE+MARTIAN+Camp+Invasion.jpg
Elmer Fudd’s Weather Balloons ~ http://www.sixflags.com/stLouis/assets/images/medium/medium_STL_Balloons.jpg
Bugs Bunny’s Fun Fort ~ http://www.coastergrotto.co.uk/pictures/photos/55r19.jpg
Wahoo Racer ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-_yrrP_iDI&feature=related
State: Missouri ~ Chapter 2-8
Rating: PG
Pairing: adam/kris, OMCs
Summary: The Allen-Lamberts take a road trip along Historic Route 66
Disclaimer: I don’t own Adam or Kris. This story is fiction. Other major characters are fictional; the places they visit in this story are real.
Dedicated to adamluvr36_fic ~ just because ♥
Day at Six Flags over Mid America. Another action packed day and some drama. May need some tissues and something to hug.
Time for a Allen-Lambert universe mini series. Hannah is 12 years old, Josh is 7 years old. Mrs. Willowby comes along too! Get ready for Americana and nostalgia.
Overview map of The Mother Road ~ http://www.historic66.com/description/map.html
Retrace the trip ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/45756.html#cutid1
Masterlist of Allen-Lambert universe ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/21722.html#cutid1
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
ROAD TRIP DAY 15:
EUREKA, MISSOURI
Hannah sat on the porch, waiting for everyone else to get ready. They’d gotten up early, had breakfast, then started getting ready to go to Six Flags. She was ready first so she tried to stay out of the way. Her Daddy and Papa could be heard inside, trying to wrangle her little brother.
Last night, they looked at the park’s map and decided what to see and do. There were different areas to the park, like Disney had, and they picked a couple of rides in each. The young lady was happy with what they decided on except for one thing ~ she wanted to go to the water park, Hurricane Harbor, but her parents said no. When she pressed, her Daddy said it was because they had the one day and the water park was an all day activity. Besides, they’d been to the water park in Springfield Illinois last week and he was sure itouldn’t be the last one they’d come across on their trip.
Just because they’d be going to another one some time didn’t mean she didn’t want to go to this one.
Mrs. Willowby came out, her favorite giant bag over her shoulder and floppy hat on her head. Joshie ran out next, followed by Kris. Adam came out last and locked up.
“Ready to go Sweetpea?” he asked, extending his hand.
Hannah grabbed her own hat and bag and took hold.
As they started the short walk to the theme park, joining up with other campers heading the same way, the girl was aware of her swimsuit under her shorts and t-shirt. She had slipped it on unnoticed when she got dressed … just in case her parents changed their minds.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Walking up to the park entrance, Hannah glanced over and saw Hurricane Harbor spread out, screams and splashes on the morning breeze. Her Papa gave her hand a squeeze and they entered the park.
Just inside the entrance were a lot of shopping and eating places. Considering they had just had breakfast and didn’t want to spend too much time shopping, they were going to explore on the way back out. The park offered a service where you could buy your souvenirs and they would be held for you by the exit to pick up on your way out rather than lug them around the park. The adults, who did most of the carrying, thought the park should get a Nobel Peace Prize for such measures.
The first attractions they headed for were part of the 1904 World’s Fair area, highlighting traditional amusements ~ old cars, Ferris wheel, and miniature train. Intermixed with that, they were going to enjoy the sites of DC Comics Plaza.
At Caricature Artists, you could have yourself made into a cartoon in ten minutes. They didn’t have time for everyone so Kris and Hannah decided to play their trump card. Back at the Knights Action Park, when they had the paddleboat race, Kris and Hannah had won and Adam and Joshie had to do something of the winners choosing.
Now was the time.
Both willingly went in ~ Adam thought they were getting off pretty easy ~ and came out with a cartoon of Joshie in a school desk and Adam in full GlamNation regalia with his cane.
“How did you walk in there in shorts, t-shirt, no make up, and come out looking like a Glam God?” Kris asked, absolutely dumbfounded.
“What can I say?” Adam smirked, “The artist saw me during that tour two … three … six times.”
At the Moon Antique Cars, the kids got the chance to drive replicas of 1911 Cadillacs. Mind you, they were on tracks but it was the idea of chauffeuring the adults that made this an attractive ride. Adam sat this one out so Kris and Mrs. Willowby took back seats in their two cars and let the kids drive.
“Keep your foot on the peddle,” Kris kept reminding Joshie, the car jerking as the boy kept taking his foot off.
Mrs. Willowby thoroughly enjoyed her ride until the track went right under the wooden roller coaster and the ground shook as thrill seekers zipped over her head.
At the end of the ride, Adam asked Kris how it went.
“When that boy reaches 16, you can give him driving lessons. I’ve done my duty.”
Leaving the World’s Fair area behind for the time being, they lined up for The Log Flume in DC Comics Plaza. Granted, this incarnation wasn’t as thrilling as some more modern variations but it wasn’t meant to be; it was a family ride that was meant only to cool them down, not drown them. Kris and Adam sat in the front of the log since the theory goes that the more weight you have in the front, the faster the drop. A bonus for the guys was the possibility that the resulting wave would go over them and hit those behind.
The log went up the first conveyor belt and followed the trough. They passed through trees and at some point picked up speed. Within a minute, they started up a higher belt, the gages shaking the log.
“Here we go!” Kris called out, waiting for the others to get soaked.
Well, the drop wasn’t much of a drop and the resulting wave didn’t go as far as Kris and Adam wanted. Instead, it stopped after it hit both men squarely in the face. The kids laughed.
“I know what you two were up to,” Mrs. Willowby chided. “Shame on you both for trying to soak your children.”
The first thrill ride of the day was SHAZAM. Adam and Kris got in one car with Josh between them and the girls had their own. This ride was known as a scrambler ~ three long arms revolving around a center post and each group of seats on the arm spun as well. It was a back and forth motion; one moment you’re hurled towards the center post then spun around and hurled towards the edge of the ride, fences and the line of people coming towards you at breakneck speed. The person sitting on the outer side of the seat tended to get smushed as the ride sped up. Adam took up that spot in his car and Mrs. Willowby in hers; they didn’t want the kids getting hurt. By the time the ride ended, the men were completely dry … from the water anyway.
“Who’s up for a drink?” Mrs. Willowby asked, putting her hat back on her head.
“Can we go on Scooby-Do first?” Hannah asked.
Kris looked at the queue. He’d seen online that the line could get long but it was small right now.
“Sure, then we can get a drink and enjoy some leisurely rides.”
Mrs. Willowby offered to wait with their things. Scooby-Do Ghostblasters was a target game and she didn’t feel like going into a giant video game, even for five minutes.
The family got a car to themselves and when the ride was loaded, the staff explained how the target guns worked. Green spots would pop up throughout the ride and when you aimed your gun on the target, you’d see a red light. The green would change color when you hit the target and you accumulated points.
The cars moved forward on the underwater track. Dilapidated buildings and overgrown grass lined each side as they headed towards the tunnel. There were signs on the walls. One read ‘CAUTION: Ghost and Villains lurk around every corner!’; another read ‘Beware’ with a skull and crossbones over it; and at the top of the tunnel, the sign read ‘Haunted Swamp’.
Black light made the ride glow in sickly greens and neon purples. Holograms and pop-up figures came out of the shadows and green targets blinked everywhere. Hannah discovered if you shot at a flower, you got squirted! The constant beeping of laser guns got annoying but the kids enjoyed it so who cared. Throughout the ride, Shaggy kept yelling out ‘Scooby-Do, where are you?!’ and Scooby answered, the only understandable world being ‘Shaggy’. The scenery progressed from swamp to ancient temples to old ships to a haunted carnival to a haunted house to a dungeon and finally to a police station with the villains locked behind bars.
Back in the daylight, they joined up with their nanny for some more gentile amusements. They took a leisurely ride around the entire park on the Tommy G. Robertson Train, and then took a turn on the Grand Old Carousel. Before stopping for lunch, the men had one more topsy-turvy ride planned.
They may not have been going to Hurricane Harbor but they were getting wet none the less. Thunder River was a whitewater rapids ride, touted as the wildest in the Mid-West. The big round ‘boats’ held a dozen passengers and once they were secured in and sent down the river, they quickly figured out where the thunder came into it. The entire waterway circled the Mr. Freeze Roller Coaster and when it zoomed over them, the sky shook with a roar.
The ride started off tame enough. They bobbed down the water, past a group of rocks and unexpectedly got squirted with jets of water. Distracted by that, it took a moment or two to realize the round boat had sped up and was now in whitewater. The craft bounced up and down, small waves soaking them.
“I wish we’d brought our swimsuits,” Kris shouted out.
I did, Hannah thought to herself, suddenly fearful when her t-shirt got wet that the bright colors underneath would show through.
The waters started to calm and the roller coaster that had been on their right was now on their left; they’d nearly completed a circle and hadn’t realized it. The boat drifted under a bridge into a holding area with other passengers waiting to disembark, getting one last splash from a waterfall.
“I’m glad we waited for lunch,” Mrs. Willowby commented, holding her stomach.
“Didn’t you like it?”
“Of course I did Joshua, I’m just happy my stomach is staying where it belongs.”
“This is where we split up for a while,” Adam began.
The kids were surprised … as they were meant to be.
“Kris is going with Joshie to Bugs Bunny’s National Park. The rides there are geared towards his age and Hannah and I are going to visit the wild side.”
The girl almost blurted out ‘Hurricane Harbor’ but bit her tongue instead. She looked at the park map in her Papa’s outstretched hands and noticed they were getting closer to it. Maybe when her parents caught a glimpse of how much fun it was, they’d change their minds.
“Why’s Daddy going with me and not you?”
“You want to answer this one baby or should I?”
Kris blushed slightly, “I’m going with you because your Papa can’t fit in some of the rides but I can.”
“Cause you’re the Pocket Idol!” their son blurted.
It seems Kris was destined to never live that title down.
“Anyway, when we get back together, we’ll get a bite to eat and do some damage to our credit cards.”
Mrs. Willowby decided to stick with Kris and Joshie. She said there was a lovely bench with her name on at the area’s train station and she was going to relax and do some train spotting. They could pick her up when they were ready to move on.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
The Screamin’ Eagle had once held the Guinness World’s Record as the fastest roller coaster. The wooden classic out-and-back coaster was painted red, white and blue and seemed to disappear into the trees. After chatting with a woman in front of them, they learned much of the coaster was hidden from view and it actually took up the entire northern border of the park. She said it was a great ride for kids, looking at Hannah, but also a great ride for adults who appreciated the more traditional coaster rides.
The line moved pretty quickly within the wooden ‘shed’ and soon the red cars pulled up and they got in. The seats were really comfortable though Adam found the pull down restraint a little tight for him. Hannah was literally bouncing in her seat with anticipation so how could he mind a little discomfort when it made her so happy.
It seemed to take forever as the cars clicked up the first incline, above the nearby trees and towards the blue sky. Reaching the top, there was a small steady drop, a turn, a little hill and then … whoosh! The Screamin’ Eagle earned her name, wind whipping past their ears, the cars rattling on the tracks. They went up another hill then just as they were about to come down, the riders caught sight of the track laid out before them, disappearing into the distance. They made a turn into the bottom of the ‘L’ layout, another giant coaster coming up before them. Everyone had their hands up, screaming their lungs out. For once, Adam wasn’t the loudest. There were tons of hills and dips and quick turns. Suddenly, they were in a covered incline and the cars came to an abrupt halt and slowly clicked back into the ‘shed’.
“Papa, lean down,” Hannah said once they’d gotten out.
“Is my hair all over the place?”
“Yeah … but,” she reached in, tugged and removed a leafy branch.
“Thanks Sweetpea. Ready for another ride?”
She nodded and they moved on. Adam looked over his shoulder at the Screamin’ Eagle. He grinned, ranking it as the second best ‘woody’ he’d had in the woods.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Kris found an empty bench and plunked his butt, relieved not to be moving. He was still a young man but sometimes he felt like he was getting too old for some things, like cramming himself into kiddie rides. Marvin the Martian’s Camp Invasion jostled him up and down and around and around in a metal can and when he finally got fresh air, he was in Elmer Fudd’s Weather Balloon spinning in circles. Joshie was now on the third story of Bugs Bunny’s Fun Fort with a bunch of others kids.
Screaming came his way on the warm summer breeze and he looked in the direction of the Illinois area where his husband and daughter were. Kris wasn’t sure but he was certain he could hear Adam’s distinctive voice over every other.
He was very familiar with Adam’s scream.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
The two Allen-Lamberts went from one screamer to another, from horizontal speed to vertical swing. Sky Screamer was one of the park’s newest rides, a 23 story high swing ride rotating at 43 mph. They’d been on rides like this before that lifted them less than ten feet off the ground. This one was taking them above every other ride.
The dual seats were connected and suspended by chains from a patriotic support that reminded Hannah of the Statue of Liberty’s crown if you took two of them and made a circle. Adam lifted her up into the outer seat then got in himself, his long legs just off the ground. When the ride attendant came around to lower their restraint, he checked, double checked and tripled checked it. When he was satisfied it would hold them tight, he relaxed.
“Do you think we can see your Daddy and brother?”
“Papa don’t be silly, you can’t see them from up here,” she laughed.
When the ride was ready to go, it slowly went up, then about twenty feet off the ground it started turning, gradually gaining speed. The force started swinging their seat away from the center support until they were nearly sideways. She grabbed her Papa’s arm, knowing that she was safe when she was with him.
“Are you okay?!” he yelled.
“Yes!” she yelled back.
When they got back to earth, they met up with the rest of the family and headed towards Chouteau’s Market for lunch. It was crowded but they managed to get seats for Calico Sal’s Famous Home-style Chicken Dinner. The meal was chicken strips served with biscuits and two sides, including mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh coleslaw, mac and cheese, green beans or fries. While they ate, the adults talked about going to the Studio Backlot area then heading back to the campground. Hannah knew her time was running out and decided to go for it.
“Since it’s not too late, can we go to Hurricane Harbor … please?”
“Hannah, we already discussed this. We are not going to Hurricane Harbor,” Kris declared
“But is so hot out. Wouldn’t it feel good to cool down?”
“We can swim in the pool at the campground.”
“But it’s so small!”
“Hannah … the answer is ‘no’. End of discussion.”
“Papa, can I go have my picture taken with Bugs and Sylvester?” their boy asked, referring to the character meet and greets happening around the corner from their restaurant.
Adam looked at his watch. They had a few stops to make in this area but it was all close so they could probably fit it in.
“We’ll have to see Joshie.”
Hannah couldn’t believe it. Again, her baby brother got to do something he wanted and she couldn’t. She was beyond sad and getting angry. When they went to get Old West pictures taken at the Photo Emporium, the photographer asked them not to smile because folks back then didn’t smile for photos; she had no trouble keeping a serious face. After the pictures were taken, they went shopping in Marquette’s Market, an old trading post full of toys, candy and souvenirs. When they finished, Joshie asked again if he could go.
“Ten minutes then we move on,” Adam explained.
Mrs. Willowby offered to take him over while Hannah stayed with her parents. She heard people around her talking about the water park … saw kids coming her way soaked to the skin. It wouldn’t take long to go on a few rides. Why couldn’t her Daddy and Papa understand that?
“I have to use the washroom,” she said.
“Adam, why don’t you take her and I’ll wait for the others.”
“Sure thing. Let’s go sweetie.”
The walked out of sight of Kris and while she went into the women’s side, Adam waited outside for her. Hannah went into a stall and stood there for some time, convincing herself she had to do this, that they’d given her no choice.
Peeking around the corner, she spotted her Papa signing an autograph and posing for a picture. With his back turned to her, she ran off into the crowd.
“Please Mr. Lambert, one more picture?” the mother begged, her two teenaged daughters at his sides.
“Just one more. I’m waiting for my daughter.”
“Yes of course. Thank you. Okay, say ‘cheese’.”
He smiled and wished them a good day. He turned towards the washrooms and didn’t see Hannah; she must still be inside. After ten minutes passed and she didn’t come out, he got worried. Maybe she came down sick. Even though he wasn’t interested in women in the physical sense, he was still a man and couldn’t just walk in and invade their privacy. He called up a picture of his girl on his phone and stopped some ladies going in, asking if they could see if she was alright. They all agreed but one by one came out saying they didn’t see.
But they had to have seen her. She’s supposed to be in there. Where else could she go?
Adam had no choice. He stood in the doorway and called out to her, “Hannah?! Hannah answer me! Sweetpea its Papa, answer me! Are you okay?!”
“What’s wrong?”
He turned around and found the rest of his family.
“Hannah went in there over ten minutes ago and she hasn’t come out. I asked some ladies going in to if they see if she’s okay but they don’t see her.”
“Allow me,” Mrs. Willowby declared, charging in. “Miss Hannah, you come out right now!”
“What if she’s sick again?”
Kris held tight to Joshua’s hand. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation. She couldn’t have left without you seeing right?”
“Right …,” then it dawned on him, “… wrong. Some fans wanted a photo. I only turned my back for a minute but I mean she wouldn’t run off; she knows better than that.” The blood rushed out of his face. “But what if someone made her leave … oh my God Kris, what if …!”
Kris drew his shaking love into a one armed hug. “Easy lover, we don’t know anything yet. I’m sure she’s alright.”
Mrs. Willowby came out some time later. She was keeping a calm face but there was panic in her eyes. She walked right up to the men and kept her voice low, not wanting to scare Joshie.
“I checked every stall and she is not in there.”
Adam and Kris cast terrified looks at each other; their worst nightmare could be coming true. Kris knelt down in front of their son, a fake smile on his face.
“Joshie Bear, how about you and Mrs. Willowby go pick up our souvenirs then go back to the campground? Papa, Hannah and I will be there as soon as we can.”
“Have we seen everything?” he asked, thankfully unaware of the drama developing.
Mrs. Willowby took his hand from Kris. “We’ve seen everything we’re going to see today. Let’s get our shopping like your Papa said and go back to the campground. You know, we can rent DVDs at the General Store. Let’s plan a movie night for everyone else.”
“Yay … movies.”
Both men gave their son a big hug and kiss. While the boy was occupied, they each thanked her for being here and she said to keep them updated of every development. Once the two were out of sight, Adam’s shaky legs gave out and Kris helped him to a bench before calling park security. Security arrived a couple of minutes later. Adam and Kris showed them pictures of Hannah they had on their phone and the moment they realized they were dealing with the missing child of celebrities, they put a call into the police. The security they had split up, three going with each parent. The men were asked questions, trying to determine where the girl could have gone if she ran away on her own. Adam thought she might go back to the rides they’d just come from and Kris had an inkling she might be at the one spot she’d been dying to go to … Hurricane Harbor.
Kris ran towards the water park and security radioed ahead, telling the staff to keep an eye out for her and forwarding a picture from Kris’ phone. He weaved in and out of water slides, a lazy river and jumped right into Hook’s Lagoon, his clothes getting soaked but not caring as he pushed his way through the crowd, yelling out his daughter’s name.
With every dead end, the panic grew in his heart. What if Adam was right? What if someone had taken her?
“Mr. Allen,” one of the security said, “she’s been spotted.”
“Where?!”
“Wahoo Racer, a water slide at the far end of the park.”
The group took off, Kris praying she was there.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Hannah removed her shorts, sandals and t-shirt, revealing her swimsuit, and shoved them in her bag, leaving it beside the fence. Once she had her blue racer, she began the three storey stair climb up to the top of the six-lane slide and its three drops. When she reached the top, she was directed to one of the yellow slides and told to get in position but not to take off until given the signal. Once all the lanes were filled, the attendant raised her hand:
“On your mark … get set … go!”
Everyone pushed off and mere seconds later, she was bouncing on the speed bumps at the bottom and coming to a stop, waves of water soaking her. She looked around and cheered when she realized she had won.
Then she got up and spotted her Daddy and three people in Six Flags shirts staring at her, arms crossed, faces not happy. She got up slowly and walked towards them. She’d never seen her Daddy so mad and found she couldn’t open her mouth to defend herself.
It didn’t matter cause Kris didn’t want to hear any excuses … not right now.
“Where are your clothes?” he asked, barely keeping his voice steady.
“By the fence,” she whispered.
“Get them … now.”
“Yes sir.” She ran and collected her things then came straight back. “Daddy, I ….”
“No. I don’t want to hear it, not now. We’ll talk when we get back to the campground.” He placed a heavy hand on her shoulder and turned her towards the security officers still with them. “You owe this people an apology. You took them away from helping someone really in trouble because you couldn’t get your way.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done this.”
They accepted her apology then walked them back to the park entrance. On the way, Kris called Adam and told him he’d found their wayward daughter and said they’d meet him at the park entrance. Kris did not let go of her hand the entire way. When they got to the entrance, Adam was waiting, his face in obvious conflict. Kris knew the feeling; on one hand he wanted to gather her into his arms and cry out his relief and on the other he was so mad he didn’t want to say anything he’d regret later. Kris also felt guilt in that if they’d talked to their girl about why they didn’t want her off on her own, she more than likely wouldn’t have done this.
A plain clothes police officer was waiting. After reassurances and apologies for causing such a fuss, the officer offered to give them a lift back to the campground. If it had been a regular cop car, they would have turned him down, not wanting to draw attention but it was an unmarked vehicle so they accepted.
Hannah and Kris sat in the back while Adam took up the passenger seat. It was a very short ride but the longest of Hannah’s life. She’d been clutching her fingers and chewing her lips, wishing she’d just listened to them. Adam turned around and finally spoke to their girl.
“We are very disappointed in what you did Hannah but we still love you. There’s nothing you could do that would ever change that.”
Kris still didn’t feel ready to speak but he reached out and grasped her hands, giving them a gentle squeeze. She nodded again and she knew he was silently letting her know he loved her too.
Mrs. Willowby and Joshie were waiting on the porch of their cottage. When the trio got out of the car, Josh ran to his sister and gave her a big hug.
“I’m sorry you got in trouble.”
“Don’t be,” she replied, “I deserve it.”
The nanny gave her a kiss on the forehead then told her to go inside, dry off and change.
“You too laddie,” she said to Kris, noticing he was wet as well.
“I’m fine,” he replied. “I need to go for a walk … think about what to say to her.”
“I’m coming too.”
Mrs. Willowby stayed with the children while the men found a private place to talk.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
That evening, after a homemade meal that they hardly touched, Mrs. Willowby took Joshie outside to make a campfire while Adam and Kris talked with their daughter.
“Why did you disobey us?” Kris began. “We made it very clear that we weren’t going to the water park today.”
“I guess I really wanted to go.”
“There has to more to it than that,” Adam commented. “You’ve never purposely run off like that before.”
“I just ….”
“Yeah?”
“I just … I just wish you’d trust me more … let me go places on my own … do things I want to do.”
“So this is about us not letting you run around Busch Stadium.”
“Yes, and … at the science center, I wanted to do things and you wouldn’t let me.”
“You mean Cyberville and the star show?” Kris asked.
She nodded.
“That was a matter of time Sweetpea. We only have so much time in a day and some things have to be left out.”
“But Josh gets do everything he wants … you don’t say ‘no’ to him.”
“Of course we do. We’ve told him no plenty of times,” Adam replied.
“Not recently and ….”
“Go on.”
“Well, even back home my friends get to go out by themselves, do things on their own. You never let me … I just wish you’d let me sometimes.”
It was obvious to the boys that they really needed to have this long overdue discussion. They’d have it later with their son, on his level, but with Hannah it could no longer wait.
“Sweetheart,” Adam began, looking to his husband for reassurance and lovingly receiving it, “you know that you have a privileged life, that you don’t have to worry about money and that you sometimes get the chance to do other things your friends don’t?”
“Yeah, I know. Joshie and I are lucky you and Daddy are famous.”
“But there’s also a downside to be famous,” Kris continued. “Sometimes there are people out there who want things from us … want to … to hurt us. And sometimes to do that, they go after the people we love. When you ran off and we didn’t know where you were, we thought someone had taken you from us.”
“You mean, like, kidnapped.”
“Yes. We were afraid to talk about this with you kids … we didn’t want to frighten you,” Adam added. “We understand how you could think we were holding the reins too tight and we’re both sorry. But we hope you understand now that it’s not safe for you to go running off by yourself, especially in a strange place. We’re trying our best to keep and your brother safe but if you think we’re holding you back too much, please talk to us and we’ll try and work it out.”
“We just couldn’t handle it if any one in our family got hurt,” Kris concluded, his emotions finally coming out.
Hannah climbed into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and crying.
“I … love you guys … I’m sorry … I scared you … promise … I won’t do it again.”
Kris hung on tight, his own waterfall of tears matching hers. Adam moved onto the couch and caught both of them up, adding his tears to the mix.
Outside around the campfire, Joshie looked at his nanny.
“Are those sad tears or happy tears,” he asked, hearing the crying inside.
Mrs. Willowby patted his arm.
“A bit of both my dear … a bit of both.”
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
Six Flags Mid America ~ http://www.sixflags.com/stLouis/index.aspx
Adam caricature ~ http://adamquotedaily.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/cartoon.jpg
Joshie’s caricature ~ http://www.picturesof.net/_images_300/cartoon_caricature_little_boy_seated_at_a_school_desk_royalty_free_080812-035148-107042.jpg
Moon Antique Cars ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOH-mPRiMfE
Log Flume ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpdCpVp73Vw
Shazam! ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIInXC-LaLc
Scooby-Do Ghostblasters ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEsMoG4JMUw
Thunder River ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWby82ORqZI
♥♥ Screamin’ Eagle RC ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YQ_RCXcmEo
Sky Screamer ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMjQvGKbUWk
Marvin the Martian Camp Invasion ~ http://www.coastercommunity.com/gallery2/d/11665-4/MARVIN+THE+MARTIAN+Camp+Invasion.jpg
Elmer Fudd’s Weather Balloons ~ http://www.sixflags.com/stLouis/assets/images/medium/medium_STL_Balloons.jpg
Bugs Bunny’s Fun Fort ~ http://www.coastergrotto.co.uk/pictures/photos/55r19.jpg
Wahoo Racer ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-_yrrP_iDI&feature=related