Camping Trip - Pt 1
Everyone trucks out to the woods to have a nice camping weekend.
Long cramped car rides aren’t fun for little boys or their busy bigs!
DaddyMatt MamaMarish LittleTally
DaddyLiam PapaSam LittleBrian
MamaLaura LittleTravis
“Taliesin,” Matt calls as he tightly packs beach towels into a large bag. “Taliesin where are your sandals?”
“I don’t know.”
“Marisha,” Matt shouts. “Risha?”
“What?” She comes to the bathroom door.
“Is Tal wearing his sandals?”
“I don’t know. Did you put them on him,” she tosses a bottle of sunscreen.
“No.”
“Then I doubt it.”
Matt sighs, “Taliesin! Go bring me your sandals!”
“I don’ know where they are!”
“Did you look?”
“Nooo.”
“Go look in your closet.” Matt carries the tote bag to the front door, passing Taliesin in his t-shirt and short who goes into his bed room.
“Is everything ready?” Marisha asks, he head bowed as she gathers all her hair up and ties it up into a bun.
“Yeah. Just help Tal into his sandals and check his backpack? I’m going to lock up.” Matt starts to draw the blinds and curtains around the house and check the doors and windows.
Marisha goes to Taliesin’s room and finds him digging his sandals out from closet.
A car honks outside.
“Marisha!” Matt calls.
“I heard!” She shouts back. “Tally, baby, that’s Laura. Get your shoes on please, and I’ll get your backpack.” She checks the contents, making sure everything they needed was there. With contents confirmed she pulls the bag over one shoulder and takes Taliesin’s hand to help him off the carpet.
“Ready to go bud? Come on. Travis is waiting for you.”
“Do I get to ride with Travis?” Taliesin holds Marisha’s hand as they head to the door.
“Yeah baby. You two get to ride together.”
Taliesin scrunches his nose. “Do I got to ride with Brian?”
“Hey, you be nice,” Marisha scolds. “Brian is already at the cabin with his daddies. You play nice with Brian okay?”
“Only if he does.”
“No,” Marisha pinches Taliesin’s ear, “You be nice even if he isn’t little boy.”
“Yes mama, le’ gooo,” he tugs away from her hand and scurries away to help Matt grab bags.
“Everyone ready?” Matt asks, holding bags in both hands, backpack on as well. “Did everyone go potty?” Matt eyes Taliesin.
“I went earlier!” Taliesin huffs.
“He hasn’t had anything to drink sense breakfast. He will be okay,” Marisha assures Matt.
“Okay. Risha, get the door? Tal out. Go go.” Matt herds Taliesin out to the door. As soon as they step out onto the porch, Matt sees the back-seat door of Travis’s SUV pop open.
The man hops out, all smiles in his Cowboy’s tank and his swim trunks. He comes over from the idling car and takes most of the bags.
“Thankyou Travis.”
“Yesir. Tal! Got a movie going. Want to watch MonstersInc?”
“Oh yeah!” Taliesin lights up and follows Travis to the car.
Travis tosses the bags in the back before getting in with Taliesin. Matt’s long legs affords him the other front seat, Marisha sitting in the other window seat in the back.
Laura was beaming as everyone piles in. “Everyone ready?” She says cheerfully.
Matt tucks some gas money into the ash tray as he buckles up.
“Yeah, I think so,” Marisha sighs. “Hopefully. I’m sure we forgot something.”
“I’m sure someone will have it. Sam says the place comes stocked with out of the basics anyway. And there is a CVS like a couple miles away.” Laura is carefully backing up, eyes on the little back up screen on her console.
“Yeah, so much for camping,” Marisha rolls her eyes.
“I think the place is nicer than our house,” Matt looks back at Marisha.
“I’m excited for the hot tub,” Laura pipes up as she turns the GPS on.
“What about you boys,” Matt asks. But when he looks back both boys have head phones on and are watching the screen hanging from the ceiling of the large tank of a SUV.
“Monsters Inc,” Marisha informs her fiancé.
“Aahh. Alright. That should keep them busy,” Matt sits back with a sigh.
—
“Mama,” Tally groans and squirms as there was lot of room for his legs in the middle seat.
Marisha gently rubs Taliesin’s head. “What’s wrong baby?”
“I’m uncomfy. I’m tiiiiiered!” Taliesin kicks his feet and groans.
Matt reaches back and rests his hand on Tal’s knee to try and sooth him. “Just another few minutes bud. You can stretch out on the bed there.”
“Mama!” Travis leans into the back of Laura’s chair, “Mama I’m huuuungry! Really hungry.”
“Lunch will be there for us in a few minutes,” Laura assures, driving the SUV up the long drive way to the cabin.
Taliesin looks over to Matt, “I’m hungry too,” He sniffles.
Matt nods, “It’s okay baby boy. Lunch and a nap in just a couple minutes. I promise.”
Taliesin groan and rubs his face as he looks over Marisha out the windows at the woods they pass.
“Is that the cabin,” Travis pipes up.
“Yeah sweetie,” Laura says, “It is. We made it.”
Taliesin looks out Travis’s window now and sees the multi-story log cabin appear from the trees. He was so relieved to know his lunch and a bed were within his reach.
As soon as the SUV comes to a stop on the drive, next to Sam’s car, Travis shoves his door open and jumps out.
“Young man!” Laura calls after Travis.
But the Taliesin scrambles out right after him.
“Taliesin!” Matt and Marisha both scold.
The biggs get out as well to both boy pouting.
“You are supposed to wait for help getting out,” Matt scolds Taliesin.
“You too, Travis Willingham,” Laura scowls.
“Daddy I’m sorry,” Taliesin sniffs, “My legs hurt really bad. I’m sorry.”
“Been sitting so long mama,” Travis ducks his head. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I’ll be good.”
Laura sighs and reaches up, patting his cheek. “That was a long ride. Okay. Help with the bags and be good.”
“Yes mama. Then lunch?”
“Yes,” Laura nods, “Then lunch.”
Travis goes to the back of the SUV with Matt to grab bags, passing Marisha who is soothing an achy Taliesin complaining about his hip locking up.
As Travis lifts his own duffle bag onto his shoulder, he sees Sam appear on the front deck of the cabin.
“Hello,” Sam calls out to them, all cheer and smiles.
“Hey Sam,” Laura calls back.
A moment later Liam and Brian were joining Sam on the deck.
“Time to hike,” Brian cheers.
“Yeah, bother with the bags later Trav,” Sam calls, “Let’s get a nice hike in.”
Taliesin looks mortified. “Bu-but, nap?” He looks to his mama and then to Matt, tears welling up quickly.
“No no no ,” Matt sets his stuff down and rushes to Taliesin, “don’t cry!”
Taliesin burst, “But my hip huuurts! I’m tiieerreed,” He cries, leaning into Marisha.
Sam pipes up, “Is…is he alright?”
Travis turns around, bags in hand, “We aren’t going HIKING SAM!” He turns back and slings another bag over his back.
“Travis Willingham,” Laura snaps, staring him down.
Travis groans, “Mama it’s lunch time. We’re tiered and Sam made Tally cry.”
“You do not get to be so nasty to Sam, we will get things worked out. You better go apologize immediately before you get yourself in some serious trouble,” Laura warns.
Travis ducks his head, “Yes mama,” He mumbles and heads to the deck with bags in tow.
Taliesin is still sniffling though Matt and Marisha have calmed and assured him that he didn’t have to hike right now. It was very clear that their little on needed his nap.
As Travis reaches the top of the deck he stops by Sam. “Sam,” Travis glances at Sam, seeing him using his rare calm and serious face, “ ’M sorry ‘for yelling at you.” Travis shifts the bags around and looks away.
“It’s alright big guy. I think we got abit too excited. I’m sorry for upsetting you both.” Sam gives Travis smile.
Travis just nods and quickly heads inside, wanting to put the bags down and finish unloading the car as soon as he could. He thought it best to move on and not get himself in any further trouble.
Everyone else comes up soon after with the last of the bags. Matt and Marisha steer Taliesin into the living room and get him onto the sofa. Laura comes over to where Travis is waiting at the bottom of the stairs to the next level.
“Come on, I know where our room is,” Laura leads the way up.
Travis chews his lip as he is following Laura up the stairs. As they come into their room for the weekend, Travis sets their bags on the bed.
“No,” Laura stops him while she sets their backpacks down, “by the foot board.”
Travis slowly moves the bags to the floor. “Mama?”
“Yes baby?”
“Am I in trouble?”
“No?” Laura looks up from where she is pulling a phone charger out and plugging her phone in. She sees Travis standing nervously next to the side of the bed. “Sweetie,” Laura comes over, reaching up to cup his face. “You aren’t in trouble. Did you apologize to Sam?”
“Yes ma’am,” Travis nods.
“Then we can move on. You need to be on your best behavior for the rest of the day though, alright?”
“Yes mama,” Travis perks up. “I’ll be nice.”
“I know you will,” Laura kisses his nose, “Let’s go have some lunch with the others. You go keep Tally and Brian company while you wait.”
“Okay,” Travis follows along after Laura takes his hand and leads him back down stairs.
Taliesin is on the sofa, holding his plush kitty while Matt is taking his sandals off for him. Marisha comes over with a cup of milk for the boy who seems to have calmed down.
Travis comes over and sits down next to Tal. “Sleepy still?”
“Yeah,” Tal says as he sips his milk.
Travis puts his arm around the boy. “Going to make it to lunch?”
“Yeah. Hungry. Skipped lunch.”
“We skipped lunch too cause we had to leave,” Travis sighs and lays his head on top of Tal’s head.
Tal is quiet as he is cuddled up against Travis, clearly worn out and in need of his nap. Travis just holds his buddy and looks around the cabin. The bigs are gathered in the kitchen with Brian. He could see Brian moaning and groaning. Travis guesses Brian had been excited for that now canceled hike.
He looks around the big living room now, looking out at the views over the huge overlooking windows. “Tally,” Travis gently shakes the boy and points out the window. “Look Tally. A Chipmunk.” He tries to get the boy interested in the view to wake him.
Tally groans and sits up to look out at the chipmunk that is perched on the deck railing outside the windows. “It’s cute,” He rubs his eyes.
“Boys,” Marisha calls to them from the kitchen. “Come on. Come get some lunch.”
Travis helps Tally to his feet before getting up as well. “Come on buddy,” Travis puts his hands-on Tal’s hips and helps steer the boy into the kitchen.
Matt laughs and holds his hands out to Tally. “Come on little guy. It’s bagel pizzas.”
“Bagel pizza?” Tally reaches Matt with Travis’s help, and is quickly steered into a chair in front of a plate of food and cup of juice.
Travis locates his own spot next to Tally when Laura sets down a big cup of milk next to a plate. “Thanks mama,” he leans down to kiss her cheek before taking his seat.
“Eat up baby. You’ll feel better.” Laura assures her.
Travis doesn’t have to be told twice as he digs in. Next to him Tally has refused to let his plush kitty go, and Matt has taken a seat next to him and was feeding Tal as the boy yawns between bites.
