Eliot Morris's Arc

Chapter 2 of 3

Eliot grabbed his notebook and stepped outside into the bright morning. The garage door was already open. His dad's old RV sat there covered in dust and bird droppings. Eliot walked closer and ran his hand along the faded blue paint. This was the vehicle that took his parents on their first trip together. This could take them back to Buc-ee's if he could convince them to go. He pulled out the photograph his dad had given him yesterday and studied it again. The young versions of his parents smiled at the camera, the giant beaver mascot grinning between them. His mom's sundress matched the blue sky behind her. His dad's arm wrapped around her shoulder. Eliot flipped the photo over and saw faded handwriting on the back: "First stop, Buc-ee's - best day ever!" This was it. This was the proof he needed that Buc-ee's meant something special to both of them. He tucked the photo back into his notebook and climbed into the RV. The driver's seat creaked under his weight. He gripped the steering wheel with both hands and looked through the dirty windshield at the driveway ahead. Getting his parents to agree wouldn't be easy. His mom lived across town now, and they barely talked except about him. But this photo showed they'd been happy once, right at Buc-ee's. If he could get them back there, maybe they'd remember. Eliot opened his notebook to a new page and wrote "Step One: Show them the photo." He underlined it twice. The dream was starting to feel real.