CHAPTER 7: MEADOWBROOK

Flying Plates

The story so far… Ben wakes up in the morning with a puffy, red face and itchy eyes. Mom decides it must be poison ivy and that Ben needs to see a doctor. Three hours later, medicine in hand, they’re back on the road traveling through Missouri. They reach Kansas City right at rush hour, and bumper-to-bumper traffic. The car starts thumping, and they discover a flat tire.

“I can help you change it, Mom. We learned how to do this in auto mechanics. It’s pretty easy if you have all the stuff.”

“That would be great!” Mom smiled with relief. Nate and I got out. All three of us helped while Mom followed along in the owner’s manual. We got the spare put on and were back on the road in about 45 minutes.

“Not bad. Thanks, Conner. Thanks to you two also. What a team we make!” She drove to the next exit in Kansas City. “We’ll get a motel room tonight and supper out. After a good night’s sleep, we’ll start out fresh in the morning. But first, we will stop at a tire place and get a new tire.”

The next morning, we easily found a tire place in the city and got the car fixed up in no time. After a good breakfast at one of Mom’s favorite type of small café, we were back on the road heading West. “Now, we are getting into the wide open land of the Great Plains. I think you boys will be struck at how different this area is. It’s much flatter than home. Wide open.”

Luckily, there wasn’t much traffic, and Mom made good time. I was in the backseat behind her, staring out the window. We went through Topeka. I was getting sleepy and closed my eyes. I saw an exit sign saying Salina. Mom stopped for gas and got cans of pop out of the cooler for everyone.

There were no trees, and just empty plains, more yellow than green, rolling to the horizon. And loads of cattle some black, others brown, and some with big horns. An occasional ranch was like an island in a sea of grass. And the sky seemed huge and so blue! Made me think of the song Home on the Range.

The sun was slipping down the western sky. I was so sick of being in the car, and I couldn’t concentrate to read. “When are we stopping? I’m tired.” This was my third time asking the same question. I could see Conner had in his earbuds and was moving his head to the rhythm. Nate was reading one of his magazines.

“We’re all tired, Ben. I looked at the map at the last gas station and saw a campground symbol at the next exit, about ten miles up the road. That should be soon.” Mom slugged down her water. “I’m ready to quit too. The campground is just a little way off the highway.”

I stared out the window, but all I could think of was food. In fact, I was feeling carsick from not eating when I heard mom turn on the blinker and slow down.

At the stop sign, I could see a town with motels to the north. “Couldn’t we just stop in town tonight?” I begged. “It’s late, and it takes so long to set up camp.”

“No way.” Mom pointed to a small wooden sign with the word Campground and an arrow pointing south. “We’ll camp there. Probably five minutes down the road. You’ll get a surge of energy when we get there. And it’s summer solstice, longest day of the year, so we’ll have plenty of light to set up.” “How far?” Conner asked.

“Not sure, just a few more miles. I’m so glad to be off the highway.” She straightened up and turned on some music. “This campground should be more like what I had in mind. Peaceful and quiet.”

We drove for what seemed a long time. She slowed down “Hmmm. I wonder where it is?” There was no sign of any campground and no cars on the road. “Maybe you missed it. I bet we’ve driven twenty miles.” Conner complained.

“No, I’ve been paying close attention.” She slowed down but continued.

“I am so sick of sitting here. Can I get out and stretch?” I begged. “Plus I have to go to the bathroom.”

“There’s a sign!” She pointed. Meadowbrook Campground. It was small and faded, leaning to the right. “Finally!” Mom turned in. “I didn’t realize it was so far. But… I guess we don’t have a choice.”

The land was so open that it didn’t seem like it would be a good place to camp. Mom continued driving. “Where is it?” she muttered. Then another sign appeared. Meadowbrook Campground ahead.

“What a long way!” Mom muttered. “I figured it was right by the highway.” “What time is it anyway? I’m starved?” Conner announced, taking out his earbud.

“Still early,” Mom said trying to be encouraging.

But we kept driving. Just out of boredom, I pulled Nate’s magazine and shut it. “Hey, what’s that for?” he looked at me angrily.

“Just don’t want you to miss a thing,” I smiled sarcastically. He grabbed my drawing and tore it in half. “You too. Don’t miss the empty space out there.”

“I’m getting a cramp.” I tried to stretch my leg.

“Settle down boys! I can’t concentrate! Conner, you and Nate set up the tents, and Ben, you’ll help me get supper. We’ll just make up a quick batch of sloppy joes.”

The last mile seemed to take forever. But finally, I saw the entrance sign, and Mom slowly turned in. There was a stream, and actual green grass. “What a surprise!“Mom said with relief. “It’s beautiful. Worth the wait.”

There was no attendant. “Better yet, no fee!” Mom cheered.

But there also was not a single other car or camper in the place. Not a sign of a person around. We were totally alone with nothing for miles…

We drove for what seemed a long time. She slowed down “Hmmm. I wonder where it is?” There was no sign of any campground and no cars on the road.

Curriculum Activities

1. After fixing the flat tire and a good night’s sleep at a motel, Mom and the boys head out to the wide-open land of the Great Plains. How did Ben describe the cattle on the plains?

2. How do the boys cope with spending a long day on the road? 3. What is summer solstice?

4. What mood or feeling is created at the end of the chapter? What factors help to create this mood?

To Be Continued: Thursday May 17