The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 8 - The Fourth of July

            Mutual support among friends is a healthy thing, and although Greg and Susan stayed using the beach and visiting with their friend for a couple of hours, they left relatively early with the idea of making preparations that afternoon for the Fourth of July holiday the following day. Susan went to the store and by the time they turned in that evening, she had either bought or prepared all the makings for a traditional Fourth of July barbque meal. Meanwhile Greg made sure everyone had the appropriate beachwear and towels available to them for the next day, including sunscreen, hats and sunglasses, and Jessie made sure their shovels and pails were located and in the car in preparation for a day at the beach the following day.

            "So Mom, are Richard and Marion even going to be there? Or are we just using their house?" Zackary asked late the next morning as Susan made most of them lunch after Matt got home from working the breakfast shift at McDonalds. They needed to eat abefore they could go and they were all trying to figure out if they were going to wear their swimsuits in the car or change after they got there.

            "They will be there, but I'm not sure they'll come down onto the beach with us," Susan said. "The babies are home now, but they're still pretty little."

            "Is Richard going to be able to come down on the beach with us?" Zackary wanted to know.       

            "I'm not sure," Susan answered. "He may, but it all depends. We're going to help them out as much as we can while we're there, so maybe if I stay with Marion, he can come down for a while."

            "Oh," Zackary said with a frown. "I wish we could just do this from our new house. We can probably see the fireworks from there, and that way you could be with us, Mom."

            "Yeah Mom. We like Richard and all, but this is the first Fourth of July we've had with you since you've been back. We'd much rather spend it with you than Richard," Matt told her.

            "I'll keep that in mind," Susan promised. "I know it's early, but I think we're ready for lunch. Can you call Greg?"

            "Yeah. Where is he?" Matt asked.

            "Up in the office, I think. He's been there all morning, though I have no idea what he's doing," Susan told him.

            "I'll get him," Matt promised and he went up the front stairs while Zackary went to get Jessie from the back bedroom.

c

            "Hi Matthew. Are you looking for me?" Greg asked looking up from a little book he held in his hands.

            "Yeah. Mom says it's time for  lunch," Matt said.

            "Please tell her I'll be there momentarily," Greg said.

            Matt nodded, hesitating before going back downstairs. The book Greg was looking at looked rather old, making him remember what Zack said about the letters they'd found in the cave.

            "Is that Maxwell's book?" the boy asked curiously.

            "Yes, it is. I have been trying to read it, a page at a time when I have the chance. This morning seemed like a good opportunity, but it is very slow going," Greg told him.

            "Can I see?" Matt wondered.

            Greg guestured for him to join him at the desk and showed him the front of the book.