Campfire Road

Walker

{5 years}

Jake sits up hard, he's groggy from dreaming of his thirteenth birthday again, but he scrambles up from his bed and back to Grandpa's room.

He's relieved to see he's got himself sit up this coughing fit.

Jake gets in the dresser in the small bedroom and gets Grandpa a fresh handkerchief.

Grandpa takes it with his free hand, then covers his mouth with it and drops the wet with pearl-white fluid into the hamper with the others.

It's a few minutes of hacking and Grandpa slows his cough to deep breaths.
"Oh, damn. Those suck.
"Why you all sweaty?"

Jake rests from his worry as he sits on the foot of Grandpa's antique bed, "Was dreaming of Cherry again."

Grandpa chuckles, "That one got ya good.
"That was almost five years ago, Jake.
"Let her go.
"It's not like you don't have your pick around here."

Jake sticks his tongue out sideways for a second, "I've tried, Grandpa.
"Had all the small town crazy girl I can stand."

Grandpa nods, "That Brandy was enough crazy for ten dudes.
"Have you thought on Zev's idea of going into the service?"

"You don't want me to anymore then he does.
"Running the company is enough for me.
"Plus, I've classes to teach and horses to breed.
"Who has time to go play with the army?"

Grandpa laughs and it makes him cough a little more, "If you go army, I'll deny you're mine."

Jake shakes his head, "I'm not going anywhere.
"Too worried you're gonna die on me to even camp out anymore."

Grandpa rubs his forehead, "I have to, Jake.
"Should have ten years ago, but someone had to stay with you."

"Why do you say things like that?"

Grandpa has a deep labored breath, "Cause I'm trying to find away to explain it to you.
"Guess we'll have to let Zev... I did say I would.

"What time is it?"

Jake turns to see the clock on the wall at the foot of the bed, "Can't you see it?
"It's almost five.
"Been a long night."

Grandpa wipes his mouth off, "Gonna be a longer day.
"Help me up.
"We'll go wake Zev and get this over with."

Jake helps the old man up, "You seem to have gotten old all at once."

Grandpa finds his balance, "Still believe I'm only eighty?"

Jake gets Grandpa clothes, "I've never believed your age once.
"Before it seemed too much to be true and the last few months it's seemed not enough."

Grandpa lets Jake steady him as he steps into him pants, "Would you believe I'm ten thousand, two hundred and ten years old?"

Jake feeds Grandpa's arms into his shirt, "No more than I believe you're eighty."

Grandpa sits on the bed to button his shirt, "Go get dressed. Ya might wanna wash up some."

Jake has a deep breath, "Alright, Grandpa."

Jake tries not to worry, but he's sure, Grandpa's mind must be going.
He washes up and dresses, then finds Grandpa has gotten his shoes on already.

The old man insists on brushing his teeth, then lets Jake help him out to the old Chevy that Jake can't believe is still running.

Jake drives in the dim morning light to the shared gate and puts the code in.