Lost

Chapter 27 - Where's Home?

Caleb groaned — much louder than necessary — as him, his friend, and his friend's little sister got into an Uber car. Yet again.

Yesterday was a travel day for them, going from Massachusetts all the way to Sunny-side-California. It was exhausting for sure, but not mentally draining, more physically draining. Today, the first official day of their vacation — yeah, Caleb thought it was physically and mentally daunting and it was already starting to take a toll.

After Jodee, Cal, and Ace had exited the airport and set the bags down in the hotel they had been too tired to go out and get food — although all of them were positively starving. Well, everyone but the little six year old who could probably go a day without eating and never complain. The boys first argued on who was going to go out and pick up some food but in the end just decided to order room service.

They had some food in the bed — coaxing Jodee to actually eat her food, instead of using it as a pillow — and then all three went to bed.

The stillness and calm of just relaxing in their own little hotel room was short lived however just as their trip is. The trip had to be short due to factors at home keeping them from staying away too long, but the things they had to accomplish was no easy or short feat. During the few days the three of them would be staying in California, Ace had booked them clean.

Most of that was getting to know the local area and house shopping. Anything to prepare them for a full move without any more trips in just the coming months. If everything went to plan.

Ace and Caleb had been saving up money for years and had especially been increasing their income in the past couple months as anticipation for this money hole. If gave Ace migraines just trying to crunch the numbers of what it would cost to move without a bunch of work — although he put himself through that torture every day as he carved out at least an hour to go over finances and budget. Every day he did this without fail.

There was a house to buy, cars to buy, plane tickets, moving fees, water bills, heating bills, and all of the other things that came with moving cross country and buying a new house. One that an eighteen year old, and almost eighteen year old would be the sole providers for. And historically, eighteen year olds did not make a ton of money.

Unfortunately for the plan as well, Ace and Caleb envisioned a grand life — for both themselves and Jodee. They didn't want to go cheap and live the same crappy life like they had in Massachusetts.

They wanted to live a comfortable life.

One that Jodee would want for nothing in.

They wanted her to have the whole picture. To be able to love her home and always have food available to her. In the future, they wanted her to be able to do sports and school events without worrying about the costs. At this point, she was practically a single child — and they wanted her to get all of the benefits of that, including major birthday and Christmas gifts. And someday when she was applying to college ... they never wanted her to think about how much it would cost and how that should affect her applications.

It was ambitious, they knew. Going from the bottom of the gutter life to an aspiring better-than-average-person life. But Caleb and Ace were determined and not to be messed with.

"What is this ... house five?" Caleb groaned from the backseat of the car, throwing his head back against the seat and running his hands dramatically all along his face and in his hair.

"I think it's only the third one."

Cal's blue eyes slide right over, sending a less than impressed look towards the little girl in the seat next to him who had just opened her mouth.