Tom's rig was right in the middle, per usual. Tom senior was confidence squared, never had a bad day in his life kind of fella if you know what I mean.
I found the Toms together, they were both laughing and pushing each other next to a large charcoal barbeque grill that was puffing a sweet light grey smoke cloud. The thin cloud rose up and out above a brand new bright yellow RV. It was some sort of vintage edition with a black and white checkered flag pattern on the awning that spread out above the giggling pair of men.
Jen held my hand as we approached the two Toms. Both had been watching us as we came through the large camp. Out of the corner of my eye came a glimpse of a mad Jerry flanking us toward the father and son pair.
He looked a bit pissed as we all came together under the checkered awning.
Jerry's eyes were on Tom Jr as he spoke.
"That naranja pickup lose some weight or what Jr? Your boy drove around me on the river bed"!
"Marcus you did what to who, when"?
"He drove around me on the way here"!
It was my turn to speak up.
"I may have pushed a new red button on the shift knob".
"Nitrous! Fucking animals out here, senior did you know they squeeze that naranja truck now"?
Tom's dad spoke for the first time and his comments never cease to amaze me.
"Wassup Jen"!
WTF! I looked at Jr as he looked at me. Both of us looked baffled so I looked at Jen. She smiled, curtsied and shook Tom's hand like they were old pals.
"Hello big Tom how have you been".
WTF! How, what, where. I had so many questions. They both spoke at the same time.
"I, He knew my dad"!
Ok, more questions flew into my mind, the comment in past tense is what kept me mute.
Tom Sr spoke again.
"You kids hungry"?
"YES SIR"!
It looked and smelled like steak, I peaked around the grill and spotted baked potatoes wrapped in foil and my stomach growled in approval.
Tom Sr has the baddest rig on the sand, it was parked five spaces down. I had never seen this yellow bus before and I asked where it came from.
"Who's banana bus is this"?
Sr. was the first to laugh, the rest fell in line just after.
"Jr had to give me a lift today to pick up mine. She was in for service, smart ass pulls up out front driving this banana as you so aptly named it and drove it home".
Tom spoke just then to further the odd story.
"I was checking it out while I waited for dad. The dealer knows my pop and was trying to sell this sweet ride to me".
He spread his arms out as if to showcase the yellow bus.
"I played like I want one and he let me take it for a few days, see if I like it"!
"You're not going to buy this are you bro"?
"Nah Marcus! I thought you guys could use your own place tonight bro"!
My smile must have been huge because Jen and I both hugged him at the same time and laughed. What a crazy friend I've got. I had planned on us crashing in Senior's RV. This was going to be awesome. Jen was all smiles and looked adorable as I grabbed us some soda and we sat at a table next to the grill.
Tom's dad brought us all plates piled with steak, veggies, baked potatoes, corn on the cob and some bbq beans. He sat down as well just as we all began to dig in.
Not a word was spoken as the five of us got down on some amazing food, miles from civilization.
After dinner was plowed through and cleaned up I thought it would be nice to walk around camp with Jen.
"Hey babe, would you be so kind as to accompany me for a stroll around camp"?
"Why yes Marcus, I would enjoy that very much".
We walked and talked for a half an hour or so, which was quite nice. I had not anticipated such a pleasant walk. You see, I had an all together different motive for our night time meander around camp. I needed our food to settle. The other guys knew it too. Night racing was some of the most fun and highly dangerous times I've had out here. Lack of vision, fast cars, dust and limited traction makes for drastic measures.
I fished Tom's keys out of my pocket just as we approached the orange pickup. I held them out just in front of Jen and her eyes lit with excitement.
"You ready"?
"Yes, the walk settled all that food down perfect"!
"That was the plan babe, it gets wild out there"!
"I can hear it! It picked up just after dinner, the motors are so loud out here"!
"Come on babe, let's roll"!
