Free Released by Megan Duncan

back on.
    “Sure, but you’re not gonna hear nothing, but static.”
    “I’d like to try any way if that’s ok with you?” He considered it for a moment and nodded.
    “Sure kid.” Charlie slowly stood up with a grunt and walked to a back room as I folowed. I looked back and saw Carter whispering something into Max’s ear and Max shook his head solemly.
    I could tel Carter didn’t much like Charlie, but that was only because he didn’t agree with him. Carter was stubborn like that. He didn’t want to be wrong and he didn’t want anyone to question him. No matter how much we al warmed up to Charlie, I could tel it only irritated Carter further.
    It was nice to have the escape though. To sit around a table and talk and laugh, like things were normal. I silently prayed that once we made it to New Mexico we could spend al our evenings like this. Just hanging out, chatting and having a good meal together.
    Charlie slid into a squeaky desk chair and pushed open the lid of an antique wooden rol top desk. It was a beautiful large mahogany desk, with intricate carvings decorating the sides and trim of the piece.

    “That’s a very pretty desk,” I commented.
    “It was my wife’s.” He touched the wood lovingly. “I always hated it. The damn thing weights a ton. She always insisted that we take it with us wherever we moved, but I always wanted to sel it. Now, I don’t know if I could ever part with it.” Charlie turned the knob on an old radio and turned it toward me.
    “There you go kid.” He rose from his seat and offered it to me.
    I sat down gingerly and started to play with the dials trying every station I could. I faintly remember hearing him say, good luck as he left the room.
    After unsuccessfuly finding anything on the radio I closed the desk and left the room. Max and Taya were seated back in the living room with Charlie, but Carter was no where in sight.
    “Where’s Carter?”
    “He’s headed back for the Bronco.”
    “You let him go alone?” I couldn’t believe how careless the two of them were being.
    “He wanted to,” Taya added sounding hurt.
    “He was a little upset, with this one here.” Charlie said pointing to Taya. “She asked if I wanted to come with you.”
    “Oh,” I added a little surprised. “So what did you say?”
    Charlie chuckled and said, “Don’t look so shocked kid. I thought about it for a moment, but I’m not leaving. This is my house, has been for over thirty years.”
    “I think he’s crazy for staying.” Max added sitting up from the couch and puling a bag onto his shoulder.
    “What’s that?” I asked pointing to the bag.
    “Oh I just gave you kids a few things I thought you could use,” Charlie said and winked at us as we walked to the front door.
    “Thanks for everything.” Taya hugged Charlie quickly and walked briskly out of the house.
    I wasn’t going to hug him, but I was grateful for al he had done for us. He noticed my hesitation and extended his hand. “You kids be careful, ok? If you get there, and get that transmission going again, maybe I’l come see ya.”
    I doubted that he would but I shook his hand and we said our thank yous before exiting.
    “So Carter realy got that pissed?” I asked as we made our way to the gas cans. One of them was missing so I figured Carter had grabbed it on his way out. Max picked the remaining can up and we heading back toward the Bronco.
    Taya took the lead, looking eager to either get back to Carter or the Bronco, I couldn’t tel which.
    “He’s not mad at you, ya know?” Max told Taya. “He just thought that guy was going to try to talk us out of going. Tel us to go back home. He got realy paranoid, thinking we were going to turn against him.”
    I started to laugh at that. “Turn against him? We’re family. He can be such a stubborn ass sometimes.” Taya shot me a nasty glare and I raised my hands up in surrender, giggling al the while. Max started to laugh too which made her even