Dada: Chapter 9b

    I let Sam sleep off his latest meal, driving down the highway through West Virginia.  I least I think I am still in West Virginia.  I have never travelled anywhere near here, so I might be near Virginia by now, or perhaps getting ready to enter Maryland.  I've got the route all laid out, and I checked everything out at the last stop, but something is still nagging me.  I am so out of my league here.  Haven't driven this far in months.  Actually, I don't think I have driven this far since college, if then.  Too much of a stay-at-home type of guy.  Never thought of myself like that before.  I always liked to go places, but what changed.  When did I change?  When did I stop wanting to go to new places and try new things.
      I switch radio stations every few minutes.  Nothing seems to be catching my attention.  I just keep going back to Hits 1.  Just like me to have a satellite radio free trial, and I keep going back to Top 40. Don't get me wrong, I like other types of music.  Not country, of course.  But I remember listening to more rock and rap when I was younger.  At least compared to now.  I try not to sing along too loudly. Sam is a growing boy and needs his sleep.  If he's going to be seven feet tall, he will need it.
     Why couldn't I have gotten the height genes like his has?  He's going to be at least six feet, I can tell.  He's just growing fast not too.  He might be even taller than me when we get out of the car.  I just bet...
     "Where are we?" Sam asks sleepily, his voice still cracking a little.
    "Still in West Virginia.  We should be in Maryland soon, and then we will stop for lunch."
     "Well, that sign says we are entering Virginia, not Maryland.  Are you sure you know what you're doing?"  Sam replies.
      He was right.  "Virginia is for lovers."  I thought they had given up that slogan years ago.
     "It won't be for long.  Both West Virginia and Maryland are narrow.  We will be in Maryland shortly.  How was your nap?"
     "I wasn't sleeping that much," Sam answers.
     "Yes, you were.  You nodded off soon after you finished your snack."
     "Not all the time.  I mostly just had my eyes closed.  Nice Cardi B singing you had there."
     He had been awake.  It least he didn't mention Rhianna.
     "I had Spanish as my foreign language requirement in high school and college.  Don't remember that much since, so don't ask me for a full translation."
      "When do we eat?  You said we would stop for lunch around one.  It's almost one-thirty.  I'm starving,"  Sam all but whines.
     The bottomless stomach of a teenage boy.  I swear, I never ate anywhere near as much as he does when I was his age, but then, I was a late bloomer.
     "We'll eat at the next stop.  I swear."
    Fifteen minutes later, we stop at a Burger King, just across the state line in Maryland.
    "Told you we would be here soon," I say to Sam as we get out of the car.
    "Can't we eat somewhere else.  I don't really like burgers that much.  We usually eat a little healthier..." Sam trails off without finishing, before he can say more.  Probably was going to mention them.  That's why he's staying quiet.
    "You can handle it.  We'll get you something. "
    "The line is somewhat short, considering the time.
   "Hello!  Welcome to Burger King.  Can I take your order?"  the cashier behind the counter asks.
    "Yes.  We'll have a Whooper and a Whooper junior.  Small drinks.  Small onion rings.  No, wait.  Sam, would you like fires or would you want to split the rings?"
    "I'll just have the burger.  I don't really like fries or onion rings. "  At this, Sam takes a quick look at the menu.  "But I would like some cheesesticks.  Oh, no pickles or cheese."
   "Actually, that goes for me as well.  Don't forget the rings."
    I pay the girl, okay young woman, and wait for the order.   There's only one other ahead of us.
  "How are you two gentleman this afternoon?   Would you like anything else with that?"  the next lady, older, slightly greying hair, asks.
   "No thanks.  Ketchup is all I need," I reply while grabbing a handful of packets from the tub beside the tray.  "Sam, do you need anything else?"  The sticks came with a marinara dipping sauce, but he might need more.
   "I'm good, " was his quick retort.
    "I hope you and your son have a good day then." she said as I pick up the tray.
   "He's my, uh, brother.  Road trip."
    I stutter and stumble away to a clean table.  How awkward I this going to be?
    "Do you need to wash your hands first, because I think I'll be fine, for now."
    "I think I'm good."
    We sit there, silently eating.  I pile a few rings onto my burger, drizzling them with ketchup.  I should have got some mayo as well, but I do need to watch my diet.  Probably should have gotten grilled chicken.  I look up and see that Sam had placed a cheesestick on his burger, with some sauce as well.
   "I have never seen anyone do that," I say after I take a sip of water.  Again, I got the healthier option.
     "It's about the only way I like burgers.  It's like its almost a pizza this way."  Sam replies between bites.
     "There's a sandwich called a Stromboli that's almost like that.  I should show you one.  You might like it."
     Nothing else is said for the rest of the meal.  Neither of us got much ice, so we didn't need to take the cups with us.
    "I need to go to the bathroom."
    "Okay, Sam.  Go ahead.  I'll use it after you get back." I think it would be prudent that I try not to see him for as long as possible, if ever.
    While he's gone, I try and take a quick look at my phone for messages.  Rick hasn't responded.  Figured that would be the case.  I have two others.  Don't want Sam to know about these two just yet. I don't want to alarm too much.
     It is a little past two when we get back to the car.  Sam won't like what I will have to tell him.