Day 16: May 18

Challenge: during the story, someone's method of transportation breaks down.

It was their annual camping trip. A time where it was just the family, together, for an entire weekend.

The father, Torrence, had the motor home packed and ready by 8 in the morning. The mother, Elladine, had her high school trumpet to her lips by 8:30. The youngest, Kiley, was up and in the shower by 8:35. The twins, Jayme and Jeth, were pounding on the door by 8:45. The oldest, Leighton, rolled out of bed at 9:15.

It was 10 by the time they were pulling out of the driveway.

Torrence cranked the country station as they pulled out of their neighbourhood. Elladine immediately turned it back down and started a running commentary of this new campsite in the middle of nowhere off a dirt road. Kiley, 14, was curled on the couch with a manga book open. Jayme and Jeth, 15, had their Magic cards out on the table. Leighton, 16, was stretched out on the other side of the couch, ball cap pulled down over his eyes as he snored.

"No cell service?" Kiley asked 2 hours later, looking up from her manga with wide eyes.

"That's right," Elladine said. "You kids are on those things enough; this is family time."

Kiley let out a strangled laugh. "I'm going to die of boredom."

"Kiley," Elladine said before grabbing the dash as Torrence turned onto the dirt road. "Don't be dramatic."

Leighton snorted. "Kiley thrives on dramatics."

The motor home jerked and Torrence let off the gas, his hands tightening on the steering wheel as he tried to straighten it out. It lurched again and he pressed on the brake, pulling over.

"Torrence?" Elladine asked.

The kids all looked forward, their activities forgotten.

Torrence looked at Elladine and tried to smile. He opened his door and stepped out. He flicked the button to open the hood before shutting his door.

Elladine pulled out her cell as Torrence lifted the hood and propped it open. She lifted her cell towards the roof of the car, waited, then rolled the window down and held it outside.

"Mom?" Kiley asked.

"No cell service," Elladine sighed and thumped her head on the head rest.

*This was fun to write! The prompt made me think of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and I wanted to play around with the idea of being stranded.*