"We'll all be planning that route
Were gonna take real soon
Were waxing down our surfboards
We can't wait for June
Well all be gone for the summer
Were on surfari to stay
Tell the teacher were surfin'
Surfin' u.s.a."

The Beach Boys' song was in full blast in the van. Jonathan and Samantha were at the back of the van singing boisterously along with the music Surfin USA. Both were extremely excited about the family vacation to the Holiday Sun Spree Resort in Florida. Samantha was swaying to the beat her soft curly brown hair bouncing up and down and Jonathan was tapping his hands on his back-pack and on the window.

"Can you keep it down, kids. I'm trying to analyze some marketing reports", said Angela as she seriously flip through some papers. She was seated in front of the van with Tony.

"Hey, come on, Angela. They're kids and it is summer vacation. You're the one who's suppose to stop working", reprimanded Tony.

"Yeah, I know. I promise after I read through these, I'll put my work away", promised Angela.

"Can we make a stop? I have to go to the bathroom", said Jonathan.

"Didn't I tell you to go before we left the house?" said Tony.

"Yup, but that was hours ago", protested Jonathan.

Tony made a stop at a gas station. Jonathan and Tony stepped out of the van. Jonathan ran to the toilet at the side of the food-stop of the gas station, while Tony went to the food-stop counter to ask for directions. He showed his map to an elderly man wiping the counter.

"Hi! My family and I are on our way to Panama City Beach. Is this route 50? We're looking for the Sun Valley exit. It's supposed to be a short cut", inquired Tony.

"Yes, you're on the right track. 30 miles west, you'll find the Sun Valley exit just after Tallahassee", replied the man.

"Thank you", smiled Tony.

Suddenly blood-curling screams were heard from the van. "Samantha!" "Angela!" Tony immediately rushed back to see what had happened. He found his 12 year old daughter curled up with Angela in the passenger seat in front of the van. Both were hysterical and had their backs pressed against the window of the van, frightened about something at the back.

"What happened?" asked Tony, opening the driver's door.

"The...the...snake. The snake got out", stammered Angela pointing at the back of the van. Just then Jonathan got back from the bathroom. "What's all the commotion?" he asked with his little boy curiosity. Tony picked up his harmless green snake which was slithering on the back seat and handed it to him. "Here. Wilbur left his cage and frightened Samantha and your mother", said Tony with a smile.

"Bad boy, Wilbur", scolded Jonathan.

"Okay, buckle up kids. We have to hit the road. We need to get to Holiday Sun Spree Resort before it gets dark. Samantha, go back in there", said Tony, indicating the back seat. "Can I just seat with Angela?" she asked. "No", replied her father.

In another few hours, Angela and the children were sound asleep. The van resonated with silence except for Tony's humming. He was enjoying the view as he drove. He glanced at the back seat. His daughter and Jonathan were sleeping soundly, their arms wrapped around their respective Warner Brothers cartoon pillows. Angela bought each of them a matching travel pillow and blanket. Jonathan had received a Tazmanian Devil and he smiled as he remembered the big smile on her daughter's face when she saw the Tweety Bird pillow, instinctively Angela knew it was Sam's favourite cartoon character.

They sure feel like a family, thought Tony. He was happy that his daughter had the chance to grow up in warm familial surroundings. He was also glad to have the son he always wished he had, looking at Jonathan's mischievous face. If only they really were a family in every sense. He looked at his workaholic boss who fell asleep reading reports. He took the papers from her hand and placed them in the dashboard.

The road went to a sudden curb and Angela's sleeping form slid toward Tony. Her blond head was now resting on his shoulders. An all too familiar scent of Moonflower invaded his nostrils. Her scent is driving me crazy again, thought Tony. Without warning, heavy rain suddenly hammered on his old beat-up van. Everything went dark and bleak and Tony couldn't see clearly through the foggy windshield.

To Tony's dismay, the rain had not subsided within a few minutes. He realized he lost his way to Panama City and had been turning on the same bend thrice. The children woke up at the same time.

"Dad, I'm hungry. Are we there yet?" asked the still groggy Samantha.

"I want to go to the bathroom again. And I'm starved!" said Jonathan.

"Sshh! Angela is still asleep. I promise we will get there in no time", said Tony, "for the meantime I'll pull-over and help you pee. Where's the umbrella?"