Chapters
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Chapter 2
Stan, Mark and June huddled around the computer in Mark's home office. The grandkids, Will and Eve were under foot trying to watch what came up on the internet. Buddy Lee was weaving in between everyone's legs.
As Mark opened RV site after site, Stan was overwhelmed with the 
possibilities of what to buy and where to travel. June just kept nodding her head in agreement. Will said, "Grandpa Stan, when can we go on a camping trip?" Stan laughed and told Will to give him a little time to buy a "Recreationally" Vehicle.
Shannon made lunch and while the whole family was sitting around the kitchen table Stan made an announcement..."Alright, you all win. After we finish eating, we will go to that RV store and see what they got." The kids whooped it up, Buddy Lee was barking and June was just beaming.
When the Arvee Family arrived at the RV Dealership, a salesperson approached them. Stan whipered to Mark, "Oh no, he's going to stick to us like glue until we buy something we don't want...and spend way too much money." Mark whispered back, "Dad, just give him a chance, you never know."
The salesperson's name tag said he was Bobby. Well Bobby shook Stan's hand and said, "Welcome to the beginning of your new life." Stan was dumbfounded, how did Bobby know they never owned a RV before? Maybe this guy was sharper than Stan gave him credit.
Bobby was talking to June now about the grandkids, one of her favorite subjects. Stan thought, this guy is smooth, pushing all the right buttons. Stan wanted to take control of this situation right now. He told Bobby, "We're only looking." Bobby countered right back with, "Good, we're only selling." June and Shannon started laughing so hard, Stan couldn't help but crack a smile. This guy's good!
After Bobby did a brief interview with Stan and June, Shannon, Mark and the kids, they narrowed it down to either a travel trailer 
or a pop-up tent camper. They saw many different floor plans, sizes, options, new and used. Stan finally decided on the used tent camper and June decided on the new travel trailer. Bobby tried to mediate between the two of them. Mark, Shannon and the kids also put in their viewpoints, but in the end, they bought the used tent camper BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER.
Stan spent all week getting the camper ready for their big camping trip to Canada's Marineland, just over the border from Buffalo in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The grandkids couldn't wait and called Stan everyday to see if it was time to go camping yet.
Friday night finally came. June had been shopping and preparing all day for the big trip. She was sure Stan would love the traveling and camping once he got off the couch and went. She did have to smile to herself thinking back on this past week. Stan was as happy as a lark getting that camper ready.
Mark, Shannon, Will, Eve and Buddy Lee came roaring up the driveway. "The noise level in that car was deafening. "How can the young people stand it?" Stan muttered to himself.
After loading and unloading the SUV and the tent camper 3 times (to make everything fit) they were finally on the road. They sang traveling songs and the kids and Grandma counted how many different license plates they could spot. When they arrived at Marineland, it was getting dark. Even though everyone was really excited, including himself (he didn't mention this out loud though) Stan said they should set up the grill, eat dinner and hit the sack early so they could get a fresh start in the morning.
Stan and June climbed into the bed at the back end of the trailer. All of a sudden, Stan and June were squished against the side of the trailer almost on top of each other while everything in the camper was sliding to one side. Sheepishly, Stan got up and told June, "Uh, I guess I forgot to set the jacks." After getting everything set, Stan finallly drifted off to sleep dreaming about his
own bed back home.
Well, Saturday started out to be a perfect summer day in Canada. 75 degrees (about 24 degrees Celsius as they use in Canada). Stan went on almost every ride with the kids. They all went to see the Buluga whale show and went to their holding tanks after the show to pet the enormous creatures. The whole group played some games and went to the petting zoo. June said to Shannon, "I don't know who is having the most fun, the kids or Grandpa Stan." Shannon said, "Mark is relaxing for a change and seems to be having a ball himself."
They finally decided to call it a day around 7 p.m. The guys (including Will) grilled some hamburgers and hot dogs while the ladies (including Eve) got the other fixin's ready, although Eve was almost asleep on her feet. They ate outside under a full mon, Stan thinking, "It really can't get any better than this." They all retired by 9 p.m. having peaceful, wonderful dreams.
All of a sudden, the camper started to rock back and forth, the wind was howling and it sounded like they were being shot at. Mark leapt out of bed and went outside to see what was going on. The biggest hail stones he had ever seen were hitting him in the face as debris was flying all over the campground. Mark hurried back inside and told everyone not to worry, to go back to sleep, it's just a little hail and rain.
Stan woke up first and when he put his feet on the floor he was knee deep in water! Their camper had leaked from the rain storm! Just then, Stan remembered back to his conversation with Bobby, the RV salesperson, and why he should buy the travel trailer.
Stan woke everyone up and said, "We're heading back to Lackawanna; I'm getting rid of THIS camper." Even though everything was wet, the looks on each and everyone's face was downtrodden. Collectively they thought about all the fun they had this weekend and if he got rid of this trailer they would never go camping again. Finally, June spoke up and said, "Stan, don't be too hasty we can give it another try." Mark, Shannon, Will and Ever all nodded in agreement. The grandkids were saying, "Please, please Grandpa we loved camping, don't get rid of this camper." Stan let out the biggest belly laugh any of them had ever heard. Stan told them all, "I'm going to get rid of THIS CAMPER. I'm going to see that Bobby character and let him sell us that brand spanking new TRAVEL TRAILER!" June just sat back and smiled.
