RESTORATION (a science fiction novel) (RESTORATION (the science fiction trilogy)) by Todd Utley Page B

“Yeah Dad, you missed a really good dinner, fried chicken, it was awesome!” 
    Linsey smiled at Bobby, “Thank you Son,” she said.  Bobby had been Mr. Polite and very pleasant to be around since the moment he returned home from the hospital. 
    Dodge gave Linsey a quick squeeze on her shoulder as he headed for the plate of chicken covered with foil on the stove.
         “I kept it warm for you.  I figured you just got to talking with your Dad and lost track of time; so how is he?”  Dodge thought for just one second.
         “Oh he’s doing great, Dad and two of his friends are all going to get restored within a week of each other, they’re even going to try to get it done at the same center so they can spend the day or two after together and complain about the pink goop.” 
    Bobby laughed.
    “I can’t wait to see those guys eating that stuff!”  He said.
         “So you guys must have talked a lot about all that,” said Linsey.  “I was about ready to call your Dad to see if you were on your way home when you walked in.” 
    “Oh, well, we did talk a lot but we also went out to grab a burger and the place was busy so it took a while.” 
    Linsey got a perturbed look in her eyes, “Seriously? A burger when I have homemade fried chicken on the table with mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, the works!  Why didn’t you guys’ just come over here?” 
    Dodge knew he was in trouble on that point because it was a very good one.  His father bragged all the time to everyone about how good Linsey’s fried chicken was.  Half way through her sentence he took a huge bite of chicken and exaggerated the amount of time it was taking to chew it while he pointedly held one finger up in the air toward Linsey to indicate “hold on, chewing ”  He had to think fast.
    “Well, Dad wanted a burger and it sounded good to me too, and we were talking about some guy stuff, you know, hey what was I supposed to do, deny a dying man a big juicy hamburger and quality time with his favorite son?”  Linsey wanted to smile but wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.      “You mean only Son!  All right you’re off the hook but next time you bring him over here mister.” 
    “Okay, I will, I promise, and by the way even though I ate a burger, this chicken is delicious and as you can see I am eating the whole plate.”
    He knew he had dodged a bullet on that one.  He would have to talk to his Father first thing in the morning after he left for work to fill him in on the details of his alibi.  Neither of them had heard the last word on this incident yet and Alan would need to be prepared with the right answers.
    Dodge noticed that Bobby was still pouring over the brochures and smiling a little throughout his Fathers demise at the hand of his sharp witted Mother.
    He tousled Bobby’s hair.
    “So young man, how are you?  And what are all these brochures about anyway?”
    Dodge picked one up and began looking it over as Bobby began to explain that it was all about a racing career school and just how affordable it was and how it would change his life making him into a world class race car driver with huge earnings potential.
    Dodge knew that Bobby liked basketball and enjoyed playing on the school team but he also knew that he didn’t show the potential of himself or his father.  Alan was extremely good at sports and so was Dodge.  Bobby had the gift but his heart just wasn’t in it for the last couple of years.  He began showing a lot more interest in cars and motorcycles and of course girls. 
    His continued interest in racing surprised Dodge.  The accident was so bad, and it involved a speeding car.  He thought it might have given Bobby a bad scare that would turn his interest back to ball, but that was not the case.  In a way motor sports were now safer than ever.  Not only did they have better safety factors each year but now they had the reassurance of Restoration