Road Trip 5
Previously on ER
A grateful (and rich) patient invited some of the ER doctors on
an all-expenses paid trip to Ireland to attend a conference in
Galway. Arriving in Dublin they discovered that they had to drive
themselves to Galway. A flat tire forced them to stay overnight
in Birr (a small town in the middle of Ireland). Kerry and Luka
went to a concert, but Luka was too much of a gentleman for
Kerry's liking. Meanwhile, Dave and Carter got chased out a pub (ruining
Carter's last suit) after Dave tried out a few Irish phrases he
had learned.
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Kerry yawned, as she got ready for bed. Maybe it had been a good
thing that Luka hadn't accepted her offer of a nightcap. After
all it had been a long day. Sighing, she slipped beneath the
bedclothes and was soon asleep.
"Kerry," said Luka as he slipped in beside her. "I
am sorry I did not say yes earlier. Am I too late?"
A little voice at the back of Kerry's mind told her, "you're
only dreaming. He's not really there."
Another little voice was saying, "So what. It's as close as
I've gotten all year, now shut up and stop annoying me."
"Oh yes," she moaned in her sleep.
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Meanwhile back in his room, Luka was trying to mediate between
Carter and Dave.
"C'mon Carter, switch the light off. I'm trying to sleep,"
moaned Dave. Actually he <didn't> want to sleep, but he
wanted Luka and Carter to go to sleep.
"Just a few more pages," said Carter. "This is
really good."
"Luka," said Dave plaintively.
Luka sat up in the bed growling under his breath. Grabbing
Carter's copy of 'Tara Road', he threw it into the corner of the
room. "Now," he growled. "Turn off the lights, and
I don't want to hear another word out of either of you until
morning. Understood?"
"Yes Luka." "Yes Luka," said Carter and Dave
simultaneously.
Carter turned out the lights. "Goodnight Luka. Goodnight
Dave."
"Goodnight Carter. Goodnight Dave," said Luka.
"Goodnight John-Boy," said Dave. "Ow," he
said in a muffled voice as Luka's pillow hit him in the face.
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In spite of his efforts, Dave fell asleep. Waking a few hours
later, he debated whether or not to carry out his original scheme
for embarrassing Luka and Carter. After all, he was nice and
comfortable. Well almost comfortable. Ah screw it. Why should
they enjoy the double bed, when he was curled up on the tiny
folding bed that creaked every time he moved? Carefully using the
sound of Carter's snores as cover he crawled out of his bed and
carefully rummaged in his bag for his camera. He congratulated
himself on his foresight in bringing the small pencil torch that
he now switched on. Not that he had had <this> scenario in
mind when he had packed it.
He hoped that the flash wouldn't wake either Carter or Luka.
Thinking quickly, he aimed the camera at the bed, took a quick
picture and then hopped back into his bed. Pulling the covers up,
he held his breath waiting to hear if either of his roommates
were waking up.
After a few minutes had passed he guessed that neither were going
to wake. Grinning, he walked over to the bed. Luka had fallen
asleep with his arms stretched out above his head. Carter was
curled up on his side. It only took a minute for Dave to roll
Carter over closer to Luka and move Luka's arm around Carter.
Quickly he took the photo.
Dave was about to reposition them for another photo, when Luka
stirred in his sleep, put his other arm around Carter pulling him
closer. Dave stifled a laugh. Man there was going to be some fun
when the pair woke up next morning.
He resisted the temptation to reposition them and contented
himself with taking another photo. Chuckling to himself he
returned to his own bed and settled himself, content with a job
well done.
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Kerry woke the next morning with a smile on her face and the
memories of a very enjoyable dream.
Carter also woke with a smile on his face. It faded as soon as he
realized who his sleeping companion was. With a yelp, he tried to
push himself away.
Luka awoke from a dream of being chased by a red-haired woman.
Feeling a warm body nestled against him, he instinctively pulled
it closer to him. Opening his eyes he looked into Carter's face.
Swearing in Croatian he pushed Carter away.
"Morning guys," said Dave walking out of the bathroom,
toothbrush in hand. "Did you sleep well?"
Luka and Carter eyed Dave suspiciously. He looked at them
innocently. "You guys were certainly making a hell of a lot
of noise last night. Man I could hardly sleep for the creaking of
bedsprings."
Luka tried to regain his composure. It wasn't easy when he was
only wearing boxer shorts. "I apologize if I kept you awake
Dave. I did not realize how noisy this bed was."
"Hey, no sweat. Actually it was the talking that annoyed me
more."
"Talking?" said Carter. "Uh, which of us was it?"
"Yes," said Luka, "and what were we saying?"
"Well it was very muffled, so I couldn't tell which of you
it was. But it sounded very romantic."
Luka and Carter looked at each other, and moved a bit further
away.
Dave turned and went back into the bathroom to finish brushing
his teeth. Man, the look on their faces. Just a pity he hadn't
had the camera handy. Oh well, maybe next time.
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Breakfast that morning was a rather subdued affair. Kerry would
have commented on the fact that Carter and Luka seemed to be
treading on eggshells around each other, but she was too wrapped
up in the memories of her dreams. If Luka was even half as
competent in real life as in her imagination...
"So John," said Kerry. "Dave told me you got into
Luka's pants?"
Luka choked on his tea. Carter spluttered his all over the table.
Dave sat back looking smug.
Kerry continued, "You know you really should have brought
some casual clothes with you. After all we're not going to be at
the conference the whole time."
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After breakfast, they replaced the now mended tire, and set off
again for Galway. It was now Dave's turn to drive. Before
leaving, Kerry had bought a map, and received detailed directions
from the receptionist.
"We should be in Galway before lunch," she said as she
strapped herself into the back of the car beside Carter. She had
intended to sit in the front, to make sure that Dave was
following the directions correctly, but Luka had insisted that he
sit in the front so that he could stretch his legs. "I will
make sure we take the correct road," he said firmly as he
strapped himself in.
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They were on the road less than ten minutes when they saw the
hitchhiker.
"Chief," said Dave, "Can we stop and pick him up,
please?"
"No," said Kerry, examining her map. "No
hitchhikers. We've no room."
"But he has a fridge," protested Dave.
"Sure he does Dave," said Kerry, not looking up. Dave
watched the rearview mirror as the hitchhiker disappeared from
view. Man, that would have been cool, picking up a guy with a
fridge. Sighing he turned back to the road ahead, thinking that
at least he wasn't likely to get travel sick while driving.
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To be continued
Next week on Road Trip
They finally reach Galway, but nobody warned the Galwegians.
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Author's notes
The hitchhiker with the fridge is the star of a (non-fiction)
book called 'Around Ireland with a fridge', in which (as a result
of a drunken bet), a man hitchhiked around Ireland, accompanied
by a small fridge.
(honest)
Part
IV