The costly Camaro.

The trip continued well until they got to Route 495 in Washington, D.C. The muffler was lost there. It just fell off. This really pissed off the monkey. He liked it quiet. The primate threw a fit. Sonnie didn't much mind the noise. As he said, "Where I'm headed, it will be quiet for a long time." The monkey persisted and the only way the others could placate him was to promise to try out a new car as soon as they got to New Hampshire.

At this point the rest of the group wanted to rid themselves of the monkey. They hoped to have him detained. When in Frackville, PA getting a fill-up, they looked for a policeman but the town was closed. The thought evaporated with the miles.

The travelers arrived at Doble's Chevrolet in Manchester, NH at 2:30 p.m. on August 11. The monkey and Sonnie combed the showroom. Finally, the two cohorts picked out a fire-red Camaro with a black interior. Try as they might the others could not dissuade Sonnie or the monkey from their choice. The others argued that the color was a bit racy and the style was not practical. The vehicle had to cart them around New Hampshire and back to Florida. All would not fit in the car the two had selected. This argument was unsuccessful. The monkey thought he and Sonnie looked good behind the wheel and what did they care? This was to be a one-way trip for them. The decision appeared to have been reached. It seemed irreversible. Form was about to win over substance. Then ... fate stepped in. When it came time to pay, it was up to the monkey. To the beast's dismay his currency was not accepted. Doble's would not accept elephant chips as payment. This returned the decision to Jack, an all around tightwad. This astute money manager opted to have a new muffler put on the old car.

THE ARRIVAL

The travelers with John and Ashley.

The travelers arrived in Laconia on the 11th of August. The drive had been straight through. The reunion with John and his daughter Ashley was happy and sad at the same time. It took place at an old friend's house. His name was Don Cote. Ashley is Sonnie's only great-grandchild to date. He was very proud of her. She had no idea he was in his box. The monkey was a little put off by the attention Sonnie showed Ashley. On the other hand Ashley thought the monkey was beautiful and was very pleased that Sonnie had brought it along. She loved the monkey and wanted him to live with her. This lifted the beast's sadness somewhat.

After the details of the monkey's business were settled and the hugs and kisses were distributed all around, Sonnie decided he would like to do some things he hadn't done for awhile. He decided to go trout fishing at the last place he and Jack had fished before Sonnie had moved to Florida. Of course the monkey had to tag along.

Continued—»