priority

preference || prolouge

{6 years ago}

The van door closed, the scent of chlorine and water all over the young boy and his father. The feeling of satisfaction filling the car faster than the obvious  in the car. The boy's father looked over at his son's blonde hair and ruffled it.

"You improved a lot, at least this time you didn't ruin the filtration." Riley's father said, moving his hand from the kids head. "On the way home, we'll pass by a McDonald's or something." Riley smiled, pointing at the golden arch in the sky behind a couple of buildings. That arch meant the world to this kid. Not for the fact that a little toy comes with it, but the fact that he would only get food when he successfully cleaned a pool. Riley's family runs off of the income of their family pool cleaning company. Aaron turned the car on, the rumble of the engine filled the silence from the car. The two sat in the car, soaking up the left over silence like sponges. After a while, he stood up and shifted the car into drive. He turned off the road they were on and merged onto the highway.

 ...

"How may I help you?" A woman's voice crackled through the little black box. The menu as various possible varieties, all being such a relief to Riley. 

"I'll take a #5 with a side of large fries and a Coke." Aaron said, looking at the mirror to see what Riley wants. He just smiled.

"Uh, is there any nuggets?" Riley questioned the mysterious lady inside the box. She chuckled at the question.

"Depends on who you ask." She chuckled again. "But with me, I got you covered. How many do you want honey? 4, 6, 10, 20? " As the number increased, the boy's smile grew bigger. And so did his eyes. He glanced over at his dad and practically begged.

"You earned it."

...

The smell of chlorine quickly leaves the van, filling up just as quickly with a whiff of chicken, cheese and beef. The speakers vibrated from the ringing of the phone connected. The screen shot on, the name Luna large and in the center.

Riley tapped the screen as soon as it came up.

"He-"

"AARON WE WON THE LOTTERY!" She howled through the phone. Riley's eyes grew as he turned to his father, who obviously wouldn't believe her.

"Mhm, and I bet that the house is also being pulled off the ground by those pigs with wings in the house for rehabbed swines Luna." Aaron grabbed out his phone, and started aggressively hitting the screen.

She growled. "If you really don't believe me then why in the hell are you trying to FaceChat me? Hmm?"

He rolled his eyes. The annoying beeping sound stopped, being replaced by the quiet of the stereo and the feminine voice of his wife. Riley stood on the sidelines as this all went down. 

"Alright." he said.

"Alright." she mimicked, "here." Riley couldn't see what was happening but he was pretty sure when his father basically tossed his phone out the window. Riley opened his mouth but his father said it before him.

"WE WON!" They both screamed, one through the phone and other out the window. A black SUV passed by honking their horn at my father. He laughed, all the wrinkles on his face from before basically gone.

Riley smiled, hoping that all will be okay after their first break.

But what he didn't realize was just about how worse it could get.