MEET
THE
PARENTS

 

Silence is golden. Until it isn’t.

No one in the car is talking. No one’s been talking the seventy-five miles stretching from North Phoenix to the first rest area on the way to Los Angeles. Only the dull hum of tires on interstate. Everyone except the driver has those little white ear buds in, all intentionally listening to anything but each other. Jim Clawson is the driver. He’s the dad.

And he is also much of the reason no one is talking to each other.

Jim and his wife Sarah occupy the front seats while fourteen-year-old Madison and nine-year-old Aiden sit in the back. At this moment, they’re only resentful passengers in a crowded vehicle. As Jim turns the car off ear buds are removed. And for just a moment, before everyone climbs out, there is a veryungolden silence. It is whispering to each of the Clawsons that something is very wrong with their family.

This was supposed to be an epic vacation. Something in it fo