the tension had taken a bigger toll on me than I had
realized. With that and the slight shaking and
movement of the motor home. I fell asleep quickly. Some time before morning. I woke with a jolt.
It was as if someone had shaken me. I blinked and
wiped my eyes, the realization of where I was slowly
returning. The motor home was dark, but the glow
from some pole light outside flowed through,
outlining everything clearly. I saw Uncle Palaver
slumped on the sofa, a bottle of whiskey before him. I
watched him for a while, and then I thought I surely
heard someone calling, `
Destiny needs him for something, I decided.
"Uncle Palaver,'" I whispered, but he didn't move. Again. I thought I heard something and this
time decided to crawl down and see what was
happening. I stood listening in the shadows. There
was definitely the sound of someone talking, and it
was coming from the bedroom.
"Uncle Palaver?" I stepped up to him and
touched his shoulder gently. "Uncle Palaver?" He moaned, but he didn't open his eyes. I
looked at the battle and saw it was nearly empty. I
shook him again, a little harder.
"Uncle Palaver?"
He slumped to his right without opening his
eyes. I shook even harder. He groaned and moaned
but didn't open his eves. He started to mumble
something, and then he sank even lower on the sofa. The sound of someone talking continued, but
low. Was Destiny calling for him and too weak to
raise her voice? I walked to the rear of the motor
home and listened. It was definitely the sound of a
woman talking, but she didn't seem to be calling for