Route 66-based story
written by OC,SH’s founder, inspired by his September 2009 Route 66 road trip

CHAPTER 26: A COUPLE IN A LTD

“Who on earth could THAT be at THIS hour!?” exclaimed the youngest the split second the car’s headlights illuminated the 1978 Ford LTD wagon parked in the driveway.

Finding an old car parked in his driveway didn’t phase the eldest. He had seen plenty of old cars parked in his driveway upon returning home, mostly locals wanting to chat with him about something Route 66 or town-related. But, as he carefully examined the LTD parked in his driveway while steering his 1976 Caprice Classic around the Ford, he realized this wasn’t a local person. The Illinois license plate on the rear was his first clue. He mentally searched his memory bank, but didn’t remember their relatives living in Dwight IL having a Ford wagon. Not that they couldn’t have recently purchased one.

“So, who IS that?” the younger brother queried again.

“I’m not sure,” replied the eldest, “but did you see the Illinois plate?”

“No, I hadn’t noticed that. Is this…”

“I don’t think so,” the elder brother interrupted, knowing the question coming from his younger sibling. “I don’t believe it is our relatives from Dwight. It may be their friends from Franklin Grove, though.”

As the elder brother pulled the Caprice next to the LTD, an older couple emerged … a distinguished gentleman with nearly white hair got out of the driver’s side, & a grandmotherly type woman rolled down the passenger door window. The gentleman walked around the front of the LTD & up to the driver’s door of the Caprice, of which the eldest had already rolled down the window.

“Evenin’,” the gentleman began, “I know you don’t know us, but we know you.”