* This is a work of fiction and all characters are over eighteen. *
It was supposed to be a graduation present to Jack – a family trip to Australia. Since Jack was little he was always fascinated with the "Land Down Under". He used to watch "Crocodile Dundee" over and over and he would read many books about Australia. Therefore, his parents promised him that upon graduation they would take him on a month long vacation to that distant country.
Jack graduated and the date for the trip was set. Jack's parents, Tim and Joanna, decided to do the trip in August – the weather would be quite pleasant at that time in Australia. Jack couldn't wait for the day to set off and he would talk about all of the activities they had to do and things to see on this trip. The list was quite extensive. He wanted to see some of the bigger cities, including the capital, take a picture with a kangaroo and a koala, see the Great Barrier Reef, visit Uluru, also know as the Ayer's Rock, go on a jeep safari and ,above all ,to learn surfing. His father has always promised to teach him to surf and now would be a perfect opportunity.
The day of the trip was slowly approaching. Jack was getting more excited every day. Joanna was also pleased to go on a much-needed vacation. Her husband, Tim, owned his own real estate business and she helped him out with a variety of minor chores. She felt that Tim was getting really stressed out as of late and was hoping that both of them could relax a lot while in Australia. However, about a week before the trip Tim announced at the dinner table that he would not be able to go to Australia.
"Honey, what do you mean?" asked Joanna in an alarmed tone.
"I can't leave right now, the business is not doing so well. I'm setting up a big deal with a partner that should go through soon. If it does we might make a lot of money, but I have to stay and oversee everything," said Tim sadly.
"But Dad! This isn't fair! Who's going to teach me how to surf? And the safari?" piped in Jack.
"Listen son. I'm really sorry, but you can do all these things yourself. You're a man now. You will soon find out that work is not easy and sometimes things don't go according to plan." Tim's words were stern and fatherly.
"I guess you're right, " whispered Jack. The rest of the dinner went quietly and without cheer. Jack shuffled off to his room to watch "Survivor Man" before going to bed.
Joanna tried to bring up the conversation again.
"You're not making this any easier for me, Jo. I was really looking forward to this trip. You know we're not doing great financially. I have to try and turn our business around and with this deal, I think I really can."
"But Tim, you're so stressed out. Can't this deal wait till we come back?"
"I wish it could, honey. But the partners are really set on closing it and it's going to be an insane month to get everything ready. But look at it this way, you'll have a whole month to yourself – sunbathe, swim and do all the relaxing things."
"You need all the relaxing things more than me, babe."
"Look, Jo. Once I close this deal, we'll go on a nice trip somewhere in the Caribbean. Just the two of us. Deal?"
"Deal!" Joanna tried to sound excited.
The week rolled by quickly. Jack was busy constantly packing, staring at the map of Australia and reading a book about an early expedition there. Tim was busy with the business and Joanna helped him as much as she could, while preparing her own plans for the trip. Her main goal was to lie on the beach most of the time and work on her tan. She was quite a self-conscious woman. Always working on her looks. Gyms, spas, beauty salons were her regular visited establishments. She knew she had a great body, which she kept in shape, and her skin was always pampered. Her greatest feature however would have to be her boobs. At thirty-seven years of age, her large C-cup tits were still as perky and full as the day that Tim got her pregnant.
The day finally came and everything was prepared. Tim drove his family to the airport while trying to keep a cheerful conversation going. He talked about all the nice things Jack and Joanna would do in Australia and that they would not ever miss him. Joanna played along with her husband as if it was not a huge deal that he couldn't come. At the airport Tim instructed Jack that he should not forget that he is a man now and to take care of his mother. After all the goodbyes were said, Jack and Joanna prepared themselves for their flight.
Their vacation in Australia was quite magical. Visiting the big cities and seeing all the tourist attractions was very exciting. In Queensland, Jack had a blast learning how to surf while Joanna had a relaxing time going to the beach. Her skin was getting quite tan and her light brown hair was turning blond now.
Indeed, Jack had fun hanging out with his mother more than he had imagined and he didn't even miss his father that much. They got to see pretty much everything on Jack's list. One last thing was to visit Uluru, the mystical red rock.
About a week before the vacation was coming to an end, Jack and Joanna flew into Northern Territory. Jack came up with a plan to rent a jeep and drive to Uluru. He took the initiative and arranged for a rental of a jeep and planned out which way to drive. He wanted to drive to the resort area around Uluru and see as much of the inner country as possible.
On the morning of the trip, Jack woke up early, got the jeep from the rental place and hurried his mother at breakfast. The weather in Northern Territory was quite hot and dry and Joanna decided to wear cut-off jean shorts with a light, yellow tank top. Jack wore his surf shorts and a white wife-beater top. With a couple of gallons of water strapped to a shoulder bag they set off into the heat.
The day was sunny and the drive was uneventful. The scenery was a monotonous desert landscape on both sides of the road. Joanna noticed how Jack took things into his own hands and was proud that he was developing into quite a man. An hour after driving on a paved road, Jack suddenly turned off on an unmarked dirt road.
"What are you doing, Jack?" asked Joanna curiously.
"Well, I figured since we only have a week left I would combine this trip into a jeep safari. I want to experience the desert the way it really is," responded Jack.
"As long as you know where we're going," said Joanna, reclining in the passenger's seat.
The desert was truly a magnificent thing when one is driving through it without any civilization in sight. Jack was fascinated as he surveyed the surroundings. He had found this road on a map that he purchased at a convenience store. It was a slight detour, but it appeared to lead straight to Uluru. However, after some time driving, he noticed that the dirt road turned more or less into a trail.
"It must not be heavily traveled", Jack thought as he glanced in the rear view mirror. He took out a compass and consulted it for directions. This was just what he imagined a jeep safari would be – driving around with no road signs or cars in sight. Jack thought he saw some sort of a wildlife moving to the side of them and peered intently to his right.
With a loud crack the jeep suddenly veered off.
"What the hell was that!?" panicked Joanna, sitting up rigidly in her seat.
"Damn!" swore Jack. "I don't know mom." He gripped the steering wheel tighter and corrected the jeep's course. Something under the jeep was making a strange sound and they rolled to a stop. Jack tried pressing on the accelerator, but the vehicle would not move.
Unsnapping his seatbelt Jack quickly jumped out of the jeep. He walked around it, trying to pin point the source of the problem.
"Well, what is it honey?" asked Joanna twisting her head this way and that, her face lined with worry.
