A kid ran by. He was maybe fourteen years old. Jack didn’t even think about giving chase. Instead, he just yelled, “The tortoise and the hare, kid, the tortoise and the hare!” The man running next to Jack laughed.
Plodding along, Jack looked ahead. Once they ran across the Hennepin Avenue Bridge they’d have one mile left to reach the finish line in the center of downtown. He couldn’t believe a week ago he’d been down below these streets chasing the Governor.
Jack looked to his left, the same guy was still there. “Should we go see if we can catch the kid?” The guy nodded and they picked up the pace.
Jack crossed the finish line behind a guy wearing a Speedo and a lei. His own costume was his standard dark blue t-shirt with the gold FBI across the chest. They couldn’t catch the kid. He grabbed a bottle of ice-cold water and looked for his family among the throngs of people on the sidewalks. He knew about where they would be and finally found them in the crowd in front of the Pantages Theater. The kids were sitting on the curb eating pink and blue shaved ice. Julie and Ross stood behind them on the sidewalk.
“Hey, Dad! Did you win?” Willy asked.
Jack laughed. “Not quite. I didn’t even see my time. I finished behind a Hawaiian wearing a lei.” He looked at the crowd standing on the sidewalks filling the block on both sides of the street. “Did all of these people come just to watch me run a 10K?”
“Funny Dad.” Lynn said. “We’re here for the Torchlight Parade."
Jack squeezed in between Ross and Julie and gave Julie a kiss.
“How was the run?” she asked. She handed him a dry shirt to put on.
“It was OK. I’m old and slow. But, it felt good.” He took another drink of water and changed shirts. He leaned over to Ross. “Sorry you couldn’t do your triathlon. How’s the arm?”
Ross flapped and flexed his arm. “It’s getting better.”
“No body yet?”
“Not yet. I think the Governor’s floating his way to The Gulf Of Mexico. Maybe they’ll find his dead, bloated body in New Orleans.”
“Yeah, maybe. I’ll believe it when they’ve found the body.” Jack looked up the street. The parade was finally approaching. “Get ready kids.”
A group dressed in red t-shirts with the Target logo on the chest pushed red shopping carts past in a synchronized dance. They stopped in front of the kids and started tossing candy to the crowd. Jack watched his kids reach out and try to grab their share of candy from the street. He looked at Julie, who was smiling. Things were good.
The Shriners came next in their little go-carts driving in circles down the street. Ross punched Jack in the arm. “Shouldn’t you be out there in your bureau car?” he asked.
“Funny for a guy with no car,” Jack answered. He leaned over to Ross. “So, what’s next for you? The SAC give you any options?”
Ross smiled. “He said now was the time to ask. I asked for HRT.”
“Hmm, Hostage Rescue Team. So, you’re ready to give up small-time bank criminals and go after terrorists? Sounds exciting.” Jack stuck out his hand, “Congratulations.”
“I figured now’s the time to do it. And this case was exciting, bigger then a onetime bank heist. I’m young, in shape, unattached. The SAC said to report to Quantico after Labor Day, so I have about a month to get my shoulder ready. He’s giving me the shot, but I need to earn the spot.”
“You’ll do fine,” Jack said. “OK, kids. Time to share some of that loot with Mom, me and Ross.” He put his hand down. “Daddy tax time.”
The last float of the parade with the Aquatennial royalty passed in front of them. The Commodore, dressed in his whites looking like a boat captain, the Queen of the Lakes and the princesses in their white dresses and tiaras, all waved the parade wave. Willy stood up and saluted. A princess blew him a kiss and he turned his head, scrunched up his shoulders, embarrassed, and sat back down. "I think you have an admirer Willy, or was that kiss for Ross?”
Ross answered, “Wasn’t mine.”
“Willy has a girlfriend,” Lynn teased her brother.
As the final float passed, the people on the sidewalk started to move away from their stations on the curb. Many started heading towards the river. This was the last day of the summer celebration and a large fireworks display marked the end.
“OK, gang.” Jack said. “What’s say we all wonder down to the river and watch the fireworks.”
Julie squeezed Jack’s hand. “That would be nice since we missed them last week.”
The kids stood up. “You joining us, Ross?” Jack asked.
“Wouldn’t miss it.”