by Steve Hansell

Created on: September 29, 2010   Last Updated: December 20, 2011

The rain fell on the highway as they made their way toward Memphis. Eddie Weatherwax and his children were on their way from Nashville so his ex-wife could take the kids home to New Orleans for Christmas. He wasn’t allowed to see them on any of the holidays.

Usually, they met in Birmingham, but Eddie wanted to do something special for Christmas, and he couldn’t afford Disney. They were on their way to Graceland, if they could beat the snowstorm.

“How far is this stupid place?” his fourteen year old daughter Lauren asked.

That was the first thing anyone had said in almost an hour. One of the few things she had said to him all week, except for one syllable answers all his questions. She didn’t like these visits, and she let him know.

“Just a few minutes till we reach the hotel.” He answered. She had already gone back to texting her friends about the stupid trip she was on.

They pulled into the “Elvis Presley Heartbreak Hotel” around 10 am, two days before Christmas. In three hours or so, their mother would be there, and  she would leave immediately. The storm would be dumping on Memphis by the evening, he had three hours for something to happen.

His nine year old son, Nate, never looked up from his hand-held game as they navigated through the lobby.

“Room for Weatherwax?” Eddie said when they reached the desk.

“Yes, but it will be awhile, I can stow your luggage here until after lunch?” The desk clerk said.

Eddie made the kids leave their phones and games in their luggage, which prompted a great outcry and rolling of the eyes.

“Great trip, Dad….” Lauren said, with the kind of sarcastic tone you have to be fourteen to execute properly. She plopped down on a sofa with her arms crossed and stared at the floor.

Eddie walked around, looking at the Elvis displays, and pretty soon, Nathan was reading them with him. As they walked around, Lauren got up and went to look out at the pool.

“Oh good one, you brought us to a swingers club!” Lauren said, as she pointed out at the heart shaped pool and rolled her eyes. Eddie noticed that his daughter had the slightest of smiles on her face. He hadn’t seen that in the three years since his wife left him.

“What’s a swinger?” Nate asked, and they smiled at each other. Any connection was better than none.

They went to lunch at the Rock and Roll café

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