The Peacemakers - pg11

          Until now. Taggart’s mind raced with excitement. “Can you believe it, Karl?”
          Caught up in the moment with eyes wide, Benson blurted out, “Dr. Taggart - can I come, too?”
          After a beat, everyone burst out laughing. Taggart laughed so hard tears streamed down his face. “Good one, Karl!” he said before snorting and thumping his friend on the arm.
          Karl’s hopeful expression suggested he might not be kidding.
          “Here’s to the future,” John Taggart said raising his glass of sumac.
          Taggart raised his glass, nodded agreement, and took a sip of the delicious liquid. “Mmm,” he said. Turning to Benson he added, “Have you ever tasted anything like that?”
          Benson smacked his lips and shook his head. “That’s really good, especially that little peppery kick at the end.”
          Taggart tipped the rest of the sumac into his mouth and licked the remains from the glass. He smacked his lips, too, and let out a satisfied, “Ahh” and said, “Uh, so when are we leaving?”
          “End of the week. Saturday to be more exact,” his mom replied matter of factly.
          “What?” Taggart’s excitement suddenly began churning his stomach. “I can’t go Saturday!”

*** TO BE CONTINUED ***