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“It cut off,” he said.
“Ah, the cell sites are just melting, Father. Must be millions trying to get through now,” Martin said as he let out an extra-large breath.
Martin’s glance went from the standstill traffic to the needle of the gas gauge, which was at the halfway point now, then back to the traffic again. He wiped his sweating forehead. He’d give it another minute, then turn off the engine to conserve gas, he decided.
They were on Broadway in Yonkers. It was a sketchy part of town—run-down houses and buildings and stores. They’d been stopped for almost five minutes, which meant God only knows what was happening up ahead. In the last hour, they had probably traveled less than a mile.
As Martin watched, two stocky young Hispanic kids zoomed past on a Kawasaki dirt bike. The one on the back was seated backwards, and he gave Martin and the good Father the finger as his buddy threaded between the cars.
“Did ya see that, Father?” Martin said. “That wasn’t very neighborly, now, was it?”
“We’re not on the old sod anymore, Martin,” Seamus said, shaking his head. “It’s probably best to pretend you’re blind.”
Martin turned to his left and looked beyond an empty parking lot as the Metro-North Hudson Line train went slowly by. It was incredibly packed with people in and even standing between the cars. On the last car, there were several people sitting on the roof!
It was like something out of news footage from the Great Depression or a science fiction film, Martin thought. This crazy country. He’d just wanted to make a little pocket money with the nanny job, and now look where he was. Wandering the set of The War of the Worlds 2.
When the train finally passed, he could see the Hudson River. Great, he thought, drumming his fingers on the wheel. They were right next to water, the one place Mike had specifically told them not to be.
Should they leave the van and try to get on a train? Martin thought, staring at the gas gauge again. He let out another long breath as he bit at his lower lip. It was impossible to know what to do.
“Martin?” Jane called from the back, distress in her voice.
“Wh
at is it?” Martin said, trying to keep his tone light for the children.
“Bad news, Martin,” she said.
“How is that even possible?” Martin said under his breath.
“It’s Jasper. I think…well, I think he has to tinkle.”
“You want to walk the dog out there in the ’hood?” Seamus said, turning around in the passenger seat with a flabbergasted look.
“It’s either out there, Gramps,” said Jane, shrugging, “or right here in the van.”
“Okay, okay. Brian and Eddie and Ricky and—what the heck—you, too, Trent. Look lively and get the leash. I have an important mission for you boys. You’re all on Jasper tinkle patrol,” Seamus said.
“Yes!” said Brian, putting the now-moaning Jasper on the leash. “Finally something to do!”
“Buddy system, okay, boys?” Martin said. “Leave no man behind.”
“Or dog!” said Chrissy frantically. “Or dog!”
“Exactly. No man or dog, okay? Now hit it!”
They burst out of the van and ran with Jasper through the traffic to a concrete wall beside a run-down tenement.
“I see them,” said Bridget, cupping her hands over her eyes and looking out the window. “He’s tinkling! Jasper is tinkling!”
“Yay!” said Fiona.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day, isn’t it, Father?” said Martin.
Seamus rolled his eyes.
The van burst into applause as the boys arrived back, breathless, with the pup. The happy, excited dog started barking like mad as Chrissy grabbed him to her chest in a bear hug while Socky, the cat, remained aloof, snuggled in one of Shawna’s sweatshirts on the floor of the van.
