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She’s chewing on her thumbnail when she mutters, “My parents owe you a massive apology.”
“Uh…”
They certainly do.
I thought her father was different, but I read him wrong. In the end, money sticks with money. Her mom? I don’t see her opinion of me changing and I don’t care. I smile to myself thinking about the look on her face this morning.
“What are you thinking about right now?”
“Oh, just that your mom was probably appalled by my vehicle. She’s going to want to take you somewhere to get decontaminated when we get back.”
Sarah throws her head back and laughs. “Oh, she wouldn’t step foot in this car…Definitely gives off the hillbilly vibe.” She quickly amends, “No offense.”
I lift my elbow off the center console and let the top rise up like Count Dracula’s coffin at daybreak. “I kind of hated this car myself until I found out it’s a classic.” In response to her dubious expression, I add, “No shit, I’ve been stopped at red lights and had people ask if I was willing to sell.”
“For real?”
“They don’t make these anymore, sweetheart. They’re getting to be a collector’s item. Car buffs are all over the internet trying to get their hands on this model. This wouldn’t go for as much as an El Camino, but ’79 was the last year Ford produced Rancheros, so they’re rare.”
“So this car is over forty years old? How is that even possible?”
I caress the scuffed dashboard. “Lots of tender loving care.”
“So you can fix this car if it breaks down, right?”
“Don’t worry, she’s in mint condition. Mint-ish, I should say. And yes, I can fix it most of the time.”
“Does it come naturally to you? Mechanics, I mean?”
I shake my head because I already know where this is going. “Are you about to extol the benefits of me going to college and majoring in Engineering?”
“Damn, am I that obvious?”
“Yeah,” I look away from the road to her, “you are.”
“I’m sorry, I just…”
“I have a plan, Sarah. I’m not some aimless guy planning to scrape by for the rest of my life.”
“So let’s hear it.” She rests her head back and closes her eyes for a moment. “It’ll take my mind off what’s potentially at the end of this road we’re on.”
I’m about to assure her that all will be good in the end, nothing to worry about, but that’s a crock. And while I’m not exactly beaming with pride about my plans, distracting Sarah wins out over my discomfort.
“I took the college boards in May, and—”
“Wait,” she perks up, turning to face me, “you’re going to graduate?”
“I took the GED last year. Technically, I graduated from high school before you did.”
“OK,” she nods her head to encourage me, “go on.”
“I’m signing up for community college in September, then after I get my associates degree I’m hoping to get a scholarship so I can finish college somewhere far, far away from here.”
“You don’t like it here?”
“I don’t hate it. I like living by the water, I like spending time with my family…I just can’t stand my mom’s husband. He’s,” I consider the best way to describe Jeff and what he means to me, “like this constant, nagging presence in my life. An absolute zero who wants to convince me I’m even more of a loser than he is.”
She rests one hand on top of where mine sits on the gearshift. “I can’t imagine what that’s like. My parents certainly aren’t perfect but they’ve always made me feel likeIwas perfect in their eyes.”
