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“Hi there,” I whisper to Nora, who’s looking at me like I have twenty-five different heads.
“Hi, I’m Nora. Dad said your name is Penelope, I like that. I’m seven years old and in second grade. I hope there’s enough room next to me for you to sit. Dad said it would be fine but if you need me to I can move over more.”
I blink a few times as I process everything she says.
“I think there’s plenty of room, thank you for letting me ride with you and I’m sorry if I’ve made you late for school.”
“That’s okay, Dad always makes me late for school.” She glares at him over her shoulder. Boy is he in trouble.
“Thanks, Nora,” McHottie says. “Let’s get going before I get another call from the principal.”
“See,” Nora whispers. “Told you he always makes me late.”
“You do know I’m right here and can hear you right?” Brent says.
I can’t help but laugh at the scene in front of me. It reminds me so much of how my dad and I used to talk to each other when I was Nora’s age. A small ache forms in my chest
“Get ready for the worst smell ever when Dad starts driving. Not coming from him, but from the truck.” She giggles in my ear. “So what happened to your car?”
“I’m not sure exactly. I was driving and I stopped at the red light, and it just turned off. Your dad is going to take me to the auto shop after we drop you off and hopefully, they can fix it.”
“Ben can fix almost anything. He’s nice but kind of smells sometimes.”
“Nora, don’t tell people that,” Brent says as he tries to hide a laugh.
“Sorry, Dad but it’s true.”
Clearly trying to hold back a laugh, he just shakes his head and turns the car on. As soon as we pull out onto Main Street, the smell of the truck invades my nostrils, causing me to scrunch my nose.
“Yep,” Nora says. “Told ya.”
“Wow, that’s some smell your truck has there,” I say to Brent with a hint of amusement in my voice. “Maybe you should have Ben look at it while he checks mine out.”
When all I get is a glare from Brent, I decide to shut my mouth and not provoke my knight in shining armor. Even if the smell really is bad.
What the hellisthat?
The ride to the school is short. Brent and Nora chat about their Christmas plans and the events happening in town. Nora squirms in her seat as she talks, and Brent looks like he wants to throw up.
“Will you still be here when I get out of school?” Nora looks at me hopefully.
“I’m not sure. I don’t even know what’s wrong with my poor car.”
“Well, I hope you will be. I like you.” She reaches over and gives me a surprise hug.
“I like you too. Have a great day at school!”
She grabs her backpack and lunchbox from the footwell and hops out after Brent.
“Okay, little one, let’s go,” Brent says. “I’ll be right back. I just have to walk her in.”
“I’ll be here.”
The pair walk into the building, hand in hand, and a smile forms on my face as I watch them. Peeling my eyes away, I glance at the part of town we’re in while I wait for him to come back to the car.
To the right, across the street, is a tree-lined street that looks like it has cute houses on either side and people walking with their pets and families even though it’s freezing outside. Everything just seems so happy. Whenever you walk down the street in Manhattan, people are rushing, and if you get in their way, you’ll hear about it. Not many people smile at you in the city, and as big as it is, it’s easy to feel lonely.
Here, it’s the complete opposite.
