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I glance at my mother standing behind me. ‘Go on, good girl.’
‘Are you coming?’ I falter. ‘Wherever it is that we’re going. Aren’t you coming with us?’ I’m thinking of my father sleeping inside the house.
Ma smiles. ‘I’ll meet you there.’
‘Meet us where? How will you get there? On foot? Can someone please tell me what is happening now?’ I say firmly, though I’m a little scared and unsure as I stand with one foot in and the other out of the car.
‘Annie, take the next step,’ Ma says. ‘You deserve it.’
I look in the car where Sketch is sitting confidently behind the steering wheel. He has one hand on the wheel and the other is reaching out to me. I twist my head over my shoulder and meet Ma’s bright eyes with mine. Her cardigan is wrapped around her with one side folded over the other as always, but she stands taller and bolder than I’m used to. She actually looks happy.
‘I’m not going anywhere until I know you’ll be okay,’ I say.
‘I promise I will be fine,’ Ma says. ‘I never break a promise, Annie.’
I may not have any idea what’s going on or how Ma knew Sketch would be waiting at the gate this morning, but one thing I do know is Sketch would never put her in danger. And Ma would absolutely never, ever break a promise.
‘I’ll be right behind you,’ Ma assures. ‘My ride will be along any minute.’
I’m about to ask what ride, but I don’t waste my breath. I know neither of them will tell me and spoil whatever this big surprise is. I don’t like surprises because they usually end with a fist pounding into my face. But today is different. Suddenly, I’m so excited about what lies ahead I finally realise what a surprise is supposed to feel like.
‘Would you do me a favour and put your hand in the side pocket of the door please?’ Sketch says as I sit in the car.
I shake my head, flustered, but I do as he asks.
‘You got it?’ Sketch smiles.
My fingers curl around a silk tie, and I pull my hand back out, dragging the tie with it.
‘That’s it,’ Sketch says.
‘It’s a tie,’ I announce.
‘Well, yes, usually it is. But today, it’s a blindfold.’
My shoulders rise, and my head drops to meet them. ‘Oh no, no, no. Wherever we’re going, I want to see it with my two eyes.’
‘Do you trust me?’ Sketch asks.
It’s the same question he asked the first day I sat in his car, and I never want to give him a reason to have to ask me again.
‘Yes. Completely,’ I say.
‘Then please, put this on.’
My head is telling me to say no, but my heart is already a step ahead with a curious yes.
‘All right,’ I blurt.
Sketch secures the tie around my eyes, making sure I can’t see anything.
‘No peeking,’ he warns as I hear the engine splutter to life and I feel us drive away.
Sketch and I sit in silence. The only sound is the roll of the wheels over the rubble of the road. Every bump and turn teases me as I try to guess where we might be going or even in what direction.
Sooner than I expect, the car comes to a stop.
‘We’re here,’ Sketch announces, excitement sticking to his words like treacle.
