Night Road

“I don’t drive,” her mom said, looking nervously at Daddy.

“That’s weird,” Grace said. “All mommies know how to drive. ”

“I’ll get my license back,” Mommy said. “By first grade, I’ll be ready. Now, how about breakfast? I’m starving. ”

Grace launched herself onto Daddy’s back, and Daddy carried her into the kitchen, plopping her down in her seat at the table.

All the time she was eating, she couldn’t help staring at her mommy. She could tell that Daddy couldn’t help himself either. It felt like being a family.

And Grace could think of a lot more to say to her mommy now. Through breakfast and out to the car, Grace talked. She told Mommy about how bendable Barbie was and how cool Hannah Montana and Cinderella were and how long she could hold her breath, and before she knew it, she said, “An I c’n waterski like Ashley Hamerow. ”

They were in the car now, driving to school.

Mom turned in her seat and looked at Grace. “Is that true?”

“It could be. ”

“But is it?”

Grace slumped in her car seat. “No. ” It was hard to only tell the truth. How would anyone like her for who she really was?

At school, Dad pulled out of the carpool lane and parked under the big trees off to the side of the school.

“Can I walk you into class?” Mommy asked.

Grace got that fluttery feeling again. She smiled. “You could be my show and tell. ”

Mommy smiled. “I’d like that. ”

They walked through the crowd of children, and Grace started to feel sick. Mommy was gonna notice that she had no friends.

But all the way to the classroom door, Mommy held her hand, and when they got there, she knelt down and looked at Grace.

“You remember when I told you about my best friend, Mia?”

Grace nodded. She wanted to suck her thumb, but the kids would just make fun of her for that.

“I was so scared the day I met her. It was the first day of school, and no one liked me. I ran out of the lunchroom ’cause I couldn’t sit with anyone. And then I saw this other girl sitting all by herself. And I just went up to her and started talking. That’s how we became best friends. You have to take a chance, Grace. Talk to someone. ”

“Okay, Mommy. ”

Mommy pulled Grace into a fierce hug and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be here to pick you up when school’s over. ”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” her mommy said, and then she backed away.

Grace looked nervously into the classroom, where kids were busy doing all kinds of things. She saw Samantha standing by the cubbies, all by herself. “Ariel? Are you here? I need you. ”

Go on.

Grace looked down at her wrist; she saw a flash of yellow and heard a sound that was like laughing, or maybe like the waves in front of Nana’s house. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “What should I say?”

You know what to say. You don’t need me anymore, Gracerina.

“I do! Don’t go. ” Grace started to panic. Her cheeks got hot. She was afraid she was gonna cry.

Go on, Gracerina. You have your mommy now. Trust her.