Runaways (Orphans 5)

"What should I do?" I asked in a panic.

"What's wrong?" Raven asked. Butterfly groaned and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Just cross the bridge," Crystal said quickly. "Don't act lost. Act natural. Act as if you've done this before. I'll figure something out afterward," she said, unfolding her maps.

I slowed down, read the toll cost and reached into my pocket for the money. An African- American woman who looked like she was about forty took the bill and gave me change without even looking at me.

"She couldn't care less who we were. That has to be one boring job," I muttered and then looked ahead at the George Washington Bridge all lit up. What a daunting sight, I thought as I started us across it, my heart thumping like a parade drum again. New York City came into view against the night sky.

"Look at that," Raven said, her voice full of amazement-The three of them put their faces to the window and gaped at the Empire State Building and the Twin Towers, all the buildings twinkling. Commercial jet planes seemed close enough to crash into them. It was breathtaking.

"I bet Broadway is lit up like a carnival," Crystal said excitedly.

"Broadway! Can we see Broadway?" Raven asked, jumping up and down in her seat.

"Yes, can we?" Butterfly chimed in.

"We've got to get back on track," I said. I wasn't sure I'd be able to drive in the city traffic.

"Oh, please. Let's just see it. It can't be far, right, Crystal?" Raven pleaded. "We're already here. We might as well make the best of the mistake."

"What do I do?" I asked as we approached the Manhattan side of the bridge.

"Stay on your right. We'll take the Henry Hudson Parkway and go downtown. Then, we'll let Raven and Butterfly see Broadway before we go through the tunnel and I get us back on the route. Stay alert now, everyone," Crystal ordered.

This late at night, there thankfully were no traffic jams. Following Crystal's instructions, I got off at 42nd Street and drove very slowly through the city streets until we suddenly burst out on Times Square. The lights and the signs were so overwhelming, I had to pull over. All of us just gaped at the big screens, the number of people walking the streets despite the time, and the traffic.

"Everything's so gigantic," Butterfly said, sticking her head out and looking straight up at a towering building. "It's beautiful," she cried.

"Someday, Butterfly, your name's going to be up there in lights," I said. "And Raven will sing on a stage here."

"And what about you?" Crystal asked.

"I'll own one of the theaters," I said. Everyone laughed, and then jumped when we heard a loud rap on the side of the station wagon.

A tall policeman stepped up to the car.

"And what do you think you're doing?" he asked. He leaned down, looked in at all of us and then stood up and squinted at me.

Oh no, I thought. If he asks for my license and registration, it's all over. All we would have accomplished was a ride to New York City.

"We just wanted to see the city at night, officer," Crystal interjected. "We just came in to visit my aunt."

"Well you can't park here. See? It says 'No Parking or Standing." He pointed to the sign in front of the station wagon.

"I'm sorry," I said.

He took a closer look at all of us.

"You should all be asleep now anyway," he continued. "Your aunt know you're out here?"

"We've just arrived. We're on our way to her apartment," Crystal said.

"You know how to get there?" he asked.

"Yes sir, we have good directions," Crystal replied.

"Move on, then," he said.