10
On the Road
.
For a moment I thought Uncle Linden had
forgotten every word we had spoken yesterday. He was sitting on the porch as usual, and he looked very relaxed and contented. The expression of surprise on his face when we pulled up on Heyden's moped convinced me he never really expected us to return, at least not as soon as this.
"Say," he said as we walked up to the porch. "shouldn't you guys be in school?" He checked his watch. "Today a holiday or something?"
"We've left school for good, Uncle Linden," I said. Just saying it made me tremble a little.
"Oh?"
"We're going ahead with the travel plans." Heyden said. "I've made all the arrangements. You remember everything we discussed last night, right?"
Uncle Linden smiled. "You mean, leaving on a motor home?"
"Yes, exactly."
Uncle Linden patted his jacket's breast pocket. "My bank book is right here," he said. "I figured I'd keep it on me just in case."
"Great. Okay. Here's our plan. We're going for a walk. At the corner of the next block there's a drugstore. I'll have a cab meet us there. We'll go directly to the owner of the motor home and pick it up."
"That's good," Uncle Linden said. That way no one here butts into my business."
"Hannah," Heyden said, turning to me. "Take Uncle Linden in and get only what is absolutely necessary from his room. Then tell Mrs. Robinson you're taking him for a walk."
"There's nothing in there that I want," Uncle Linden said suddenly and stood up. "Let's just go."
"But what about Mrs. Robinson?" I asked.
"No, he's right." Heyden said, lowering his voice. "If she knows he went off with us, she'll tell your parents, and they might get the police to stop us before we leave somehow. This will buy us that much more time undetected, C'mon. Let's make tracks while we can do it unnoticed."
He started away, and to my surprise. Uncle Linden, with a vigorous gait, followed. I looked back at the front door. No one had come upon us yet. but I was very nervous. I had never taken him away from the building without letting someone know, Then I thought, take him away from the building? What's that? You're taking him out of the whole state!
"Walk him to the drugstore," Heyden said, getting on the moped. "I don't want to leave this here. I'll meet you there."
He started up and drove off. I looked back at the residency again and then took Uncle Linden's hand, my heart thumping so hard I was sure he could feel the drumbeat in my fingers, and started across the street. We went nearly the whole block without speaking.
"Are you very sure you want to do this with us, Uncle Linden?" I asked.
"I'll let you in on a secret," he said, smiling. "I didn't sleep all night thinking about it."
"Really?"
"This is the nicest thing you could do for me. Hannah. Thank you." he said. and I walked faster. By the time we arrived at the drugstore. Heyden had called for the taxicab.
"Where is your moped?" I asked, seeing our packed pillowcases beside him.
"Sold it." he said. "for twenty bucks." He showed me the bill.
"You sold it for only twenty dollars?"
Had to get rid of it fast, and this young guy standing here waiting for a bus couldn't believe his luck."
"I'll bet," I said.