“What if we get some ice cream tomorrow?” Good to know he wasn’t above bribery. Lucas’s head changed direction, now quickly nodding. “If Julie says you behaved, we’ll get ice cream tomorrow.”
“Julie, do you like comics?” As Simon set Lucas down, my heart swelled. Once upon a time, I had been Lucas. I was about his age when Mom bought me a stack of comics to keep me quiet on a long car ride. I had gone from being areluctant reader to picking up anything I could get my hands on. Knowing I could make a difference for a kid… pure joy.
I couldn’t help but smile. Julie looked from Lucas to me. “This is your doing, isn’t it?” Did all teenagers have the ability to judge and not care at the same time? Too bad. I’d take this victory.
“Yup! Just wait until after the con. Every kid you babysit will be demanding you read them comics.”
“I’ll be there.” The statement lacked any emotion. When I said nothing, her body language shifted. “Mrs. Sampson is giving us extra credit if we attend. I figure, why not? How bad could it be?”
“Your unwavering support is appreciated.” She gave me a salute, missing the sarcasm. I made a mental note to reach out to Mrs. Sampson. If the teachers were on board, then I could expect Firefly’s teens to be in attendance.
Lucas grabbed Julie by the hand. “There’s this guy. He flies and has a really big axe. Oh, he shoots lightning, too.” He led her into the living room, where she plopped down on the couch. An hour to bedtime? I somehow didn’t think that’d happen.
I gestured out the door. “After you, good sir.”
I closed the door behind us, watching his ass as he stepped off the porch. When we reached the driveway, I felt embarrassed at the state of my truck. Here he was, dressed to the nines, and not only did I look like a bum, but I was going to drive him around in a rusted pickup truck.
“This yours?”
I debated stealing Julie’s car and claiming it as my own. The truck’s passenger door whined as he pulled it open. He climbed into the cab without a word. I followed suit, noting his dress shirt and tie, which looked out of place with the torn seat and busted glove box. I grew self-conscious. At least I had done a quick cleaning before I came over.
“Don’t judge,” I said. “Mom sold it to me after Dad gave up his license.”
“This is a judgement-free zone.”
“Dressed up like that, you’re raising the truck’s value.” When I turned the key, the truck rumbled to life.
“Are you sure I’m not overdressed? Maybe I should change. Yeah. Let me go change.”
If clothes were the issue, I knew how to nullify the disparity between us. I popped the truck in reverse and rolled down his driveway. “Too late now. I’m going to show you how we have a good time in Firefly.” As we hit the road, I couldn’t help but tease him. “Besides, you won’t be wearing them for very long.”
“Is this where you murder me?”
“Nah. You’re too cute for that.” We hit a bump in the road, tossing us about the cabin. We had left the pavement and, for the last five minutes, driven down a dirt road. As I turned off the dirt road, the power lines vanished. We had left civilization and entered the wilderness of Maine. “We’re almost there.”
“I thought we’d be driving around town.”
“That’s for tourists. You can see the town anytime. You need the real Firefly experience.” I reached behind his seat while using my knee to steer the truck. Pulling out a couple of towels, I set them between us.
“You’re not helping your murder defense.”
I laughed. “I shouldn’t mention I keep a shovel in the back?” It amused me to no end that for the locals, this wouldn’t raise a single red flag. Flatlanders and their need for safety, it bordered on adorable. The sinister thoughts in my head had less to do with murder and more to do with getting Simon out of those slacks. “Do you want the legend or the reality?”
“Curiosity piqued. Give me the legend.”
I appreciated his sense of adventure. “Firefly is known for its lumber industry, at least back in the day. Little known fact, we were also known for our rocks. They would mine these giant holes in the ground and then move on. Years ago, there was a drag race?—”
“Firefly had drag racing?”
I gave the engine a rev. “We’re wild people. What the guy didn’t know, the finish line was just before a quarry. He thought he was winning the race but drove his car into it.”
I slowed the truck as the tree line opened to a wide area. I popped the truck into park and opened the driver's door. The dome light revealed his confusion.
“Fun fact. There’s a car at the bottom of the quarry.”
“So, it’s not a legend?”
“Oh,” I laughed. “That’s the truth. The legend is, his ghost still haunts the place.”
