Dirt Road Home Page 16

“I know. I just feel like a redneck in this thing.”

  Caboose parked the truck and I got out. The school bell sounded before I’d made it to Rhonda’s car. I jammed my hands into my pockets and sucked up against the jitters in my stomach. Seconds later the kids poured out of the building and came toward us. I got to the Grand Am and leaned against the trunk.

  As the kids came closer, I noticed how clean and neat they all looked. How colorful they were, dressed in the latest fashions, everyone unique and independent. All of the girls looked so fresh and the boys so sure of themselves. I suddenly had doubts and pulled my hands out of my pockets and stood up straight. What am I doin’ here? I mumbled to myself. I looked toward the truck and Caboose was walking my way. He stopped beside me and I looked at him and met his eyes. He didn’t have to say anything. Just the look was all I needed. I turned and faced the students again and there was Carla. To me she looked like the prettiest of them all. And she was my girl and I was going to make her proud of me. A second later she saw me and a smile spread across her face. She ran to me and hugged me and I squeezed her hard and breathed in the smell of her hair.

  Dear Paco,

  I’m home again. The pine trees are waiting for you out here and Caboose is going to be fine. He’s started working with my daddy if you can believe that. We’re gonna get a second front-end loader and he’ll drive it full time. He’s also got a little house we’ve been fixing. It might be ready for the two of you to live in by the time you get out. You better come see us right after you walk through those gates. It all gets better again, I promise. See you soon.

  Your friend,

  Hal