With arm braced against the front door, Mitzi stared at where Estelle''s car should be. Incredulous she asked, “Is Munch a car thief?”


    Well, he kinda was, but Lolly said, “No.”


    Pa asked Estelle, “Did he have a key?”


    Estelle shook her head. “He must have taken the spare I keep under the hood because I am always locking my keys in the car. The only driving he has done had been in the pasture. Oh, God! He''s going to get himself killed.”


    This was unbelievable and infuriating.


    With a catch in her voice, Estelle said, “If anything happens to him—“


    Grandma Toady cut her off. “Now, don’t go thinking like that.”


    Aunt Jessie asked, “Where’s Max?” She called for him, but no one answered. With a hint of fear in her voice, “Did he go to Kevin’s?”


    Oh, God, please, Lolly prayed, don’t let Max be with Munch and Kevin. Surely they wouldn’t do something so stupid.


    Phone calls were made. Max was not at Kevin’s but Kevin was at home. Kevin was smart. When questioned, he said he didn’t know anything and Kevin was not a liar. Next Aunt Jessie called Uncle Luke’s brother, Bob, who was a county sheriff. Oh, boy Munch was going to be in so MUCH trouble. He was an idiot and Max was one too. What had they been thinking, if they had been thinking at all?


    Within minutes, Aunt Jessie got a call from Bob. The boys were in a ditch not far from the cross road where Trevor lived. They were okay, but they were very shook up. Lolly couldn’t help but wonder if Max had talked Munch into driving passed the Long house.


    Estelle looked relieved. Aunt Jessie was furious! She told everyone in the trailer, “That son of mine is not going to know what hit him when I get through with him.”


    Pa said, “Let’s go get them.”


    Lolly said, “I’m coming too.”


    Pa and Estelle got in the truck, Lolly got in with Aunt Jessie. As they pulled out, Lolly noticed angry tears flowing down Aunt Jessie’s cheeks. Over and over she said, “That boy, that stupid, precious boy of mine.”


    Faster than was legal, Aunt Jessie roared down the road. Pa was close behind. In the distance lights flashed. They were almost there. With lights twirling, the sheriff’s car was parked on the side of the road. The Beetle was tipped front fender down in the ditch. Munch and Max stood between the sheriffs. Max was being conversational. Munch was hunched in on himself staring at the ground. He was crying. He should be crying. How could he pull a stunt like this on Pa’s first day home!?


    When they parked behind the sheriff''s car, Aunt Jessie and Estelle were out of the vehicles so fast they were a blur as they rushed to their sons. The look on Munch’s face was devoid of all anger. All he wanted was his mama. Estelle wrapped her arms around him and he broke into hard sobs.


    For Max it was a very different story. Aunt Jessie was laying into him, loudly. There was a crunch of gravel behind the Pinto. Lolly and Pa turned around. It was Uncle Luke in his big ass truck. He flew out his door, gave them a brief, “Hey,” and went straight for his son. The instant Max saw him, he started to cry. Uncle Luke opened his arms to him and Max collapsed into them. Beside them, Aunt Jessie was still at full spate, but a hurt look crossed her face. Max had not opened his arms to her.


    Pa and Lolly remained where they were as the sheriffs talked to Aunt Jessie, Uncle Luke and Estelle. Lolly heard the sheriff say, “Ma’am your son''s little shenanigan will keep him from driving legally until he is eighteen.” Munch started crying harder.


    Down the drive of the Long house, Mr. Long and Trevor appeared. They skirted around the sheriffs and came to where Pa and Lolly stood. Mr. Long asked, "Is everybody okay?"


    Pa said, "For the moment yes." He extended his hand and introduced himself to Mr. Long, “This is my daughter. Lolly.”Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    With a vague look of recollection Mr. Long said, “I''m Huey Long and this is my, son Trevor." To Lolly he said, "We have met before. You came to one of Trevor''s cross country meets."


    "Yes, Sir."


    Mr. Long glanced at his son and then turned his eyes back to Lolly.


    Trevor told his dad, “Lolly is my girlfriend.”


    “Really.” Mr. Long gave her a bemused smile. Lolly wasn’t sure, but he looked like he was okay with her being his son’s girlfriend. More that that, Lolly was stunned that Trevor had said she was his girlfriend in front of both their fathers.


    Pa extended his hand to Trevor and said, “It is nice to finally meet you.”


    The handshake Trevor gave Pa looked very firm. “It is nice to meet you too, Sir.”


    One of the sheriffs told the parents of the joy riders, “I think ya''ll best take these two to the emergency room to get some x-rays to check for concussions or fractures.”


    Aunt Jessie said, “Yes Sir, we will.”


    Pa said, “Excuse us for a second.” Lolly followed him to where the juvenile delinquents stood.


    Uncle Luke said, “Trace,” and shook his hand. Pa returned with, “Luke.”


    Lolly gave her Uncle Luke a hug because he looked like he needed one. As for Aunt Jessie, she was still furious. It was best not to interact with her when her face was that shade of red.


    The sheriffs'' car pulled away.


    Uncle Luke told Pa, “We are taking the boys to Lake Jackson.”


    Max said, “I’m riding with you, Dad.” He didn’t even look at his mother.


    “Fine,” said Aunt Jessie. “Estelle and I will follow you.”


    Before Munch got in the car to go, he hugged Lolly so tight she could barely breathe. In his ear she whispered, “I''m glad you are okay.”


    He whispered back, “I almost soiled myself. I am such an idiot.”


    Munch let go of Lolly and went back to his mom. Max gave Lolly an unexpected hug. Lolly told him, “I’m glad you’re okay.”


    “Me too.” Despite everything that he had just been through, Max cast a wistful glance in the direction of the Long house. Amber must be at work. Uncle Luke caught a hold of his shoulder and guided him to his truck.


    As Estelle walked passed Pa, he caught her hand and gave it a squeeze. He said, "I''ll take care of the car."


    "Thanks." She let go of his hand and got into the Pinto.


    Aunt Jessie growled, “I’ll call you after the two little joy riders have had their heads examined.”


    Pa said, “Okay, Jessie. Just take it down a notch.”


    She glared at him and said, “Sure thing Big Brother," and climbed into the Pinto. With an unnecessary rumble she roared down the road.


    Pa and Lolly went back to where Mr. Long and Trevor still stood.


    Mr. Long asked, “Is everything okay?”


    “The boys have to go to ER to get checked out first. They look okay to me, but its better to be safe than sorry.” With a glance at the Beetle, Pa asked, "Can I use your phone? I need to call a wrecker to haul the car to the garage.


    "Certainly," said Mr. Long.


    Pa and Mr. Long walked a head of them. Trevor was close, but he did not touch her. What would Pa think when he saw the inside of the house? Curiously, they did not go to the house, they went to the barn. They had a phone in their barn! Pa called a friend of his. When he hung up the phone he told them, "There is a wrecker near the vicinity. It should be here in a few minutes. To Mr. Long he said, "We best be getting back to the car."


    Mr. Long extended his hand and said, “It was nice meeting you. If y’all need anything don’t hesitate to ask.”


    “That’s mighty kind of you.”


    Lolly asked Trevor, "You want to come wait with us?"


    He smiled, the smile that was just for her. He said, "Sure."


    Before they reached the car, a wrecker came blasting down the road with lights flashing. The sight was unsettling. Lolly reached for Trevor''s hand. Pa sprinted ahead to meet the wrecker. Lolly stopped where she was and hugged Trevor. She pressed her face hard against his shoulder. She felt the warmth of his hand on the back of her bare head. No one ever touched her head but Pa. Part of her wanted to pull away and another part of her felt a curious sensation. There was comfort in Trevor''s touch.


    He asked, "Are you okay?"


    "Not really. Those flashing lights could have been an ambulance or worse." Her voice caught, "How could Munch be so stupid? I just pray he and Max are completely fine."


    "Me too." Gently, he stroked her head. It didn''t seem to bother him that she had no hair to stroke. If it didn''t bother him, then she shouldn''t let it bother her.


    The stars were starting to come out. The last light of the sun had faded. The wrecker made a terrible sound, and both Lolly and Trevor turned. It was hauling the Volkswagon out of the ditch. In the whirling lights Lolly could see how crunched the front of it was. The window shield was cracked on the passenger side. Had Max''s head done that? It was surely hard enough. She said, "We best get to Pa.". Hand in hand they walked to Pa''s truck. When they reached him, the wrecker was pulling away.


    Pa asked, "Ready to go?"


    She wasn''t but she said, "Okay." Lolly gave Trevor a hug, but not a kiss. Kissing a boy in front of Pa was not something she was sure she or Pa were ready for. Trevor’s lips did make contact with her ear and it sent a little thrill through her.


    He released her and said, "Call me and let me know how Munch and Max are."


    "I will." She got into the truck with Pa. Trevor stood on the side of the road and watched them leave. When Lolly looked into the rear view mirror he was still standing there. She didn''t know if he could see her but she turned to the the back window and waved


    Pa said, "He seems like a nice boy."


    "He is."