Page 31 of Goodbye Paradise
Washington slapped the table and grinned.
I smiled too, because it was contagious. "Maggie has milkers? No way!" We were going to see Miriam's sister. And Massachusetts. And there was a room for people who needed a room.
Astonishing.
Caleb pushed his leg against mine again, and I’d never felt so optimistic in my life as I did right then.
Icould barely toleratethat day’s ten hours of driving, because I just wanted to get there so bad. But Caleb was in a lively mood, sitting up front playing a guessing game with Washington. This came about when Washington had expressed dismay that Caleb and I had learned so little after the third grade. Caleb had joked that he wished there were a way to earn a living reciting the good book, because he and I could clean up.
So the two of them were trying to stump each other, and Caleb had just scored a point for: “my soul melteth for heaviness.”
Washington couldn’t guess it, so I called out “Psalm 119,” from the bunk.
“Eh,” Washington complained. “The King James version is the problem. I know that verse as ‘my soul is wasted with sorrow.’ Just figures that your people would pick the ugliest translation there is.”
It did, in fact, just figure.
About a year later (although I may be exaggerating) we finally exited the highway in Fishkill, New York. Washington pulled the truck over on the shoulder. “I’m not gonna be able to park at that hotel, boys. So Imma gonna say goodbye to you right now.” He fished his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out a card. “This is my home address, and my cell phone number. You have a problem finding your friends, you call me. But I don’t expect that to happen. Idoexpect, however, to get a letter from y’all after you get settled.”
“Thank you, Washington,” I said quietly. “Thank you for saving us.”
“You boys gonna save yourselves. I just helped a little bit.”
“We do appreciate it, though,” Caleb said.
“I know.” He put the truck in gear. “See that sign lit up ahead? You’re going into the Holiday Inn. Maggie made a reservation in Caleb’s name. If you have any trouble, call me quick, so I’m not too far down the road when the phone rings.”
“We’ll be fine,” I assured him.
“I know it. Your friend Maggie sounded like the best kind of lady. Now you two get ready to hop out, before I get all emotional.”
Caleb laughed as the truck slowed to a stop on the street in front of the hotel. “We’ll write you,” he promised opening the door.
“You’d better.”
Caleb moved aside, which allowed me to jump down first. After a moment, he followed me. But I saw him drop something onto the seat before he slammed the big door.
“What was that?” I asked.
“Two hundred bucks from the pawn shop money,” he said.
“Sneaky.”
“Wish I had more to give him.”
So did I.
The hotel lobbywas shinier than the other two hotels I’d seen on our journey. The woman behind the desk found our reservation right away. “Your room has been pre-paid. Let’s see… we’ve assigned you number 112, which has two double beds.”
“Awesome,” Caleb said.
The discussion of beds gave me a twinge of discomfort. I was used to hiding my desires from the world. But now Caleb was my accomplice.
We were told where to find the restaurant, and that check-out time was noon. Then we went to find room number 112.
Eight
THE DOOR OPENED WITH a click. We walked inside, and Caleb shut it behind us. Then he leaned on the door and sighed. “How lucky are we?”
