I was thinking she was nobody to this kid. Just an old woman with a paper license and a pan of bars. I was thinking that I was the one with the good job and the good shoes, so it was up to me to fix it. I had my phone in my hand. I was going to call someone.
I did not know who to call.
That is the truth, and it sat in my stomach like a stone. I had been gone twenty-two years. I did not know one single phone number in that whole county that wasn’t hers.
At forty minutes, he got out of his truck with his ticket book.
He took his time walking up. He stood in front of her with his feet planted wide and flipped the cover of the book back.
“All right, ma’am. I’m writing you for impeding traffic, and for no valid license in your possession. The computer isn’t giving me what I want on this.” He flicked the yellow paper with his fingernail. Flick. “And since I can’t verify you’re licensed to operate this vehicle, I’m going to have it towed. Your son can call somebody to come pick the two of you up.”
