Jude
Their sorry umbrella was no match for the wind. Jude shoved it into the first trash can they passed. Spider whined his head off and for once Jude couldn’t blame him. The Dollar Store was on the very edge of town, and by the time they got there, they were drowned rats. The back to school stuff took up a whole depressing aisle. Spider hung a left, headed for the toys. Jude started to follow him, but his phone pinged with a text.
Found her!
Jude exhaled. He hadn’t realized how worried he was that she’d flake. Yeah, she’d said she’d go, and yeah, she was stubborn as dirt, but still. Kids bigger than her would’ve been scared to go to the house alone. Not to mention, it was a monsoon out there.
It was probably time to quit being surprised by this girl.
His thumbs twitched. He had a million questions. Was True okay? Had she been howling and barking? Had Gladys seen anybody else on the street? How long could she stay? Did she come up with a better plan yet?
Ping!
We need more dog food!!
Spider was pulling toys off the shelf and lining them up on the floor for inspection. An old lady in a plastic rain hat carefully stepped around him.
Hello? U there?
The girl had lightning fingers.
“This!” announced Spider, choosing a plastic train set. “And this.” A box of plastic dinosaurs. He started for the checkout, leaving the mess of toys all over the floor.
“Hey kid!” called the guy at the checkout. “This your brother?”
Spider had cut to the head of the line and was putting his stuff on the counter
Ping!
True needs u I can tell
He stared at the phone.
“Coming!” Jude started throwing the toys back on the shelf with one hand, texting with the other.
How?
How what?
Can u tell?
A pause. Jude stood up and stared at his phone, willing her to answer.
Ping!
I see it in her eyes