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Zoe
The highway rolled by as her dismay grew. What had she gotten herself into? She couldn’t believe they’d lost her stuff, and now she was trapped in this car with three weird old biddies. Why had her grandmother brought friends? Was she afraid to be alone with her? What had her mother told her?
The one in the front—Vicky—was especially mean. And the one beside Zoe—Rachel, the one wearing a ridiculous, giant, floppy, pink hat—was overly friendly. Zoe looked out the window and tried to avoid conversation, and eventually, Rachel stopped trying.
Zoe was desperate for food but didn’t want to go to a restaurant with these three. She’d rather starve. She shifted in her seat. She knew she wouldn’t be able to get comfortable in the back seat of a small car, but she was trying to get less uncomfortable. Her long legs were folded up like an accordion, her knees nearly touching the ceiling. She was losing feeling in her feet. She realized the woman beside her was watching her and stopped squirming. That woman was no elf. She was fairly tall herself, so much so that the top of her goofy hat was smashed into the ceiling. Zoe couldn’t imagine why a woman would wear a hat like that, but even if she deemed it necessary, why didn’t she take it off in the car? Did she have a bald spot or something? Zoe glanced at the woman’s legs, which were nearly as jackknifed as her own. Why on earth had her grandmother given the front to the small, mean one?
“I think Zoe needs a pit stop,” Rachel said. “There’s not much room back here, and her legs are falling asleep.”
How could she possibly know that? Were her legs asleep too?
“Sorry, honey!” Gramma said, sounding truly sorry. “I should have thought of that. And you must be hungry too! Do you want to get some food?”
She decided it was worth the pain. “Sure. Thanks.”
“Of course! Now, where is the nearest grub?”
Zoe looked out the window. She couldn’t imagine. Based on the solid line of forest as far as the eye could see, they were nowhere near any “grub.”
“Freeport has lots of options,” Rachel said.
“Everything in Freeport is so expensive,” Vicky said. “I can’t imagine why they would name the town Freeport and then make everything the opposite of free!”
Zoe decided then that she really hated the woman in the front.
Gramma wrenched the rearview mirror to the right so she could look at her. “What kind of food would you like?”
She shrugged. “Any fast food.”
Gramma grimaced. “Oh, no, we need to get you something healthy.”
And there it was. It had begun. Zoe dropped her eyes, hoping no one would see her reaction. She wasn’t always so easily hurt, but that one had stung. She hadn’t imagined it coming from her grandmother, especially so early, especially in front of other people. Yes, she was too fat, but Gramma wasn’t exactly a wafer. Maybe she’d gotten her genes. Her mother had no trouble being tiny and skinny and perfect. But Zoe sure did. Zoe was an amazon, and she hated every inch of herself.
She felt Rachel’s eyes on her.
“Why don’t we let her get fast food this once? You can start nurturing her with home-cooked meals when you get home. Let her have a treat after her long day of traveling.”
“Fine.” Gramma didn’t sound the least bit upset to relent.
“Besides, I doubt Freeport will have many healthy options.”
Zoe was grateful for Rachel’s interference, but she didn’t meet her eyes; she didn’t want Rachel to see her tears.
“So, what is your favorite fast food?” Gramma asked.
Zoe swallowed hard, not wanting her voice to betray her crying.
As if she’d read her mind, Rachel answered for her. “I think the only fast food in Freeport is McDonald’s. There are a lot more choices if we wait till Topsham, but I doubt Zoe’s legs want to wait that long. Isn’t that right, Zoe?”
Without looking at her, Zoe nodded.
“She says that’s right. McDonald’s it is, then!”
“Good. I have to use a restroom!” Vicky added.
McDonald’s wasn’t her favorite, but she was still very excited to go there. She looked out the window and tried to get control of her emotions. She didn’t need to get caught crying in the McDonald’s parking lot.
