“For the love of all things holy, move!”
Kel is on edge this morning. Traffic is a bear and he needs to get to work for a morning meeting.
“These motherfuckers drive like they’ve never seen the sun before.” He rolls down his window and screams out to no one in particular. “Move your fucking asses, you stupid morons!”
Finn and I shoot each other concerned glances.
“Kel, yelling isn’t going to help and honestly, you’re making me a little uncomfortable,” Finn says as he twists in his seat.
“Yeah. What’s gotten into you today?” Emerson asks as she files her nails.
“Traffic moves just fine every other day of the week, but whenIneed to get to work on time, all the idiots decide to go for a morning stroll. Move your asses before I move them for you,” he shouts again out the window.
Finn reaches over and presses a button. Kel’s window goes up.
“What the fuck?”
He tries to push it down again. When he can’t, he turns his anger on Finn.
“Did you child restrain me, you shithead?”
“Calm down,” Emerson says as I turn around to glare at him.
“You calm the fuck down!” Kel adds as he points to her angrily across Ernesto. Ernesto’s hands fly up over his head in response.
“Oh for the love of God, Ernie. Put your hands down,” Kel huffs as he turns back to face his window, crossing his arms.
“You know, you never did tell us why you don’t just drive yourself? Liz told me that Finn said you have a Chevy Convertible,” Emerson adds, motioning toward us as she speaks.
I grit my teeth to Finn and he shrugs as if he doesn’t care I told her. I wish she’d stop texting me all the time. I hate having to chat with her every night after work. I shouldn’t have said a thing.
“It’s none of your business,” Kel responds, biting on his nail.
“Hmm. You never seem to have your license on you and you have a car. Let’s see, people, what do you all think that means?” Emerson asks.
“Em, leave it alone,” Finn whispers with a sigh.
“No, inquiring minds want to know. We know Liz’s car is in the shop; I don’t own a car and was riding buses to work. And Ernesto, well, we don’t know anything about him.”
I swivel backward in time to see Ernesto smile and nod his head to her at the mention of his name. Why can’t everyone be more like him?
“But you? You’ve never explained why you need a ride to work.”
“Finn’s the one who’s driving and he doesn’t care, so why don’t you shut up before I make you,” Kel barks. There seems to be more nervousness than threat in his tone.
“Everyone just calm down,” Finn adds as we inch closer to a fender bender on the side of the road.
“See. It’s a gaper’s delay. We should pick up speed in a few. How about if we stop talking for a little while? Everyone take a deep breath and relax,” Finn says as his right hand raises and lowers to show us how to breathe.
Stealing a glance at him out of the corner of my eye, I’m thankful he’s the voice of reason. Quiet would be lovely.
I take a steadying breath as silence fills my happy ears. It doesn’t last long.
“And what kind of name is Kel, anyway? Are you named after someone?” Emerson asks.
“You just can’t keep your mouth shut, can you?” Kel asks, facing her once again. “Why don’t you eat some more snacks. At this point, I’d rather hear your stupid crunching than the sound of your voice.”
She sticks her tongue out at him in response. I turn back to face forward.
