“There’s one on the way...” Shiloh tried to picture it. She didn’t want to take wrong turns in front of Cary.
Cary was sitting mostly sideways and bracing himself on his mom’s seat.
“You should be up front,” Lois said. “There’s more legroom.”
“I’m fine,” he said. “I’m grateful for the ride.”
“God knows I owe you a ride,” Shiloh said. “I owe you a thousand rides.”
“Are you really my mommy’s friend?” Junie asked, feigning disbelief.
“We went to school together,” Shiloh said.
“They werebestfriends,” Lois added. “Birds of a feather.” She was twisting in her seat to look at Junie. “You look so much like your mommy.”
“No,” Junie said. “I have brown hair, and Mommy has black hair. And I have blue eyes, and Mommy has brown eyes.”
“You look just like her,” Cary said, looking down at Junie, unsmiling.
“No!” Junie said, covering her face.
“No!” Gus echoed, whimpering.
“Don’t mind Gus,” Shiloh said. “He’s going through a blue period.”
“We don’t mind Gus.” Lois patted Shiloh’s arm. “He’s perfect. I’ve got some candy—can they have candy?”
“No,” Cary said.
“Let Shiloh decide.” Lois was already reaching for her purse, struggling against the seat belt.
“It’s diabetic hard candy,” he said.
“It’s not diabetic,” his mom grumbled. “It’s sugar-free.”
Gus’s whimpers were getting louder.
“Actually,” Shiloh said, “if you don’t mind Disney music...” She turned up the CD. “They like to sing.”
Junie was aghast. “Mommy, I can’t sing in front of people!”
“That is patently untrue,” Shiloh muttered.
“I don’t mind singing in front of people,” Lois said. “I know this one.” It was “The Bare Necessities.” She started singing, much louder than Shiloh was expecting.“Forget about your worries and your strife.”
Gus stopped crying to stare at her.
Junie started laughing. “I think Gus likes your voice!”
“You better sing with me,” Lois said.
Junie started singing, hiding her face.
They kept singing all the way downtown. Junie very quickly forgot that she was hiding. She asked Cary if he’d like to sing, too.
“I’m sorry,” he said seriously. “I have too much on my mind.”
After two songs, Lois said she had to catch her breath, so Shiloh sang with Junie instead.
