“Wendell!” Pippa shouted. She waved from the top of the driveway as he got out of the truck, but he didn’t look up at the big house.
“He can’t hear you,” Julia told her.
Pippa scowled. “Hi, Wendell!” she shouted again. Julia covered her ears. For such a tiny person, she had a set of lungs on her.
Below, Wendell stopped and looked their way. He raised a hand in greeting. “Hello, Miss Pippa,” he said.
Julia sneered. He’d always called Pippa that. She used to think it was cute. Now she thought it was stupid. Fake, even. What did he care what happened to them?
“I’m riding a bike!” Pippa shouted.
“Good for you,” he shouted back. She had to admit it sounded like he almost meant it.Good for you,she thought.
But as she watched Pippa pick up her bike and swing her leg over the seat, it occurred to her that Wendell’s visit was in their favor. If Pippa needed an audience to do this, even if that audience happened to be the traitor Wendell Combs, so be it. Julia had bigger fish to fry.
“That’s right, Pip. Let’s show him.”
As Pippa scooted along the driveway on her tippy-toes, Julia hurried beside her. “Now, Pip, we’re staying up here at the top. Back and forth. Whatever you do, keep the handlebars pointed straight. We’re not going down the driveway.”
Pippa shrieked delightedly. “I sure hope not!”
Julia couldn’t help but smile; the transformation was ridiculous. Pippa could be so stubborn.
“All right. When you’re ready, put one foot on the pedal and push off with the other. I’ve got you.”
She waited while Pippa tried to balance. “But it’s wobbly!”
“I’ve got you,” Julia reminded her. She glanced down the driveway. To her surprise, Wendell was standing by his stupid truck.
Suddenly, Pippa pushed off. The bike wobbled left and right, and the handlebars turned. “Straight ahead!” Julia said, trotting alongside.
Pippa tipped, catching herself at the last second. They’d barely made it six feet, and Julia’s toes had narrowly missed being run over. “Okay. Try again.”
The next push-off, Pippa got her balance and made it almost all the way across the top of the driveway. “Okay, brake!” Julia called.
As directed, Pippa braked hard, and Julia steadied her.
From down below came the sound of clapping. Julia stole a glance.He can leave now,she thought.
But Pippa was thrilled. “Did you see?” she called down.
“You’re a natural,” Wendell shouted back.
“Let’s do it again,” Pippa said.
Just like the last time, they tried again, and again. Pippa was much more balanced this time. So much so that midway across the driveway, Julia let go. Pippa must’ve felt it, because she looked back sharply, turning the handlebars involuntarily as she did. Before Julia could stop it, the bike made a hard left and tipped, and Pippa went down with it.
“Pippa!” she shouted.
Pippa lay sprawled to the side, the bike tipped on top of her. Her lower lip trembled, threatening what Julia knew would be a good cry. “You’re okay,” she insisted. “This happened with Mom, remember? You got right back on.”
At the mention of their mother, Pippa locked eyes with Julia, and her lip trembled harder. Julia lifted the bike off her and pulled her gently up.
“Everybody okay?” Wendell shouted up to them. Julia had almost forgotten about him.He better not come up here,Julia thought as she dusted Pippa off. Thankfully, there were no scrapes on her knees or elbows. “She’s fine,” she shouted back. She had this under control. “One more time?” she asked softly.
Pippa looked very unsure, her eyes shiny with the threat of tears. “You’re doing so great!” Julia added. “Let’s show this bike who’s boss.”
“Okay.” Pippa’s voice was so little, Julia felt like she might cry, too. Wendell was stationed at the bottom of the driveway, arms crossed, like some kind of sentinel. Did he think he was still in the armed forces? She was thankful that her aunt had not poked her head out the door to check on them. Or, if she had, she’d at least left them alone. It was unlike the busybody.Maybe she choked on her tiny sandwich,Julia thought, smiling to herself.
