Page 63 of Rigid

I had no idea if I was supposed to be looking at the Harley or the car. “Oh wow,” I said.

“It’s mine.”

I still had no idea. I knew it was her birthday a few days prior, but hadn’t heard what she’d received. I didn’t suspect Smokey would buy her a Harley, so I rolled the dice and guessed the car was hers.

“That car?” I asked excitedly. “It’s yours?”

“P-Nut gave it to me.” She nodded eagerly. “Have you met him yet?”

“I haven’t.”

“He’s really sweet.”

“I like it. A lot. Guess what?”

She reached for the photo. “What?”

I walked to the sink and lifted the blinds. “Look in the driveway.”

My Volkswagen, although newer that hers, was a Beetle as well. It wasn’t much, but it might be enough that we could somehow develop a bond over our cars, if nothing else.

She peered over my shoulder. “Is that yours?”

“Yep.”

“I like it. Yellow’s a cool color.”

“It’s got a little flower vase on the dash, and I keep real flowers in it,” I said. “Well, most of the time. Sometimes they’re pretty wilted.”

She smiled. “That’s awesome.”

“Happy late birthday, by the way.”

“Thank you.”

I turned around, reached for my bag, and pulled out a small wrapped box. “I got this for you. Sorry it’s late.”

“You didn’t have to--”

“I know.” I shrugged one shoulder dismissively. “It’s just something small.”

She unwrapped it, opened the box and smiled. “Oh my God. I love it.”

“Some of the proceeds went to the Let Girls Learn fund, and the bracelet is called Girl Power, so I thought it was fitting.”

The bracelet, an Alex and Ani gold bangle bracelet, had a daisy charm, a because I’m a girl charm, a heart, and a Peace Corps charm.

“Are you serious?” she asked.

“About what?”

“It’s called girl power?”

I nodded. “That’s what it’s called.”

She raised her hand high in the air. “Girl Power.”

I slapped my hand against hers.