Page 7 of Praying for Thunder

I was snatched up and in her arms before I could blink in surprise. A light swat hit my butt. Then she growled in my ear, “English.”

I nodded before resting my head on her shoulder, careful to not let my sunglasses dig into the side of my face. “Yes, Ani.” Watching us pass by cars in the parking lot, I whispered, “Sorry.”

“Me too, baby. But you have to do as I say.”

On the sidewalk, I sadly promised, “I will, Ani.”

She kissed my hair. “You are such a good boy.”

When I felt a tickle against my side, I couldn’t help but laugh, instantly feeling lighter.

“Ready for the bus?” she goaded.

Oh, wow. I loved the bus and lifted my head from her shoulder, already visualizing the bus stop.

Down a couple streets and around another corner, I walked side by side with my Ani, holding her hand like the good boy she said I was.

At the bench, I sat on Ani’s lap, my legs swinging with excitement for the bus I rarely got to ride. Only when the car broke down.

“Ouch!” squealed Ani.

I winced, “Sorry,” when realizing I had rammed a heel of my sneaker into her shin.

She chuckled. “You can’t help growing like a weed.”

I threaded my thumbs in my overall straps. “What is a weed, Ani?”

She played with my blond hair sticking out from under my hat. “A determined plant.”

To not hurt her leg again, I wrapped my shoes behind her calves and held on. “I like plants.”

I heard the loud bus before I saw it. But, as soon as I did see it, I leaped from Ani’s lap. “It’s here!” I spun on my toes and reached out my cupped hands. “Now?”

Ani stood, reaching into her pocket. “Now.” Coins dropped into my anxious hands. “Don’t drop them!”

“I won’t! I won’t!” So excited my heart was pounding, I spun back around and waited.

Ani’s hands held my shoulders. “What do you have to do?”

My feet were ready to climb the stairs as soon as the doors opened. “Wait ‘til it stops.”

“That’s my boy.”

Like a wild horse ready for a pen’s gate to open and set him free, I waited for the big bus’s wheels to stop turning. As soon as they did, Ani and I walked on in unison.

Shhhh, clunk, clunk. The doors opened.

Hands full, I still tried to wave to the bus driver. “Hi! I have money for you!”

From his seat, he smiled. “Then, come aboard!”

I took each next difficult step as if I was the luckiest little boy in the whole world. “Thank you, sir!”

Once at the money machine, my fingers tried to maneuver around all the change so I could properly grab one coin at a time.

I heard Ani whisper behind me, “Sorry.”

The bus driver kept smiling, watching me. “Not at all. This kid has made my day. No one finds this bus so exciting.” He leaned toward us and quietly said, “They’re usually rude.”