Seriously I say Did that sign say Population 510 There are practically more people than that on the block where we live Where we used to live What sign says Dad I need to pee again I say I weaseled a Coke out of Dad at the last rest stop and now I'm paying the price We'll be there in two minutes Mom says as Dad turns off the highway onto a service road It's the first thing she's said in about a hundred miles Dad turns down a tree lined street and then another and stops suddenly in front of another sign Sammy is asleep in his car seat I tickle his feet through his socks and his eyelids flutter but he doesn't wake up This sign is a faded yellow with The Jewel Motor Inn painted in red letters with a black outline Some of the paint has worn off and the wood underneath shows through The weeds under the sign are tall enough to tickle the bottom of the J. On the top someone has taped a smaller sign made of cardboard Closed Reopening Monday July 6 Today is Monday June 29
Dad turns into the entrance and stops halfway into the parking lot next to a little playground that's really just two busted swings and one of those painted metal horses on a giant spring from the olden days There's a sandbox though even from the car I can see it's full of weeds and garbage The playground around the corner from our old apartment in the middle of the city is bigger than this one A lot bigger Dad parks in front of a two story building the color of dried mustard Mom sighs and he leans over to give her a kiss Here's to new beginnings he says Mom sighs again I don't think she likes new beginnings Seeing the Jewel Motor Inn up close I'm not sure I do either Though it's not like I have a choice After Dad lost his job we had to give up our apartment and now my two best friends will be five hours away and having a new beginning without me Dad gives me a big smile the kind adults give you when they're trying to make you feel something they don't Welcome home he says Mom and Dad get out of the car and tell me to stay with Sammy who is still sound asleep his head tilted to one side and his lips pursed like he's
dreaming about kissing even though he's only two and a half years old I open my door and stand next to the car so I can get a better look at my new home The hot muggy air outside feels like the air in the city but smells different Greener I guess On the first floor right in front of our parking spot is a glass door with Reception painted on it in faded letters There are two big planters on either side of the door filled with dried out brown plants Mom comes out the door A bell jingles when it opens She reaches into the car and grabs her phone I have to pee I tell her Stay with Sammy please Miriam Mom says She shuts the car door too hard and Sammy wakes up Out he says rubbing his eyes and looking at me Out I reach over and squeeze his chubby little hand three times for I love you like Grandma taught me when I was little When I unbuckle him he climbs into the front seat and pretends to drive I scramble into the passenger seat to make sure he doesn't honk the horn He's lucky He's too young to have real friends to leave behind He didn't care about leaving his room
or his school or his favorite teacher His whole world is still with him Come Sammy He grabs my hand and we head into Reception just as Mom and Dad come out I peek behind them The room is empty Where are the people who are supposed to show us everything I ask No one's here Dad says frowning They left Mom starts taking things out of the trunk Sammy's stroller a cooler of sandwiches and snacks two small suitcases for me and Sammy and a big one for her and Dad The rest of our stuff is coming later in a truck They left I’m confused The previous owners were supposed to stay here with us for a week and teach us everything about running a motel Mom slams the trunk hard Sammy lets of my hand and starts to run out into the parking lot Dad grabs him and holds him upside down and tickles the part of his belly sticking out over his diaper His giggle is the only sound for what seems like a go million years Dad stays in the parking lot yelling at someone on his cell phone while Sammy and I follow Mom back into Reception I can smell chlorine and it reminds
