It was the H1 freeway. A truck turned to miss me. The thing went all over the place, banging into automobiles. All the cars honked and cursed, and we caused a big jam. The driver of the truck, one of them good ol' boys, he come walking out and crushed his beer can on his forehead and tossed it away. He made his chest all big, and tried to start a fight with us. I tried to explain our situation. He put his hands on me. Vol woke up and got all up in his face and pushed him around. He looked at her in shock – she was all burned and black. Next thing I knew, she was beating the crap out of that guy. He was rolling around on the ground, holding his knee and crying. People stood all 'round, cheering Vol on.
Then we caught a ride home from some nun.
I had to break into my own place – shattered the window with a rock and unlocked the door and dragged Vol inside. I made us some rice and SPAM. Vol slept with me upstairs, in my bed. A knock on the front door woke me up, and I rushed down. I grabbed a broom. If it was Mum, I'd be ready to protect myself. She would be pissed that I didn't help her. Damn it all. I thought she was dead. Thought she was all burnt up. Another knock, and I opened the door with the broom held high above me, ready to strike.
It was Sherry. The mum of my dreams.
I cried, and she held me. We fell to the floor, and she cradled me. She said that everything was going to be all right.