806 by Cynthia Weil

Author:Cynthia Weil
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781939100269
Publisher: Tanglewood Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2018-03-08T05:00:00+00:00

chapter sixteen

When I woke up, we had reached Sedona for sure. The sky was turning pink and orange, and the strange red rock formations looked just like the ones I’d seen in pictures. There were castles and rabbit ears and Snoopy, and even a few that looked like body parts. The whole landscape had a funny kind of otherworldly feeling to it, like we’d entered some kind of parallel universe. I took a peek in the mirror. Unfortunately my hair looked like crap in this universe, too.

“Next right is Mountain Road, Gabe,” Jesse said as he traced our progress on a map.

I sat up, ran my fingers through the stuff on my head, and tried not to think about my follicles. I didn’t want anything to spoil the moment that was waiting for me, the moment of meeting my bio dad, the real one.

The route kept winding, taking us higher up into the mountains. The dust swirled around the Jeep as we bumped along the unpaved road. There were no houses along the way, just rocks and trees and some places where bunches of daisies grew out of the dirt alongside the road. I thought they looked like hope would look if it were a flower.

“Whoa, Gabe, slow down!” Jesse ordered, and I felt my heart beating double time. There was a sign up ahead, and as we drew closer, we could see it: PINCHEKUS CERTIFIED HYPNOTHERAPY AND FAMILY COUNSELING – 2 MILES. We exploded with cheers, and Gabe pressed down on the accelerator.

In a little while, we slowed to read another sign: HEADACHES? LICENSED KINESIOLOGIST 1.8 MILES. We cheered again. Then another: REGISTERED TATTOO ARTIST AND CONFIDENTIAL BODY PIERCING BY WILLARD – 1/2 MILE. We cheered a little half-heartedly.

“That’s probably just a hobby,” Gabe said.

“Sure,” I agreed. “He’s an artist.”

“Let’s hope so,” said Jesse.

Then: ACCREDITED AIR DUCT CLEANING 500 YARDS. Our cheer was kind of feeble this time. It faded completely at MEDICAL COLONICS and then exploded when we saw the lettering under it: NOT HERE. 5 MILES BACK ON RED ROCK ROAD.

“Gabe, stop for a minute,” I said.

Gabe pulled to the side of the winding dirt road.

“You look fine,” he said. “Believe me.”

“It’s not that,” I told him. “I want to remember this moment and how it feels. It’s my last moment of not knowing who I really am. After today, that empty place inside me is gonna be filled in and filled up. I’m going to make sense to myself and to the world.”

“It can only be an improvement,” cracked Jesse.

“Shut it down, man,” Gabe reprimanded him. “She’s right. We should do something like drink a toast.”

“My bad,” admitted Jesse, pulling a water bottle from the cup holder. “Here’s to 908—to Willard, our dad. Pinchekus kids rule!” He took a swig and passed it to Gabe. Gabe gulped and handed it me. I took it and finished off the bottle.

“I’m ready now,” I said. “Let’s go, boys.”

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