The next day dawns bright and, fueled with a cup of perhaps too-strong coffee – Stephen winced when he drank it – we are off on the road as soon as we can.
The boys’ interest in road life is renewed, luckily, when they discover a set of bingo cards that allows them to win by looking for disgusting things on the side of the road.
“I saw a flat dead frog! I did! I saw it!”
Alvin’s yell makes me wince, but I don’t stop him. Leaning against Victor in our usual spot, I let the boy’s eagerness suffuse my tired limbs, make me stronger.
“You did not!” Ian argues back, pointing vehemently at the window. “It wasn’t a dead frog! It was just a gross old sock!”
“Oh…” Alvin’s face falls as he considers this possibility. “Wait, no! I’ve got that too!”
He draws a vehement red X on his board and sta
