A Little at A Time

Chapter 9
A Visit to Kevin's House

After the bloodwork and a trip to the fast-food drive through, I sat contentedly in the passenger seat of Jessica’s car, munching away on my chicken nugget meal. They were delicious. As we turned on to Pam’s street, I felt almost overcome at the thought of seeing Kevin and Ashley. Like I’ve said, on some level, I knew it was ridiculous, but I couldn’t help feeling really happy and excited. As we pulling in the driveway, I started tugging on the seatbelt, which I couldn’t unbuckle again for some reason – it was like my fingers weren’t working right. Jessica helped again. I leapt out of the car and ran to the front door, with Jessica close behind. I knocked on the door and Pam answered after a second or two. Immediately on seeing her, I blurted out excitedly, “Where are Ashley and Kevin?!” She responded. “Uh, they’re upstairs in Kevin’s room playing, why?” I darted past her and up the front stairs, taking them two at a time. I heard Jessica call out from behind me: “Tim, you could at least say hello to Pam!” Whoops, I realized how rude I had been, but I didn’t stop. “Hi Pam!” I shouted as I continued up the stairs, anxious to see what the kids were doing and not wanting to miss another minute.

I had a hard time leaving Pam’s house. We were having so much fun! The first few times Jessica called upstairs to say it was time to go, I just ignored her and kept playing with Kevin’s train set. “Dad,” Ashley said, “I think it’s time to leave.” “No!” I protested and just continued on. Ashley went downstairs and I could hear her tell Jessica “Dad won’t come.” Jessica called out again, this time I could hear that she was upset. “Tim, please come down, it’s time to leave!” “No!” I returned. Jessica came up the stairs, put her hands on her hips, looked at me and yelled: “Timothy, we need to leave. Now. get up and let’s go!” I felt sort of startled at the way she talked to me. But I got right up. She took me by the hand and we walked downstairs. I said goodbye to Pam, who looked at me with a pained, concerned expression.

As we walked to the car, an idea occurred to me. “Jessica, can I sit in the back with Ashley?” “Sure,” she said. Without saying a word, Jessica helped buckle me into the backseat and then walked around the car to help Ashley with her seatbelt. Ashley and I didn’t stop talking the whole way home.