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I grip the steering wheel tighter “I bet you are” Brat I bet when Kitty starts driving, she’s going to be a speed dehtest concern for those around her But she’ll still probably be better at it than me A reckless driver is better than a scared one; ask anybody

“I’s like you are”

I adjust my rearview ”

“Is there a car coo, but hurry”

“Like how much time do I have?”

“It’s already too late Waitnow you can go Go!”

I jerk into the left lane and look inmy second pair of eyes”

As we push the cart around the store, I’et behind the wheel again My heart still races even as I’reen beans with dinner By the ti “Can you hurry? I don’t want to miss my next show!”

To appease her, I say, “Go pick out an ice cream,” and Kitty heads off toward the frozen-food aisle

The way hoht lane for blocks and blocks so I don’t have to switch lanes The car in front ofat a snail’s pace, which suits nore her and keep doing what I’ wheel so tightlyto be all ripes “And I’ve o to the fast lane?”

“Kitty!” I screech “Will you just let me drive?”

“Then drive already!”

I lean across the console to cuff her upside the head, and she scoots closer to theso I can’t reach her “Can’t toucharound and beoff a highway exit He’s going to have tofast I look over my shoulder for my blind spot, to see if I can switch lanes Every time I have to take my eyes away from the road, even for a second, I feel so much panic in my chest But I don’t have a choice, I just holdbad happens I exhale

My heart races the whole way ho their horn atAnd the ice creaet easier each ti

I can’t stand the thought of Kitty being scornful ofsister I have to be soot How can Kitty look up to ht I pack Kitty’s and my lunches I make what Mommy used to make us sometimes ent on picnics at the winery in Keswick I dice up a carrot and an onion and fry it with sesaar; then I mix in sushi rice When it’s cooked, I scoop pats of rice into tofu skins They’re like rice balls in little purses I don’t have an exact recipe to follow, but it tastes right enough When I’et on a ladder and search for the bento boxes Mommy used to put them in I finally find them in the back of the Tupperware cabinet

I don’t know if Kitty will re these rice balls, but I hope that her heart will

46

AT THE LUNCH TABLE PETER and his friends can’t get enough of the rice balls I only get to eat three “These are so good,” Peter keeps saying When he reaches for the last one, he stops short and quickly looks up at me to see if I noticed

“You can have it,” I say I knohat he’s thinking of The last piece of pizza

“No, it’s all right, I’ood”