Page 49 of The Syphon King

“Yes,” is all he said.

She looked at all the stores and people everywhere. “What first?”

“You’ll need to start the truck.”

She did it, too nervous to be offended by the humor coloring his tone.

“Now, check your mirrors.”

She eyed each one. “Done,” she said, breathless.

“Next, put your foot on the brake and the truck in reverse.”

She pressed the brake and grabbed the shift. “What about blinkers?”

“What about them?”

“Don’t I use them? To signal other drivers?”

“If you want.”

“If I want?”

“Pulling into the space you do, but pulling out is not so necessary here.”

Not necessaryhere?“I can’t imagine a worst-case scenario, but it sounds like there is one and I think I should practice for that, don’t you think?”

“Good idea, Ma Petite,” he agreed. “Use the blinker.”

She paused, stumped again. “Here’s a stupid question. Which blinker?”

“The side that is going into traffic,” he said very patiently.

God that was common sense. She put her blinker on and checked her mirrors again. “Foot on brake, truck in reverse,” she verified.

“Now, ease off the brake and turnyour steering wheel right.”

“Ease off the brake and turn the steering wheel right.” Repeating it didn’t help. “Can I turn right and then ease off?”

“Yes, you can, this time.”

“This time?”

“You need to be able to do both simultaneously, but for practice, do them separately.”

“Okay.” She strangled the steering wheel. “Do I turn it all the way right?”

“You can.”

“Bishop!” she cried. “Is it right or not? Can we just stick to yeses and nos?”

“Yes,” he said, his laugh threatening.

She realized she was lost now. “Yes, I can turn all the way right?”

“Yes. And check your mirrors.”

“Check mirrors again. Right, left, and rear.”

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