Page 12 of Shelter for Tanna

“Because I want to know about the important people in her life. Wow. That’s quite a collection you’ve got there.”

Max held up a small object. “This is Dobby, the house elf from HarryPotter.” He laid it back on a table and picked up another one. “This one is Popeye.”

“I see that! How many of those do you have?”

“I dunno. Thousands, I guess,” the boy exaggerated as he answered, looking around. “This one,” he said, holding another aloft, “is JackSkellington from Nightmare Before Christmas.”

“It is. And I see MickeyMouse over there.”

Max nodded. “That one’s new.”

PEZ dispensers. They were Max’s passion. Since the first time he’d held one at the age of three, they’d been his best friends. Every time they went to the store, he looked to see if there were new ones and if there were, he insisted on getting them. They weren’t horribly expensive, but they weren’t free, so she limited him to one each time. Sometimes it took him over an hour to decide which one he wanted, and she’d learned that she had to give him that time or he exploded with rage. But he wasn’t allowed to buy candy for them.

No, that was what she kept in the plastic box in the kitchen. PEZ candy was her bartering system with Max, and it worked fairly well. When she’d talked to his pediatrician about it, he’d said that no bigger than they were, the sugar wasn’t an issue if it helped her keep him moving forward. He’d grown to understand that if he behaved, he’d get a package of the candies, and it had made all the difference in the world.

Braden interrupted her thoughts when he said, “I’ve got something that I enjoy. It’s outside. Would you like to see it?”

Max’s head popped up and he stared at Braden. “What is it?”

“You’ll have to come outside to see. Is that okay?” he asked Tanna.

She nodded, then turned to Max. “Remember what appropriate interactions are like. If this goes well, you’ll get a pack.” Max nodded and rose from where he’d been sitting on the floor, then followed Braden to the front door, where Daniel joined them.

The minute she heard footsteps on the porch she heard Daniel’s voice. “Oh, wow. That’s amazing!” Tanna wanted to see what they were looking at, and when she peered out, she was startled.

There, in her driveway, was a mint-condition 1964Ford F100. Its perfect pearl coat was silver, and it had red rims that barely showed around the huge chrome hubcaps. Every piece of trim on it shone like a mirror, and she could see the beautiful red vinyl tuck-roll interior from the porch. It was pristine, almost like it had just rolled off the showroom floor. “Whoa. That’s gorgeous,” she whispered to herself.

She didn’t realize she’d said it loudly enough for him to hear until he said, “Thanks! She’s my baby.”

“What size engine?” Daniel asked.

“Two ninety-two V-8 with a double barrel,” Braden answered. “Come on out and see the inside.”

“Can I sit in it?” Max asked.

“Of course! Hop on up,” Braden offered and helped Max climb in.

“Look, Mom, it’s awesome!” the little boy called out.

“I see! Okay, you two, it’s time for us to leave. Let’s go back in the house and?”

“No. I want to ride in the truck!” Max yelled.

“We’re not going somewhere that you can go tonight,” Tanna explained.

Max’s eyes flashed with anger. “Then go somewhere else!”

“Remember appropriate interactions and what you get if you have appropriate interactions.”

The boy sat for almost a full minute as though lost in thought, then mumbled, “Okay,” and climbed down out of the truck.

“Let me run and get my bag. I’ll be right back,” Tanna said and followed the boys inside.

They’d barely cleared the doorway when Max wheeled and glared at her. “Appropriate interactions.”

“Yes. I know. Daniel, could you get him a package, please?”

“Sure thing. Here, squirt,” the older boy said and handed his little brother a package of PEZ candy.

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