After a few minutes, the same movies begin again and Chuck drives back onto the driving part of the road. The cars and buses and carts all honk and flash their lights like we are famous. Chuck turns on to a street with big homes, and parks in the front yard of one. People on both sides shout our names. He takes off his cap and his mustache and puts them in his hat.
“Are they itchy?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I just wear them because they make my passengers feel more comfortable when I pick them up,” Chuck says. “Now.” He leans over the seat. “I need to tell you a few things. This is important, okay?” Chuck has messy hair that looks like he needs his mommy to cut it for him. He is nice. Bing is right about that.
“When you’re done, I’m available to take you wherever you want to go as long as it’s within your time, unless, of course, another flight comes in. And then I have to meet that one.”
“Couldn’t you take us to Uncle Red’s now?” Finn asks as the crowd outside sings “Tomp-kins! Tomp-kins!”
“But if Uncle Red arranged all this, we can’t refuse to do it. It will hurt his feelings,” India insists.
“Tomp-kins! Tomp-kins!” People keep saying our name!
“You won’t want to miss this, trust me. It’s the most incredible experience of your life. Just keep your eye on the time, because it will be different for each of you. That’s the first thing to remember.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Chuck, the time is the same for everybody. Three o’clock for me is three o’clock for you.” Kids get confused sometimes, so I have to explain things to them.
Chuck puts his hands up. “Just try to follow, okay? Each of you is an individual and you have your own personal time.”
“I’m not confused. It’s you that’s confused, Mr. Chuck,” I tell him.
“Wait . . . why are you saying this? You’re not going to leave us . . . are you?” Finn asks.
“I’m afraid so. Now second thing, if you want me after, just call. But it has to be all three of you. They won’t let me come for just one. Bit of a vehicle shortage, I’m afraid. Carpooling is encouraged here.”
“After what?” Finn asks.
“Of course it would be all three of us, Mr. Chuck, sir,” I tell him. “My mom said India has to stay with us, and Finn is always here.”
India crosses her arms. “Look, you can’t just leave us.”
Chuck unrolls the windows. He tips his head toward the people shouting “Tomp-kins! Tomp-kins!”
“Listen to that,” Chuck says. He has the doors open and the feathers up. He must have an open-all-the-seat-belts button, because I did not touch mine and it’s unbuckled.
“If we want you after what?” Finn insists.
“Yeah, after what, Mr. Chuck?” I ask.
“Wait.” India buckles her seat belt again. “How will we call you? You said the cell didn’t work here. And anyway, I don’t have your number.”
Chuck smiles the nice smile with the dimples. “Thanks, India. I almost forgot. Here.” He gives a piece of wood to each of us. “Put the pieces together and I will be there.”
I turn the wood over in my hand. It’s carved with one leaf growing from a small branch at the top. It smells of trees. Each one looks like this, only different.
It’s a puzzle. But before I can put it together, we are out of the car, only I never told my arms or legs to get out. It isn’t a bumpy getting-out-of-the-car either. It’s smooth like when Mommy puts my honey in the microwave. I put the piece of wood in my pocket and grab my blue roller bag.
The air smells like flowers, dirt, and peanut butter cookies. Every step is springy like my feet are bouncing balls. People sing our names. My name makes a beautiful song. Almost as nice as Bing’s.
“Look! See! The Tompkins three,” people chant as Chuck waves good-bye.
My feet know where they’re going. I want to ask Bing how that’s possible, but he’s busy looking at everything. My feet walk me up a sidewalk made of smooth flat stones. The walk splits into three paths. Between the white stones are gray stones that make a giant M for Mouse and a small B for Bing. There is an F for Finn on Finn’s path and I for India on the end one.
The paths lead to big homes like on TV. India’s is teenagery sparkly with gold hangy things and a rug with India’s name in bright letters. There are round pink, lime green, and orange lights and a polka-dot carpet inside the open door. A fluffy white cat sits on the window seat.
Finn’s home is made of wood with a gray stone chimney. It has big windows and trees all around. It is an olden day’s house that smells like a fireplace and looks like a bear might visit soon. On the side is a basketball court with a real scoreboard and places for Mommy and me to sit and watch Finn.