"Daddy, do you think I'll make new friends in Texas?"
"Are you kidding, Wanda? Kids won't be able to resist that adorable smile." Steve nudged his daughter and she couldn't fight the grin that spread on her lips. "And you know what, I bet you'll have a best friend before we've even been there for a year."
"I hope so, but I still want to visit my old friends!"
"I know, pumpkin. We'll come back soon to see them, okay?"
"Okay!"
When they reached their seats, Wanda plopped down in hers without delay. She glanced at the lady next to her who was sitting by the window. Wisps of red hair had fallen out of her serviceable bun, framing her face quite nicely. She wore reading glasses that enhanced her beauty.
"Hi, I'm Wanda! What's your name?"
The redhead looked up from her book and smiled. "I'm Natasha."
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Natasha." Wanda held out her hand and the lady shook it warmly.
"Likewise."
"What are you reading?"
Steve paused at his position where he was putting his small suitcase at the overhead luggage holder. "Wanda, don't bother her."
"I just asked her a question," Wanda replied exasperatedly. "That's my dad." She informed Natasha. "His name is Steve and he's really handsome."
"Wanda!" Steve glared at his daughter, feeling heat rise up in his cheeks.
"Oh, it's alright." Natasha waved her hand disarmingly at Steve. "After all, she isn't lying."
Steve could have sworn that his cheeks were beginning to turn red as Natasha smiled at him. "Thanks. Um, Wanda. You stay here while I go to the restroom, alright?"
"Yes, sir."
He closed the compartment and went back down the aisle they had come from earlier.
Wanda continued her conversation with Natasha.
"So you're reading...?"
"It's called Anne of Green Gables."
"Ooo, I love that book!"
"You've read it?"
"Yeah! I'm an advanced reader. My teacher says that I'm on the eighth grade reading level."
"And how old are you?"
"I'm eight."
"Eight years old and on the eighth grade reading level? That's very good."
"I think so too! I'm gonna be nine next month and I hope I'll make a lot of friends when I go to my new school. Dad and I are moving to Texas."
"Ah, moving to a new place can be scary and exciting at once. I would know since I've moved around a few times, too. How do you feel about it?"
"I'm pretty nervous, but I think I'll feel better when we get there. I've just lived in one place my whole life and I'm eight years old, so moving is a big thing for me."
Natasha smirked. "Something tells me you will be perfectly fine, Wanda."
"That's true! And I'm not flying by myself! Dad is with me and he knows a few people who live in Texas, so we won't be friendless. Do you live in Texas?"
"Yes, I do."
"Are the people nice?"
"Well, I can't speak for every single person who lives in Texas because they're all different. I've had good and bad experiences, but I learned a long time ago to grow a thick skin and not let the bad ones get to me. Otherwise, my life would end up being an unhappy one."
"Huh, I guess I'll have to work on growing a thick skin too."
"It'll help you a lot, especially in school."
Wanda grinned widely. "Thanks! I'm pretty sure that I need all the help I can get. Dad says that the school I'm going to is a really good one that one of his friends went to as a kid. So I've got high hopes." She looked at the now closed book in Natasha's hand.
"Oh, I'm sorry! You probably want to read instead of talk to a kid."
"It's alright. I've read Anne of Green Gables fourteen times, so I practically know it by heart. And I spend a lot of time with children."
"Are you a teacher?"
"A daycare worker, actually. I also do a lot of babysitting on the side."
"Like your own business?"
"You got it. Here, I'll show you one of my cards." Natasha picked up her purse and took out her wallet. In a few seconds, she produced a business card that had her name, place of residence, cell and home numbers on it.
"Cool. You live in Odessa?"
"All my life."
That's where dad and I are moving! Can I keep this?"
"Sure. I have plenty of cards at home and I keep several in my purse just in case."
"Hm." Thoughts began to churn in Wanda's mind. She'd keep talking to Natasha on this plane ride and maybe when dad saw how well they got along together, Wanda could ask him to let Natasha babysit her. After all, she really needed some female influence in her life.