Have you ever had to go on a trip with someone you didn't really like. Sibling per chance or an annoying adult. When they just drive silently but you get the feeling that all he's thinking about is you. You and only you. What your history might be. If you really tell the truth. This is what I went through that morning when he shoved me into the van and started to drive. I sat as close to the door as possible with my face smeered up against the window. Hitting a bump was not a pleasurable expierence.

He flicked some buttons on his radio as the hula girl on his dashboard wiggled as if she were to fly off and smack me in the face any second. And if it had an impact enough to kill me. I don't think I would mind.

It was better than being stuck in the same vehicle as him.

He was chewing on a stick of jerky for at least 20 minutes. Smacking his gums. Making weird sounds when he couldn't bite it. And then veering off so fast we almost tipped just because he "didn't want to run over that little bunny." He was insane. I did not like him. But the least I could do for his hospitality was to do what he said for a certain amount of time. I hated being the polite kid I was.

Even though I'm not really a kid. I don't even know how old I am really. Older than 10 but younger than 16. That's what I was told by the elder anyways.

He handed me a stick of jerky. I looked at it and then looked at him. He was still looking out at the road. One hand on the wheel. The other offering a stick of jerky.

He shook his hand.

I flinched.

I looked at the top to see if he had bit it. No teeth marks. I took it and just stared at it.

"It's not going to kill you."

I looked at him. He was still watching the road.

"If I wanted to kill you I would have left you out in the snow to freeze."

I rolled by eyes and stuck the jerky in my mouth. Oh my gosh it was the best thing I had compared to that fish. Like I said I hate fish. But gah jerky. I gnawed on it for so long sucking the flavor out of it.

"You like that stuff."

I still hand it clenched in my fist and in between my teeth with me bent over as I stopped. I took it out of my mouth and looked at him. "It's better than fish."

He smiled.

I blinked.

I hated that trip. But it got better.