Chapter One
Lorelai grabbed two bottles of water and looked out the 7-11 window at her young daughter waiting in the car. She was bouncing happily to the music. Lorelai peered in her wallet and filled a small cup with a Cherry Slurpee and another with coffee. She grabbed a bag of potato chips and headed to the counter. She counted out her change carefully. Includinding the gas she'd just bought, she'd spent the rest of her money. She had exactly seven cents in her wallet right now. She didn't know how they were going to make it.
"Hi, Mommy."ten year old Rory greeted Lorelai happily as she climbed in the Jeep.
"Hey, Babe. I got you a Slurpee and some chips for us to share."
"And water for later?"Rory asked.
"Exactly. What ya listening to?"Lorelai started up the car and tried to pay attention to her daughter as she spoke.
"Well, there aren't many good stations around here. I found one though, I think it's about politics. It's very interesting."
"Well, my little genius, we don't want your brain getting too big. It'll explode right out of your head. So what'd ya say we listen to some good old rock music?"
"Well, okay. But when you're old and you have a hearing aid and you still can't understand a word I'm saying. I can say-"
"I told you so."Lorelai cut in."I know, I know, Eggbert. Find us some tunes now."
"It's going to be so unattractive. You sitting around going, 'HEH? WHAT? COULDN'T HEAR YA!' And what will I do? I'll sit around and laugh because you can't understand anything I tell you."
"Honey, I can't understand a word you say now. You're too smart for me."Lorelai laughed lightly.
"Mom, you're smart. If you would listen to my talk shows about politics, you could be smarter, though."Rory chided.
"Baby, the only talk shows I like are Jerry Springer and Ricki Lake."
"Those shows are trash."
"Funny trash. How funny is it to watch a bunch of people get in fights and throw chairs?"
"Not very. I found a rock station."Rory settled back in her seat.
"Yay!"Lorelai grinned."Bless you, child. You could become a professional station finder."
"I would rather
become a journalist and go on television."
"A talk
show."Lorelai smiled brightly.
"The View."
"Go Rory! Go Rory!"
"I find your imitation from the Ricki Lake show amusing, but not very good. You do a bad job of emulating a whole crowd of people chanting."
"Emulating? God, I hate having a smart kid."
"You know, when we travel from place to place, it's hard to make friends. I just read and become brilliant."
"I'm sorry, Honey."Lorelai was miserable instantly.
"I don't mind, Mom."Rory smiled good naturedly.
Lorelai had always loved that about Rory. How good natured she was and how she always went along with anything Lorelai said. When they moved, she just went. She didn't mind. She just hopped in the Jeep and sang along with the radio. Lorelai's lifesaver, her angel, her only reason to live.
Lorelai sighed,"I know, Babe. I know."
Rory grinned."Mom, look. That guy is checking you out."
Lorelai glanced at the car her daughter was pointing at and saw a man indeed staring at her.
"Can we stick out our tongues at him?"Lorelai asked.
"Yes."Rory nodded quickly, eager to join in the fun.
"Count of three."Lorelai said, acting nonchalant.
"One."
"Two."
"Three!"the both shrieked and stuck out their tongues at the guy. He looked shocked and instantly turned off onto a side street.
"Thanks, Mom."
"No, no. Thank you. Without you watching out for me, I never would have seen him staring at me. And then we wouldn't have had any fun at all."
Rory grinned and reached under the seat for the People Magazine Lorelai had found laying on a bench outside of a Burger King. She smiled even wider when Lorelai winked at her and settled back to read.
Later that night, Lorelai glanced into the backseat. Rory was curled up under a thin blanket, sleeping. Lorelai felt the breath catch in her throat. She glanced down at the gas tank and saw it was near empty already. She began looking at signs to see what was near. Finally, without any idea what to do, Lorelai pulled into a gas station and shut off the car. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed silently before falling asleep sitting upright.
