How soon do we get there? she asked.

We’re still a long way away, he told her.

Nothing but static on the radio. Bits and pieces of sound coming through the speaker. The night was clear. There were no stars.

What’re you going to do when I’m gone? the girl asked.

I’ll be gone before you, dad replied.

You think Texas will be new for us? she looked out the open window. Took in the smells of Arkansas summer.

New?

Different. Will it be different?

It’ll be hot, he said. It’ll be hot, he smiled and drank from a Styrofoam cup filled with soda and whiskey.

You think you’ll find a job?

Yeah. All kinds of work in Texas.  Young ones like you don’t want to do hard work. I still got it in my bones.

What’s that?

Hard work. Labor.

Pay much?

Enough.

I want a big house with a swimming pool, she told dad. And a swing on a tree.

I’ll see what I can do.

What’re you going to do when I’m gone?

That ain’t gonna happen.

Never thought that mom would be gone.

Nope. Neither did I.

Did she leave you, or did you leave her?

We both left each other.