Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Family (2)
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“Wow, it’s so pretty!”
“Haha, you like it?”
“Yeah! It’s super pretty! Jake, is this real turquoise?”
Nancy’s eyes sparkled as she turned the bracelet this way and that, examining the turquoise stones.
Seeing how much more she liked it than I’d expected made me grin too.
“It’s turquoise, a real gem. A special bracelet made by Native Americans.”
“Native Americans made it? Wow!”
Nancy tried it on, but it was too big.
“It’s still a little big for my princess. But it’ll fit perfectly someday.”
“Okay, I’ll take good care of it until then! Thank you, Jake!”
Nancy came toddling over and threw her arms around me.
Her tiny, twig-like hands felt surprisingly warm as they clung to me.
Dorothy, who’d been watching the bracelet, asked with a shocked look.
“J-Jake! This isn’t expensive, is it?”
“Picked it up cheap at a flea market the other day. No big deal, so don’t worry about it.”
“Still... Sigh, thank you so much. I’ve never seen Nancy this happy.”
“First time meeting such a pretty princess—I had to get my niece something.”
Dorothy’s eyes grew misty at my teasing reply.
She couldn’t take her gaze off Nancy, who was beaming like a kid on Christmas.
“...I haven’t been able to give her a proper gift since we moved back last year.”
“It’s nothing, Dorothy. We’re family, right?”
“Family... Yeah. We are family.”
Evening came, and it was time to say goodbye.
“Jake, take me for a ride in your truck next time!”
Nancy clutched the bracelet tightly as she said it.
“You bet. Anytime.”
“Really? Pinky promise!”
We hooked pinkies.
She stamped the promise, then we bumped fists dramatically, and she burst into giggles.
Dorothy watched us with a smile and said,
“Let’s see each other more often now. It’s only a 30-minute drive.”
“Of course. I’ll drop by sometimes. Check out your trailer too.”
“Just so you know, our trailer’s tiny. Nancy and I barely fit sleeping in it.”
“My trailer’s cramped even for one. That’s why I said the truck’s comfier.”
Dorothy giggled at that.
She finally seemed like my old cousin again.
As her beat-up car pulled away, Sam said,
“Jake, Dorothy’s been through a lot. Help her out if you can.”
“I will.”
After that, Dorothy and I texted back and forth a few times.
Talk of the old neighborhood that had vanished without a trace, a rundown diner that somehow hadn’t changed a bit, old friends...
Most was reminiscing, but Nancy updates took up a good chunk too.
A week later...
“Um, Jake. I hate to ask, but... could you do me a favor?”
“What’s up?”
I could hear how awkward she felt over the phone.
“Tomorrow... could you watch Nancy? I’ve got a double shift at the diner. From 6 a.m. to 10 p.m....”
I checked my schedule. Tomorrow was free—no hauls booked.
“Sure. Bring her over. It’s my day off anyway.”
Next morning at 5:30.
Dorothy dropped Nancy off at the house.
“...Sorry it’s so early.”
“No problem.”
“Feed her cereal for breakfast. Lunch... here’s $20.”
“I got it. I’ll handle everything.”
“Still...”
“Go on. You’ll be late.”
Dorothy hesitated a moment, then hurried off.
I waved her goodbye and tucked the still-sleepy Nancy onto the couch.
She drifted right back to sleep under the blanket.
“Jake! Where’s Mom?”
Nancy finally woke around 8 a.m.
“Mom’s at work. Wanna hang out with me today instead?”
“Really? Yay!”
I made pancakes for breakfast.
“Wow, Jake! These are the best!”
“Haha, yeah?”
“Yeah! We always just have cereal at home. Pancakes are expensive, so we save them. You should know that too, Jake.”
Nancy said it like it was the most obvious thing.
It tugged at my heart, so I changed the subject quick.
“Finish up, and I’ll show you the truck, Nancy.”
“Really? Show me now! Let’s go!”
Standing in front of my Freightliner in the trailer park lot, Nancy gawked.
“It’s huge! Bigger than a bus!”
“Right? Wanna climb up?”
“Yeah!”
Up in the driver’s seat, gripping the massive wheel, she was thrilled.
“Am I driving?”
“Yep. You’re a trucker now, Nancy.”
“Vroom vroom! Let’s go!”
A kid’s imagination knows no bounds.
She twisted the wheel every which way, pretending to tour the country.
“Jake, when I grow up, I wanna drive trucks too!”
“Sounds good. I’ll teach you then.”
“Really? Pinky promise!”
Pinky promise again.
For lunch, I made spaghetti.
“Yum! This is good too!”
“Nancy eats everything so well.”
“I eat everything! And I never waste any! Mom says food’s too expensive to leave any.”
Words no six-year-old should have to say.
Afternoon, we strolled the trailer park.
“This your place, Jake?”
“Yep. Whaddya think?”
“Like ours. But cleaner here.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Next to ours, scary guys live. Always drinking and yelling.”
“That sounds spooky.”
“It is. Mom says never go out alone.”
I could imagine how rough Dorothy’s trailer park was.
For dinner, hamburgers.
“Wow! A burger!”
“You like burgers, Nancy?”
“Hmm... Never had many. But it looks yummy, so I bet I will.”
She tilted her head cutely, pondering the burger. I ruffled her hair.
Of course, this little princess devoured it.
Dorothy got back after 10 p.m., totally wiped out.
“How was my little one?”
“It was fun! Rode in the truck with Jake, ate pancakes, spaghetti, and a burger!”
“Yeah? Thanks for watching her, Jake.”
I stopped her as she reached for her wallet.
“What’re you doing?”
“Babysitting fee...”
“Nah. Family doesn’t pay.”
“Jake...”
“Just bring that casserole again next time.”
Even exhausted, Dorothy smiled.
“Got it. I’ll make the best one yet.”
Me happily babysitting Nancy must’ve broken the ice.
The awkwardness between me and my cousin Dorothy faded after that.
Whenever Dorothy pulled doubles, I’d watch Nancy—and she was always over the moon.
Then one day...
“Jake, I feel bad always imposing, but... I need a big favor.”
Her voice carried real desperation, unlike usual.
“What’s going on?”
“Friday through Monday this week... could you take Nancy?”
“...Four days?”
“Diner’s got a big Independence Day event. Doubles all weekend. Tips are triple... I can’t pass it up.”
For proud Dorothy to beg like this, it had to be urgent.
“Four days... I’ve got a run to Denver overlapping.”
“Oh. Then maybe...”
She didn’t say it, but I could picture her worried face.
I chuckled lightly.
“If it’s okay with you, I could take Nancy along to Denver and back. What do ya think?”
“...That far with a kid? Will Nancy be alright?”
“Haha, don’t worry. Remember how I rode with Sam as a kid? It’ll be a great adventure. We’ll camp too.”
Long silence, then,
“...Okay. Thank you so much.”
Thursday evening, Dorothy dropped her off—with a bigger backpack than usual.
“Clothes and essentials all in there. Meds too... If her tummy hurts, give her this...”
“Dorothy, relax. I’ve got it.”
She hugged Nancy tight.
“Be good for Uncle Jake, Nancy. No trouble, okay?”
“Yeah! I’ll be good. You work hard, Mom!”
Nancy replied bravely, but her eyes were full of longing.
Dorothy left, leaving us alone.
“Alright, Nancy. Adventure tomorrow!”
“Really? Where to?”
“Colorado! Mountains so tall.”
“Wow! Never seen big ones!”
“You’ll see plenty this time.”
Getting her ready for bed, I asked,
“No Mom... you scared?”
“A little... but I’m fine! I’m brave.”
“That’s right. My Nancy’s the bravest.”
Next day, 4 a.m.
I gently woke her.
“Nancy, time to get up.”
“Mm... Already?”
“Yeah. Gotta roll out early.”
Amazingly, no fuss—she popped up.
“Okay... I’ll get ready quick!”
She smoothed her messy hair with tiny hands and brushed her teeth alone.
Hard to believe she was only six—so mature.
Click! Click!
Before climbing in, I installed the kid’s car seat I’d prepped.
Required by U.S. traffic law.
“Whoa, my chair?”
“Yep. Custom for Nancy.”
“Awesome!”
As the truck rumbled to life, Nancy peered out the window in wonder.
“Still dark!”
“Sun’ll rise soon. Sleep more if you want.”
“Not sleepy. I’ll help!”
“Haha, how?”
“Hmm... I’ll sing! Can’t get sleepy.”
She started singing softly.
A nursery rhyme, but her clear voice echoing in the dawn felt heartwarming.
Sunrise neared; we hit a truck stop.
“Hungry?”
“Kinda... but I’m good.”
“Breakfast time. What sounds good?”
Eyeing the diner menu, Nancy asked cautiously,
“What’s cheapest?”
“Special day—let’s get something tasty.”
“Really? Can I... have waffles?”
“Obviously!”
Waffles arrived; her eyes lit up. But she glanced at me before grabbing the fork.
“Can I start?”
“Dig in.”
She was gonna skimp on syrup; I ruffled her hair and drowned them.
She whispered,
“Jake, won’t we get in trouble for too much?”
“Nah. It’s free—waffles need sweet.”
She ate carefully, no spills, wiping with napkins.
“Nancy eats so neatly.”
“Mom says be pretty when eating out.”
Back on the road.
Nancy listened to truckers on the CB radio.
“What’re those guys saying?”
“Sharing road info.”
“Cool! Like secret missions!”
Cruising I-10 into New Mexico.
Scenery shifted; Nancy gasped.
“Jake! Red mountains!”
“Those are mesas. Flat-topped ones.”
“Neat! Like cakes!”
We drove on till lunch, stopping at a small-town restaurant.
“Bathroom?”
“Yeah... but I can go alone.”
“Let’s go together.”
“No. I can do it. Don’t wanna bother you at work.”
This six-year-old was something else.
Still, I followed and waited. She held my hand after—beaming.
Lunch: chicken tenders. Kids love ‘em.
“Good?”
“Yeah! The best!”
She devoured them... but left half.
“Full?”
“Can I take the rest for dinner? Hate to waste...”
“I’ll get something else yummy later.”
“No! This is good. Two meals!”
Stubborn little princess got her to-go box.
Stowing it in the truck cooler, I made up my mind.
Alright. This run, I’m feeding Nancy all the good stuff she can eat.