Part 4 (1/2)

”Yes,” said Papa.

”Hop in.” The man pushed the truck door open.

”Go on, Zav,” said Papa.

”We shouldnt do this,” said Zavion. ”We dont know him.”

”We have to get out of New Orleans, and I cant paint my way out.”

Zavion had a flash of one of Papas brightly colored canvases stretched across the bridge. Walking on the hands of trumpet-playing musicians from one side to the other. He blinked and had another flash of the mural in his room. Grandmother Mountain. Mamas mountain. Mama had promised to show Zavion where she had lived until she met Papa, to take him to meet Grandmother Mountain someday. He couldnt walk across the river on that mural, but maybe he could climb it to the sky.

He wanted to climb it- ”Get in.” Papa interrupted Zavions thoughts. ”We need to get across this bridge.”

Zavion climbed into the truck. A black canvas bag sat in the middle of the seat.

”Sorry,” said the man. ”You can just shove that over.”

Papa extended his hand across Zavion. ”Im Ben,” he said.

”Joe,” said the man.

”And this is Zavion. Thank you for the ride.”

”No problem. Ive been traveling back and forth for the last two days, giving folk rides when I can.” Joe started the truck up again and began to drive toward the bridge. ”How can they not let people across on foot, you know? Its just not right.” He shook his head.

”What do you do?” asked Papa. Zavion wondered the same thing.

”Im a photojournalist,” said Joe.

Zavion looked at the bag next to him. ”Is this your camera?” he asked.

”One of them, yup.”

Zavion wondered what kinds of pictures were in the camera. Were there any from his neighborhood? Or his block? Was there a picture of his house?

Joe slowed the truck down as they approached an official-looking man, maybe another National Guardsman, stationed at the bridge. Joe rolled down his window. ”Good morning,” he said.

”Morning,” said the man. ”Where you off to?”

Papa leaned over Zavion. ”Baton Rouge,” he said without hesitation. ”To my friend Skeets house.”

When had Papa thought of that idea?

”He knows youre coming?” asked the man.

”Yes,” said Papa.

Stealing-and now lying. The words glared s.h.i.+ny and bright in Zavions gut. What if the man pulled out a phone to check on Papas story? Zavion held his breath and felt his heart beating in the center of his throat.

”This is your truck?” the man asked Joe.

”Yes,” he said.

”These are your friends?”

Beat-Beat-Beat- Up-Up-Up- Just like Zavion wanted to climb a mountain, his heart wanted to climb out of his mouth.

”Yup,” said Joe.

The man gave a slight nod. ”Have a good day,” he said.

Joe rolled up the window.

”Were going to Skeets?” Zavion asked when they got to the other side of the bridge.

”I thought of it this morning,” said Papa. ”Maybe he can help us out. Is there a way to get to Baton Rouge from here?” he asked Joe.

”Yeah,” said Joe. ”You take I90 to 3127 and then cross the Suns.h.i.+ne Bridge.” He pulled a phone out of his s.h.i.+rt pocket. ”Here,” he said. ”You want to call your friend?”

While Papa made the call, Zavion looked out at the Mississippi River and imagined Grandmother Mountain rising up from its watery bottom. What if she had traveled all the way to Louisiana? That was the story that Mama always told, that Grandmother Mountain had been a wanderer. She would trek to a valley, stay for a while, but then get restless and move on. Maybe to a stream, or a forest, or a river.

What if she hadnt settled in North Carolina, but had lumbered farther south, to right here? Zavions heart raced along with his thoughts. If Grandmother Mountain had put down her roots in the Mississippi River, Zavion could climb her all the way to the top.

He squeezed his eyes shut and wished wished wished that when he opened them he would see red spruce trees reaching toward the sky.

But when he opened his eyes, Grandmother Mountain was nowhere to be seen.

The Mississippi River stretched into forever.

Zavions guilt stretched right along with it. He had stolen those chocolate bars. He had. Zavion himself. The one who prided himself on Taking Care Of, and Looking Out For, and Being In Control.

And now- He was ashamed. He was Letting People Down, Making Bad Decisions, and- Out.

Of.

Control.

His knee began to shake wildly. He couldnt make it stop.