Lorem Ipsum: The Aloysius Angelasia Archives (Chapter 38c)

"No pressure or anything.  You don't have to talk if you don't want to."

Mattie was giving me an out ... after having just goading me into coming up with something to talk about for the next 21 miles until we made it to the highway rest stop.

Before I could comment one way or the other, he lobbed a question my way.

"So ... when did you know you were special?"

Special.

It was an interesting word choice on his part.

Did he mean "special" as in "not like all the other kids"?  Because I knew that from a very young age every time I heard a school classmate talk about what her family did on the weekend.

Did he mean "special" as in "not able to be understood"?  Because I knew that as a child with teachers who couldn't quite figure out how to handle me.

Did he mean "special" as in "not capable of comprehending unconditional love"?  Because I knew that as a pawn of the system as soon as I was old enough to comprehend why I was being passed around without any promise of permanency.

Special.

I was always "special".

At least in my mind.

Developing a super power when I did was just another example of how damn "special" I was.

Lorem Ipsum: The Aloysius Angelasia Archives (Chapter 38b)

"I don't care.  Radio or not -- doesn't matter to me.  Whatever helps you drive better, you know?"

Mattie countered.  "Yep, I'm good.  For now anyway ... once it gets dark, I might be looking for something to keep me going.  Do you want to nap now so we can trade off?"

I couldn't take it personally that I had to remind him multiple times.  I just had to keep on doing it until he understood my predicament.

"I *can't* sleep.  If I do, Papa Kalfu is going to get in my head and figure out where we're going."

He nodded *his* head.

"Oh right.  'Cause of the blood thing."

I could tell that he was reworking his plan.

"So ... maybe *you* should drive now and *I'll* take a nap?  I really want to make it all the way across the state line before calling it a night."

"Sure, sure," I replied.  "Makes sense to me.  Plus -- we should probably soon get Gator out and about at a rest stop or something."

It was an ask-and-you-shall-receive kind of moment.

The words were barely out of my mouth as we passed a sign by the side of the road letting us know that there was a rest stop just 21 miles away.

We both saw it at the same time.

"There you go!" Mattie said as he pointed to it.  "Do you have a 21 mile long conversation topic to keep us entertained?"

Lorem Ipsum: The Aloysius Angelasia Archives (Chapter 38a)

"If I am *never* on these roads again, it will be too soon."

We had been driving along in silence for what seemed like a long time -- Gator, Mattie and I -- and I was finally ready to break the ice.

Or maybe I was just so bored that I couldn't control my inner thoughts any longer and accidentally spoke out loud.

Regardless, Mattie was polite enough to reply.

"You got something against the highways of Florida?" he asked.

"I have done this too many times in too short a period is all I'm saying."

Mattie kept his eyes on the road, but slightly turned his head my way.

"Didn't you fly down here for the spring break service trip?"

"Yep," I confirmed.  "And I was *supposed* to fly home, but ended up driving back with Joey and Gator."

Mattie gestured toward the back seat, where the puppy was still sound asleep and now snoring.  "So Gator should be fine on *this* trip?"

I nodded my head.  "I'm sure.  He's an old pro like me when it comes to these long drives."

Mattie kept the conversation going.

"And how did those guys get you down to Florida for their ..."  His voice trailed off as he sought the right word.  "Thing," was he could come up with.

I wanted to put that all behind me ... but I guess the whole kidnapping experience would forever be a part of my story.

"With a pillow case over my head ... and headphones over my ears ... for most of it," I said ruefully.

Mattie smiled.

"Well I don't have a pillow case, but I can turn on the radio if that would make you feel more at home."