Home for summer

A few miles from the boy’s home Rafael mentioned the trees. “This place, it very beautiful, but I need busy—lots of people. Too quiet here, not enough people.”

When he said the word, “busy” he swirled his hands in the air, taking them off the wheel briefly. Apparently swirling meant busyness.

The boy next to him smiled at the thought, and offered his own view, though watered down for the immigrant tow truck driver. “Yeah, if you like the peace and quiet it’s a nice place, very secluded. But I know what you mean.”

Rafael nodded quickly, though from their two hour drive from university back to his parent’s house the boy had gathered that Rafael didn't quite understand as well as he showed.

The two sat comfortably in the cab of a clean, new tow truck driving along narrow roads among dense, richly green trees set just off the edge of the Puget Sound. The boy’s car hung onto the towing apparatus at the truck’s rear. That faded crème-colored Oldsmobile had been packed to the ceiling with college stuff: duffels stuffed hurriedly with clothing, a carefully wrapped antique picture, the boy’s massive desktop computer tower lovingly shielded with a dirty comforter, and many more college-esk items.

Though he tried to be friendly and make authentic small-talk, the boy wasn't much for talking to strangers. 

They chatted about commuters who had houses on the peninsula and took the ferry into Seattle every weekday. The boy said he’d never want to do that, it would be too wearisome. Rafael nodded again, though rather weakly. Perhaps, the boy thought, Rafael wouldn't mind it as much because he already drove everywhere for his job and commuting meant joining a massive stream of travelers, all on their way to work—the epitome of “busy”—and that’s why the middle-aged tow truck driver gave such a slight assent to the comment.

Before the boy knew it, they’d completed driving the long, gravel road back to his parent’s house—where he’d be staying during the summer. Rafael unhitched the Olds, the two males shook hands, and Rafael drove away while the boy walked into the house to hug his mother and to start settling in for the next three months.