Coming out of a dream about the desert, Jodie woke up to the sound of a zipper from across the room. After blinking for a few seconds she finally made out the source of the noise: Alexis White, who was now standing next to the bed with a suitcase in her hand. "Good, you're up," said Miss White. "We're going on a road trip. Get your stuff together, we leave in an hour."
Rubbing her eyes, still groggy and dreamy, Jodie asked, "Huh?"
Miss White fixed her with an icy stare and said, "Did I stutter?"
After napping for a half-hour or so, Miss White had woken up feeling restless. She'd put on a robe and wandered the empty halls of ABD House, dismayed at how quiet and lonely it was, feeling like a character in The Shining. Suddenly it struck her that there was no reason to hang around; what she and Jodie needed was to get out and go somewhere, anywhere. Having made up her mind, she swung into action, cleaning out her car and getting together what she'd need for a road trip.
The look in Miss White's eyes was serious, so Jodie hopped to it. "Is it OK if I take a shower?" she asked, and Miss White nodded. Once she was clean it didn't take long for her to get her meager belongings together, and they were on the road five minutes ahead of Miss White's deadline.
"So where are we going?" asked Jodie as they pulled onto the highway.
Miss White pointed ahead. "That way."
* * *
Jenny woke up just as the plane was beginning its descent, her mood much improved. Upon arrival she enthusiastically hugged and kissed her mother; as usual, she was less effusive with her rather reserved father. But she was happy to see both of them and they her.