—I can see it, said Emmett.
—You know something? said Townhouse. So can I.
* * *
? ? ?
When Townhouse finally got out of the car, Emmett did too. Coming around the hood, Emmett met him on the sidewalk, where they shook hands with the silent affection of the kindred.
The week before, when Billy had laid out his postcards and explained to Emmett how they were going to find their mother by attending one of the largest Fourth of July celebrations in the state of California, Emmett had counted his brother’s notion as fanciful at best. And yet, despite the fact that Emmett and Townhouse were two young men on the verge of heading out in different directions with no real assurance of where they would land, when Townhouse said at their parting, I’ll see you, Emmett hadn’t the slightest doubt that this was true.
* * *
—What in the Lord’s name, said Sally.
—It’s my car, said Emmett.
—That looks about as much like a car as one of these signs.
They were standing at the northern end of Times Square, where Emmett had parked the Studebaker right behind Betty.
Sally had good cause to compare his car to the signs around them because it was just as eye catching. So much so, it had begun to attract a small crowd of passersby. Reluctant to make eye contact with them, Emmett had no idea if they were pausing to snicker or admire.
—It’s yellow! exclaimed Billy, as he returned from a nearby newsstand. Just like the yellow of corn.
—Actually, said Emmett, it’s the yellow of a hornet.
—If you say so, said Sally.
Eager to change the subject, Emmett pointed at the bag in Billy’s hand.
—What have you got there?
As Sally returned to her truck, Billy carefully slid what he had purchased out of the bag and handed it to Emmett. It was a postcard of Times Square. At the top of the picture, peeking out from behind the buildings, was a small patch of sky; and just like in the other cards in Billy’s collection, it was an unblemished blue.
Standing at Emmett’s side, Billy pointed from the postcard to the landmarks.
—You see? There’s the Criterion Theatre. And Bond Clothiers. And the Camel cigarette sign. And the Canadian Club sign too.
Billy looked around in appreciation.
—The man at the newsstand says that at night the signs are lit up. Every last one of them. Can you imagine?
—It’s quite something.
Billy’s eyes opened wide.
—Have you been here when the signs are lit up?
—Briefly, Emmett admitted.
—Hey buddy, said a sailor with his arm over the shoulder of a brunette. How ’bout taking us for a ride?
Ignoring him, Emmett got down on his haunches to speak with his brother more closely.
—I know it’s exciting to be here in Times Square, Billy. But we’ve got a long way to go.
—And we’re just getting started.
—That’s right. So why don’t you take one last look around, we’ll say our goodbyes to Sally, and then we’ll hit the road.
—Okay, Emmett. I think that’s a good idea. I’ll take one last look around and then we’ll hit the road. But we don’t have to say goodbye to Sally.
—Why is that?
—Because of Betty.
—What’s wrong with Betty?
—She’s a goner, said Sally.
Emmett looked up to find Sally standing by the passenger-side door of his car with her suitcase in one hand and her basket in the other.
—She overheated twice on Sally’s trip from Morgen, explained Billy. And there was a big cloud of steam and clanking noises when we arrived in Times Square. Then she conked out.
—I guess I asked a little more of her than she had to give, said Sally. But she got us as far as we needed to go, God bless her.
When Emmett stood back up, Sally looked from him to the Studebaker. After a moment, he stepped forward in order to open the back door on her behalf.
—We should all sit in front, said Billy.
—It might be a little crowded, said Emmett.
—It might be at that, said Sally.
Then putting her suitcase and basket onto the back seat, she closed the back door and opened the front.
—Why don’t you slide in first, Billy, she said.
After Billy climbed in with his backpack, Sally climbed in after him. Then she looked straight ahead through the windshield with her hands in her lap.
—Thank you kindly, she said when Emmett closed the door.
By the time Emmett was in the driver’s seat, Billy had unfolded his map. Looking up from it, he pointed through the window.