Chapter 10 - Page 134 - New Passion

    Jim and Rhasha walked across the street to the dining hall, and Jim asked the cook for some picnic supplies. As she filled a box with sandwiches, potato chips, cookies, and fruit, she asked Jim where they were going for the picnic. When she went to the front of the dining area to get a pitcher of tea, she mentioned Jim’s plans to several people there before returning to the kitchen to pour the tea into a gallon jar.

    Jim thanked the cook and picked up the picnic box. Rhasha picked up the jar of tea, and they walked through the dining hall on their way to the jeep. Not a person was in the dining hall. Jim thought this was strange. at this time of day, the dining hall was always packed.

    They put the supplies in the back of the jeep, then Jim walked to the passenger side and climbed in. Rhasha stood beside the door, her head cocked to one side in bewilderment. “OK, Jim,” she said, “I can sit in your lap, but who’s going to drive?”

    Jim chuckled. “Rhasha, have you ever wanted to learn how to drive?”

    “Sure,” Rhasha said a little uncertainly, “but . . . do you mean right now?”

    “Yes. What better time than when we’re driving to a destination twenty miles away?”

    “Are you sure?” She looked a little scared.

Jim nodded. “That is, unless you don’t want to.” He smiled reassurance.

    Rhasha squinted her eyes and returned the smile. She ran to the driver’s side and jumped in behind the wheel. “But first,” she said, “before you start yelling at me, I want you to kiss me.”