Chapter 17 - Page 246 - Trouble In Chicago

They trashed around the truck stop for a while, and Jim explained to Rhasha and Shanha that "trashing around" was a truckers' term for being in a truck stop and not spending money.

   When they finally returned to the truck to go to sleep, they discovered Rhasha had forgotten to pack their pajamas-they would have to sleep in their clothes. Jim said his evening prayer as Rhasha and Shanha listened. They all wanted to sleep in the same bunk together, but the bunk was only big enough for one person, two at the most. He climbed into the bunk first and lay with his back against the wall of the sleeper. Shanha climbed in next and pressed her back against Jim. This arrangement would have worked better if Rhasha had lain with her back against Shanha, but she didn't. She always slept facing the other two and that's how she wanted to sleep tonight. She fell off the bunk during the night, but climbed right back in and fell asleep facing the same way as the other two.

   When Jim woke, Rhasha and Shanha were waiting for him. After their Good Morning Sunshine ritual, Jim told Rhasha and Shanha, "The next three nights, we're staying in motels."

   He crawled out of the bunk and said his morning prayer. Rhasha and Shanha bowed their heads and listened. All three went into the truck stop and took showers, then stopped by the restaurant to have breakfast.

   Once they were on the road again, Jim appreciated the new day. The sun was shining and the dew sparkled in the grass. Jim set the cruise control and settled back in his seat for the drive to the "Gateway City," St. Louis, Missouri.

   The highway crossed the bridge built high over the Mississippi River that separated Missouri from Illinois. From the bridge, Rhasha and Shanha could look down on St. Louis. Jim poked Shanha in the ribs and pointed to something on the left side of the truck. She almost had to climb in front of Jim to see it.