“You always inspect pavement from underneath?”
Nora did not answer.
He crouched.
Not too close.
That helped.
He rested his forearms on his thighs.
“What are you looking for?”
Nora hesitated.
“Coins.”
His expression changed slightly.
“Why?”
She looked through the convenience-store window.
Then pointed.
“My baby brother needs milk.”
The biker followed her finger.
He looked toward the old dark-blue minivan parked along the edge of the lot.
Its rear hatch was tied shut with a piece of red cord because the latch had failed two weeks earlier.
A woman sat in the passenger-side sliding doorway with a toddler in her arms.
The woman’s hair was tied into a loose knot.
Her shoulders sagged.
Even at a distance, the biker could see exhaustion.
He looked back at Nora.
“Your mom know you’re under vending machines?”
Nora’s eyes dropped.
“No.”
“Figured.”
“She said we have to save the money for gas.”
The biker’s face became very still.
Nora rushed to explain.
“We have money.”
He nodded immediately.
“I didn’t say you didn’t.”
“She just said we have to be careful.”
“Okay.”
“She’s not bad.”
“I didn’t say that either.”
Nora studied him.
Adults sometimes used silence like judgment.
This man did not.
He held out one hand.
“Come on.”
Nora backed away slightly.
“My mom says we shouldn’t go anywhere with strangers.”
“Your mom sounds smart.”
“Then why did you say come on?”
He pointed toward the store.
“Because I’m going twenty feet that way in public where your mom can see us.”
Nora looked toward the minivan.
Her mother was trying to soothe Eli and had not yet noticed.
The biker stood.
“You can stay right here if you want.”
Nora looked at the coins.
Thirty-three cents.
Then at the milk.
She followed him.
The store’s automatic doors opened with a tired mechanical groan.
Cold air hit Nora’s face.
The biker walked directly toward the refrigerators.
Nora stopped beside him.
“Which one?”
She pointed toward the smallest carton.
He opened the glass door.
Then looked at her.
“That one?”
She nodded.
He reached past it and picked up a full half gallon.
Nora immediately shook her head.
“No.”
He glanced toward her.
“That’s too much.”
“Milk?”
“Money.”
He looked at the price.
Then at her.
“You have a large brother?”
“He’s little.”
“Then maybe he drinks slowly.”
Nora frowned.
The biker put one half gallon in his left hand.
Then picked up another.
Her eyes widened.
“No.”
He shut the cooler.
“That’s definitely too much.”
He started walking toward the counter.
Nora followed.
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
“My mom said we can’t ask strangers.”
“You didn’t.”
He looked down at her.
“I offered.”
The cashier glanced at the biker.
Then at Nora.
Then the milk.
The biker placed both cartons on the counter.
He added a package of bananas.
A box of toddler crackers.
Two bottles of water.
Nora became alarmed.
“We only need milk.”
He looked toward her.
“I’m thirsty.”
“You bought two waters.”
“I’m extremely thirsty.”
“That’s crackers.”
He stared at the crackers as though surprised to see them.
“Terrible store organization.”
The cashier coughed to hide a laugh.
Nora almost smiled.