Pilot

fifteen past three. time to pick the kids up from school. i set my book aside and stand up from the rocking chair. i don't use the bookmark because i'm on a page number that i can remember with ease. i walk inside and stop in front of the collection of cowboy hats displayed on the wall. i think i'll go with blue today. no - green. i like green better.

i turn around and make my way into the garage. i hit the button to open the panel-style garage door and the room begins to flood with light. there she sits, as beautiful as the day i got her. a beacon of electric red surrounded by the coffee colored walls. i plant a single gentle kiss on the hood before i step inside. no one else knows i do this.

i press the start button and listen to the engine purr. with another touch, she's in reverse and we're headed down the driveway. i turn around and make a right on elk highlands drive. the built-in navigation system guides me to the school. honda pilot. what a beautiful name. it refers not just to the car but the driver too. even saying it out loud gives me a tinge of delight. hon-da pi-lot. the way your tongue touches the roof of your mouth on the second syllable of each word.

when i spot other drivers looking at me i can tell they are jealous. in can see the look of envy on their faces when they notice the panoramic roof and spacious seating for up to eight. if i pass another pilot on the road i'll give them a salute and tip my cowboy hat. i have not seen any others in whitefish yet.

i pull up to a red light and look around. the drive next to me has his phone up to his ear. poor guy probably doesn't have a bluetooth integration system for that. with a few taps on the touch screen i switch to the outlaw country station on sirius radio and turn the volume up two notches. the car behind me honks. he must have noticed my CWBY DAD license plate. i look up and the light is green.

i round the corner to the school and glide to a stop in the carpool lane. i see the kids talking with one of the teachers that chaperones the pick-ups. they recognize the car instantly - and how could they not with its vibrant color and bold 20-inch alloy wheels. the kids open the back door and climb onto the two captains chairs. the teacher asks a question. "oh thanks, it's the new honda pilot" i respond. she looks confused and says something about the kids wonderful report cards.

we pull away and the kids flip down the the tv screen in the back and resume their viewing of true grit. it's the only dvd i keep in the car. suddenly the 8-inch display lights up alerting me of a call from my wife. i touch the button to pick up. it turns out i left the garage door open again and she is pissed. it's alright though. i lift my foot off the gas and let the adaptive cruise control take over. everything's alright.

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