Chapter 18

Nan wiggled back and forth, adjusting herself in the driver’s seat. “I haven’t driven this long in years.” Normally a notoriously slow driver, she set the cruise control at eighty-five. But crossing the country in a conventional automobile left her at a severe disadvantage to the space pirates pursuing Dylan. Still, she was determined to do whatever she could for him, even if it meant driving non-stop to California. The hours and miles couldn’t go fast enough, but it gave her a chance to get to know her mysterious gingerbread-alien companion. They had numerous conversations. Nan, of course, provided most of the words, though Beetlebee proved to be quite adept at communicating through limited speech, sounds, and gestures.

“They could have found Dylan by now,” she said, rolling down the window for some air. “And I’m so tired, if I put my head down, I might never wake up.” Beetlebee hummed sympathetically. “Oh no, don’t you go feeling bad for me. I’m a lot tougher than I look. But I may need a cup of coffee.”

The diminutive alien responded with a nod. “Beetlebee,” he said, pointing at the steering wheel and dashboard.

Nan giggled. “What a gentleman you are, Beetlebee, but you’ve never driven a car before. There’s a lot more to it than it looks like. I’ll be ok. If not, I’ll pull over and catch a few winks.” Beetlebee tilted his head and nodded in agreement.

They drove for a few more miles before Nan pulled off the highway and into a dingy looking twenty-four-hour gas station and convenience store. “Well, I certainly don’t like meandering about some roadside truck-stop in the wee hours of the morning, but we need to gas up and get some coffee.” She looked around the parking lot cautiously before getting out of the car. “Now, you stay here. I’ll be right back. Try to stay out of sight.”

“Beetlebee stay.” He responded with a nod.

After Nan pumped the gas, she headed to the store. A pile of what looked like debris near the front door suddenly stirred, startling her. A bearded man wrapped in an old blanket rolled onto his side. She gasped and hurried herself into the store and rang the night bell on the counter. A slovenly, overweight, balding man stepped out from a stockroom and up to the counter.

“Evening.” He yawned, leaning on the counter.

“Excuse me, sir,” Nan said, glancing back to the entryway. “There’s a man lying on the ground out there.”

“Sorry ‘bout that, ma’am,” the clerk yawned again. “That’s just Charlie. He’s harmless. Homeless, too.”

“Well, do you think it’s good for business to let a homeless person sleep in front of the store?” Nan sidestepped to the coffee station and filled the biggest cup.

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“Normally, no. But Charlie grew up here and was a war hero back in Vietnam. He flew helicopters and in this one fight, saved more lives in one day than I sell candy bars in a month. It’s kinda sad. He had some problems after the war. Mental stuff, and that’s him now.”

“Nobody helped him.”

“Not really.”

“Hmmm.” Nan nodded thoughtfully, paying the clerk. “Better not judge a book by its cover, I guess,”

“No, ma’am.” The clerk smiled. “You have a nice night and be careful driving.”

“You too, sir.” She stepped out the door, peeking around the trash can. “Good night, Charlie. Thank you for everything you’ve done.”

“You’re welcome,” he mumbled and smiled.

Nan could see the kindness in his face and smiled back. Returning to her task, she sipped her coffee when she noticed Beetlebee was not in his seat. She looked around the parking lot but couldn’t see him anywhere when the car horn let out a little toot. There was Beetlebee’s smiling gingerbread-face, waving to her from the driver’s seat.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Nan pointed for Beetlebee to get back in his seat. “I’m driving.” The little alien shook his head. She tugged at the door handle. Locked. “We don’t have time for this! Open this door!”

Beetlebee shook his head and pointed at the passenger seat. Nan reluctantly got in, slamming the door behind her.

“Now, you listen here! This isn’t a joke! You’ve never driven a car, and I am not about to give you lessons now. You can’t even see over the steering wheel.”

“Please,” Beetlebee glowed, rising, hovering above the seat. He waved his tiny hand, Nan’s seat belt pulled itself across her torso and clicked into its lock. Beetlebee touched the ignition. The engine turned and the entire interior of the car lit up, illuminated in gold.

“Oh my,” Nan whispered in surprise. “Umm, before we go, I wanted to give that man over there a little something. He helped a lot of people, and he needs a little himself.” Beetlebee nodded. The wheel turned itself and the car slowly rolled up to Charlie. “I have some change in that compartment.” Nan pointed to the tiny drawer beside the steering wheel. Beetlebee, sensing this was an act of kindness, bobbed happily in his seat. With a thought, he levitated the coins into his hand and closed his fingers around them. Light shone from within his fist, brighter, hotter, until it blinked. Beetlebee opened his hand to reveal the coins had turned into gold.

Nan gasped. “Neat trick.” The window rolled down, the gold coins floated out, gently coming to rest in Charlie’s hand while he slept.

Charlie sat up, squeezing something into his hand. His eyelids flickered wearily and grew wide when he saw the shining gold coins. He waved at Nan and Beetlebee.

“Thank you.” Charlie laughed, holding the coins above his head.

“Well, that felt especially good,” Nan announced proudly.

“Karma,” Beetlebee proclaimed, the loudest voice Nan had heard him use.

“That’s right.” Nan smiled as they pulled out of the parking lot. “Well, I must say I’m surprised at how well you drive, but we do need to hurry.”

The car merged onto the empty interstate when the dashboard flashed and lit up like a stadium. The engine revved with a different kind of hum. “Trust,” Beetlebee said and gave Nan a reassuring pat on the arm. Her tiny hybrid suddenly shot down the highway.

“Whoa! Beetlebee! Whoa!” Nan’s cheeks rippled with the force. She glanced at the speedometer, still at zero. “Neat trick.”

Beetlebee nodded again. The car lifted gently off the ground, like a jet fighter cruising just a few meters above US 80.

Nan sat back, sipping her coffee, calmly taking in the experience. “Why didn’t we do this in the first place?”

Beetlebee shrugged his tiny shoulders. “You did not ask.”