Maggie and the Steering Wheel  

by Gilda V. Bryant

 An explosive crash startled Mrs. Gentry's Fourth Grade class.

Trish, a new student, sank to the floor, eyes filling with tears, lips tight together. She grabbed her books. 

Maggie leaned over to help pick up Trish's yellow pencils, loose papers, and erasers. “Hi. I’m Maggie. I'm weird, but I’d like to be your friend."

“How weird are you?”

“I read encyclopedias--just finished ‘T’.”

Trish grinned.

After the girls shared treats at lunch and evening phone calls for several weeks, Trish asked, "When can I come to your house?" 

Maggie stared into space for a minute. "Would you like to borrow my purple sweater?" 

After they worked on the mold-growing science project at Trish’s house, she asked, “When can I meet your family?”

Maggie said, “Soon. I’m reading the dictionary this month.”

On Saturday, five days later, Trish walked to Maggie’s. The tan brick house with blue trim had a tidy green lawn and two shiny, sleek cars in the driveway. A brown plastic and chrome steering wheel leaned against the garage. 

Trish knocked. Maggie opened the door, then held the door just wide enough to squeeze out on the porch. Struggling when the doorknob snagged her T-shirt, she broke loose and quickly closed the door.

“Maggie, want to go to the park?” 

“Okay.” 

Before Trish could peek in the house, Maggie popped inside to retrieve her shoes and yelled, "May I go to the park with Trish?" 

Trish heard a muffled reply.

At the park pond, they named the swimming ducks Mortimer, Martha and Goldie. The girls had just settled in the low fork of an old cottonwood tree, when they heard a noise.

A tall boy wearing an English driving cap made screeching noises like a car turning too fast. At a sidewalk intersection, he squealed to a stop, and looked both ways before starting his motor again. He used both hands to clutch a steering wheel.

Trish asked, "Who's that?"

Maggie whispered, "Marcus. He drives everywhere."

Trish watched him for a minute. “Why does he do that?”

“He likes it. He’s in a special class for slow learners. His family loves him anyhow. Would you,” she swallowed, “like to meet him?”

Trish nodded and they dropped out of the tree. 

“Marcus, this is my friend Trish.” 

“Hi." he grinned, blue eyes sparkling, "Want to ride with me for some ice cream? Got my allowance today.”

The girls stood in line behind Marcus. He made a turn signal ‘click-click’ noise to enter traffic. With a throaty growl, he revved his motor. They traveled down the sidewalk with Marcus ‘driving’. Trish waved to people she knew and they waved back. Maggie looked straight ahead. 

Marcus made a squealing noise. Maggie quietly reminded him, “You turned the corner too fast. Slow down some.”

“Okay, Maggie.”

At the ice cream stand, Maggie held the steering wheel while Marcus bought vanilla cones for the three of them. After they finished eating, Marcus asked, “Maggie, want me to drive you and Trish home?”

The girls looked at each other. Trish nodded as Maggie blushed.

Marcus grinned, “Oh, I forgot to remember something important.”

He pulled a pair of dark brown leather racing gloves from his shirt pocket and put them on. 

Both girls joined Marcus in making driving noises as they traveled to Maggie’s house. Once there, he propped his steering wheel against the garage and entered the house.

Trish asked, ”Why did he go inside?”

Maggie looked at the grass. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Remember when we first met? I told you I was weird? Well, so is my family. Marcus is my brother.”

”Marcus may be a little odd, but he’s so nice." Trish added with a giggle, "And a very safe driver. What’s the rest of your family like?”

“Dad stays home to clean house and wash our clothes. But he’s a great cook and easy to talk to when we have problems. Mom works out of town a lot. She’s an engineer.”

“They sound neat!”

Maggie gave a sigh of relief. “I was afraid you wouldn’t like me if I was too different.”

Trish hugged Maggie and said, “My folks have been on their best behavior when you were at my house. Someday I'll tell you about the time Mom dried lettuce in the clothes dryer.” 

Maggie smiled. “Whew. I feel better. You’re a great friend. Would you like to meet the rest of my family?”
Trish nodded.

Maggie, grinning from ear to ear, opened the front door. “We’re in luck, Trish. Marcus is serving Dad’s chocolate chip cowboy cookies and Mom's working at the computer."