Chapter 6 - The Neighborhood That Finally Showed Up
Andrew expected perhaps five people.
There were more than a hundred.
When the hospital van turned onto Willow Street, Ashley pressed her face against the window.
“Daddy!”
“What?”
“LOOK!”
The street was packed.
Neighbors stood along both sidewalks.
No reporters.
No signs.
No spectacle.
Just people.
Andrew became uncomfortable.
“I don’t want a parade.”
Ashley grinned.
“I do.”
“Ashley.”
“What? I’ve never had one.”
Natalie laughed from the front seat.
“Technically, this isn’t a parade.”
“Good.”
“It’s more of a hundred-person apology.”
Andrew groaned.
“Worse.”
The van stopped.
Natalie helped Andrew into his wheelchair.
Ashley jumped down beside him wearing a bright blue dress.
Buddy was tucked beneath her arm.
Denise approached first.
She looked terrified.
“Andrew.”
He waited.
“I said terrible things.”
“Yes.”
“I assumed things about you.”
“Yes.”
Denise swallowed.
“I’m sorry.”
Andrew studied her.
“I’m not angry because you thought I was a bad father.”
Denise looked surprised.
“I’m angry because my daughter was alone four days, and nobody checked.”
The words hit everyone.
Kevin lowered his head.
Andrew continued.
“You all saw the lights off.”
Silence.
“You saw my truck missing.”
Nobody answered.
“You noticed enough to gossip.”
Denise started crying.
“But not enough to knock.”
Ashley squeezed Andrew’s hand.
Andrew looked around.
“I don’t need people feeling sorry for me.”
He pointed toward Ashley.
“I need us to stop living like somebody else’s emergency is none of our business.”
An elderly man stepped forward.
“You’re right.”
Another neighbor nodded.
Then another.
Denise wiped her face.
“We started something.”
“What?”
She showed him a laminated sheet.
WILLOW STREET NEIGHBOR NETWORK
Every household could voluntarily list emergency contacts.
Neighbors would check on one another after storms.
Elderly residents could request assistance.
Parents living alone with children could list backup contacts.
Andrew read it twice.
“This came from what happened?”
Denise nodded.
“We can’t undo those four days.”
“No.”
“But maybe we can make sure they don’t happen again.”
Andrew looked at Ashley.
“What do you think?”
She shrugged.
“I think we should have pizza.”
Everyone laughed.
Andrew smiled.
“Apparently we’re having pizza.”
Then Ashley spotted something.
“Daddy?”
At the curb sat a used blue pickup.
Andrew stared.
A local mechanic tossed him the keys.
“Don’t argue.”
“I can’t accept that.”
“Sure you can.”
“No.”
The mechanic pointed toward the dented mailbox.
“I’ve known you six years. You fixed my transmission for free when I got laid off.”
“That was different.”
“Why?”
Andrew had no answer.
“Take the truck.”
Ashley tugged his sleeve.
“Take the truck, Daddy.”
Andrew looked around at the people he had once believed barely noticed him.
Then at the house where Ashley had waited.
The porch had been repaired.
The refrigerator was full.
Her medicine was organized beside the kitchen sink.
Andrew finally nodded.
“Okay.”
The mechanic smiled.
“Good.”
“But I’m paying you back.”
“Absolutely not.”
“I am.”
“You can try.”
Ashley sighed dramatically.
“Grown-ups are exhausting.”
Natalie laughed.
“You’re going to be fine, kid.”
May you like
Ashley looked up.
“I know.”
