4 Simon’s Dad Gets Closer

CHAPTER FOUR SIMON'S DAD GETS CLOSER WE NEEDED TO get to work. "We should wash the car first," Rosie said quickly. "Can you get your mom to pull it into the driveway? That will also empty the garage and give us more room to work." "And more room to see what we have to do," I said. Simon went to get his mom. Simon's mom came out and said it was really nice

of me and Rosie to help him with the garage. She said to come get anything we wanted in the kitchen. And she said Simon wasn't really in a lot of trouble with her. She used to talk too much in class too. She also said it was a smart idea to wash the car and clean the garage. She thought Simon's dad would love it. "But it's no guarantee that Simon won't get punished," she said. Then she pulled the blue Toyota Camry out of the

garage. "How long will it take Dad to get home?" Simon asked his mom as she got out of the car. "From Cincinnati? About six hours," she answered and then snapped her fingers.

"I tell you what, I'll track his car on my phone and let you know where he is." "Is he taking I-74 to I-65?" I asked. Simon's mom tilted her head to the left and said, "What?" I could tell she wasn't saying What? because she didn't hear me. She was saying What? because it was a weird question for me to ask.

"This might sound strange," I said. "But I—" Rosie interrupted. "Molly has a thing with maps." "It's just who she is," Simon added. "It's totally cool." "When we take a long trip in the car, I need to know what towns we're going to pass through," I explained. "And in what order. Because if I don't know what's next, I mean, anything could happen." Simon's mom untilted her head and nodded. I think she was just being polite and trying to show that she understood. Even though I don't think she did. "Anyway, we had to go to my aunt's wedding a few years ago in Shelbyville, Indiana," I continued. "So I know all the cities and towns on the main highways in Indiana." "Isn't that awesome?!" Simon exclaimed. His mom asked, "If Dad's coming from

Cincinnati, what towns will he pass through?" I looked up at the sky for a few seconds. The answer was stuck in a different part of my brain, so I had to find it. Aunt Kate's wedding was, you know, three years ago. When I found it, I said, "Batesville, Greensburg, Shelbyville, Indianapolis, Lebanon, Lafayette, Remington, Crown Point, Hammond, Chicago. Then, here, Evanston." Simon's mom just stared at me. She didn't say anything, but Simon did. "Like I said," he exclaimed and pointed at me. "Awesome!" Simon's mom got out her phone, opened an app, and tracked down the car.