Rain clouds filled the sky
One by one raindrops hit the ground
Pitter patter pitter patter
The ceiling is low
All the windows rattle
Anna sits snug up next to me
Four people in this row that is meant for three
Raj is miraculously passed out in the back row
Brian is listening to music while attempting to sleep
Anna and I share my iPhone to drown out the others around us
Our backpacks reside on our laps
Twenty adults fill this 16 passenger van
You may think that's only four more people
This isn't your typical van
It's snug
We become each others seat belts
I don't recall the last time I even wore a seatbelt
The seats are far from comfortable
In order to look out the window I must hunch my head down
It's become too much work and strain on my neck
Behind me sit three girls
Before long I feel a gentle tug on my hair
I feel them lightly twisting and stroking it
Feeling its texture
The women and children here love to feel my hair
It's real
Not a weave or a piece
It's soft and silky
So they say
I don't know if they knew that I could feel them
I didn't want to embarrass them
I didn't turn around
When it was their time to exit
One girl smiled and waved good bye to me as she walked away
Just another moment on the race
Love,
Kale
