"No highway."
Tom hesitated.
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"No highway."
Tom nodded.
"Fair."
Miguel grinned.
Tom looked at the badge.
"You wear that often?"
Miguel touched it.
"Only special days."
"Today special?"
Miguel nodded.
"It's my birthday."
Tom looked toward the wall.
At the framed drawing.
Miguel followed his gaze.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
"You kept it."
Tom nodded.
"Some things you don't throw away."
Miguel walked toward the frame.
His fingers hovered near the glass.
"My handwriting was terrible."
Snake shouted from across the room.
"Still is."
Miguel laughed.
Tom approached him.
"You remember anything about that day?"
Miguel looked at him.
"Everything."
Tom seemed surprised.
Miguel pointed toward the drawing.
"I remember being scared to walk into the diner."
"Didn't look scared."
"I was."
"Could've fooled us."
Miguel looked toward Elena.
"Mom wouldn't stop crying."
Elena lowered her eyes.
Miguel continued.
"I thought if I fixed the funeral she'd stop."
Tom's smile faded.
Children often carried responsibilities adults never asked them to carry.
Miguel looked back at him.
"I remember you kneeling."
Tom listened.
"I remember thinking you weren't as scary up close."
Snake laughed loudly.
Tom glared at him.
Miguel smiled.
"I remember all the motorcycles."
His voice softened.
"And I remember what you said."
"What part?"
"That if I ever saw someone who needed help, I should help them even if they looked scary or different."
Tom nodded slowly.
Miguel touched his father's badge.
"I try."
Tom's eyes became wet.
"You planning to become a cop?"
Miguel looked at Elena.
"Maybe."
Elena smiled.
"He's thinking about it."
Tom nodded.
"Your dad would be proud."
Miguel looked at him.
"How do you know?"
Tom pointed toward the old drawing.
"Because I knew his kid."
Miguel laughed softly.
Tom went toward a storage room.
He returned carrying a motorcycle helmet.
Black.
Simple.
New.
Miguel stared.
"You bought that?"
"Maybe."
"You knew I was coming?"
Tom looked at Snake.
Snake whistled innocently.
Miguel turned.
"You told him?"
Elena smiled.
"I might have called."
Miguel shook his head.
Tom handed him the helmet.