Zoe is not okay with this

Car ride with a kid

"Elsie! Where are you going-"

"uhm- this way?"

"That's not the answer I was looking for, and you know that! Get back here, we have to go soon!"

"No, thank you very much!"

"Elsie- we've got to go, really."

Elsie did not respond.

Zoe groaned as her sister started to climb a nearby tree. She nervously checked her watch. So her sister could hear her, she yelled.

"ELSIE! We do not have time for this!"

Sensing the seriousness in Zoe's tone, she quickly climbed back down and muttered her apologies (a bit sarcastically). Zoe resisted the urge to hit her and led her back to the car.

"Why don't you want to go, anyway? I mean, I get it, but..."

Zoe muttered the last part, trying to make it seem like a family reunion is a perfectly nice gathering that one should enjoy. Her sister did not buy it, and scrunched up her nose.

"Why do you wanna go? You hate everyone anyway. We all hate everyone else. Its, like, tradition."

" That's only somewhat true. Besides, you're like six. What do you know?"

This annoyed the child.

"I'm seven. Almost eight." She complained.

Zoe was not in the mood to argue, so she just rolled her eyes and announced in a sarcastic tone,

"We've arrived, your highness."

(Even though seven and one third is not "almost eight")

"Just get in the goddam car, Myrtle."  She muttered in response to Elsie's cries of disappointment and utter turmoil.

Zoe got in the front, turned on the car, and buckled herself in.

"You buckled, Els?'

"Yeah..."

"good."

And then they drove away from Elsie's day camp. Zoe turned on the radio and put in directions on how the hell to get from point A (daycamp) to point B (their grandparents).

"Hey Zoe?"

"Yeessss?"

"Why are you driving me? can you even drive?"

Zoe felt just a little insulted.

"Of course I can drive, and i'm just taking you because everyone else was busy getting up there themselves."

"Why do they trust you with me?"

"Look, I may not be great sometimes, but usually i'm plenty responsible. M'kay?"

"Mmmm. Can we get ice cream?"

Zoe weighed the options in her head. Then, thinking of the last time she saw her cousins, the pros of delaying their arrival with ice cream seemed a lot more persuading.

"I suppose we can."

Elsie cheered, a smile lighting up her face. Zoe wanted to look back at her, but she hadn't gotten her licence all that long ago and was still a bit nervous.

As they arrived at an ice cream place, Elsie started the negotiating.

"Two scoops?"

"I think not." Zoe shot back with a roll of la eyes.

"Split single?"

"What flavor do you want?" Clearly being responsible meant no to any size larger than a kids. As this hit her, Elsie sighed in defeat.

"Chocolate cherry."

"Good choice." Zoe smiled a little as she placed the order.

"You're not getting any? Why not?"

"Don't want any." Zoe shrugged.

Elsie frowned as though she thought it were impossible to not want ice cream. The ice cream dealer and Zoe made the trade off of money and ice cream. Zoe handed it to her sister, pushing her towards the door.

"C'mon, We'll go outside."

Halfway through the treat, Elsie asked,

"Hey Zoe?"

"Yeeesss?"

"Why cant I do a special thing?"

"What do you mean?" Zoe's warm smile tightened.

"Like- why cant I do something cool, like everyone else? Like, I mean, my best friend can make things float. Ida can make stuff out of, like, nothing. And like- like- you can like- uhm- What can you do again?"

Zoe sighed and cursed that she had to explain this. Again.

"Well- firstly, plenty of people don't have "special things", and secondly, they're not all that they're cracked up to be. Especially with your genes." She said, flicking a leaf off of Elsie. "As for your last question- well-"

"What?"

"Its... complicated. I cant use my special thing because its dangerous. But, its like... lava i guess?

"Oh. That's cool."

"Yep."

A strange silence followed. Zoe was quick to get off the subject and broke it.

"You done?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Lets go."

The only noise for the rest of the car ride was the radio. Up until the last five-ish minutes, at least.

"Are you ok Zoe?"

"Huh? Im fine, why?"

"You're just so energetic mostly. And today you're like- not."

"Just wait till you're in my situation, kid." Although Zoe quietly hoped Elsie would never be in her situation.

"Did something happen with Mika?"

"No." Zoe answered too quickly.

Elsie frowned.

"Are you sure? 'Cause you seemed really worded when you said that"

"Elsie just- stop it. And it's worried, with an i."

Elsie huffed at this- this accusation. She knew what she said. Deciding this was an argument for another time, she continued prodding about Mika. Zoe was growing increasingly annoyed. 

"Did something happen or not?! Why won't you tell me?!" Then, quieter- "Did she get hurt?"

Zoe bit her lip, glaring in the rearview mirror. An unsure silence followed. Eventually Elsie got tired of being patient and respectful, and whined about how Zoe never tells her anything. 

"I'll tell mom you're ignoring me."

"Nevermind, Els. Just a few more minutes, 'kay?"

"Okaayyyyy."

 Elsie decidedly was not going to give up so easily. However, children do not usually have as long of an attention span as they think they do. (I.E., The whole conversation was quickly forgotten)