Marci pulled up in front of the combination gas station and mini-mart in the small, desert town of Twentynine Palms at nine thirty a.m. From here it was but a few blocks to her grandmother’s house. She knew there wouldn’t be any soft drinks in the fridge. She might as well gas up now and get her soft drink. Who knew what sort of errands her grandmother would ask her to run.
Before filling the tank, she checked her dark hair in the rearview mirror. Once the tank was filled, Marci darted into the mart to pay and pick up what she needed. One big drink and a couple of snack sacks later she drove off.
Darn, that hadn’t taken long. Marci was still resentful that she had been selected to serve as a companion, glorified chauffer, housekeeper, and gardener for her grandmother. Her cousin, Duane,
