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least an hour
without seeing anyone or anything except mountains in the distance
and cows—miles and miles of bovines walking, eating, drinking, even
lying down and doing nothing. She wasn’t bored, but the repetition
allowed her mind to sink into places full of nothing but
questions.
    It wasn’t long before they passed a
sign stating they were entering Gardiner, and Sakura was giddy with
excitement. She was in Matt’s territory this time and had no idea
what to expect. Anything could happen and she was ready…okay,
almost ready.
    “Over there, on the left, looks
like a diner. I’ve grown to adore these icons of Americana. How
many dishes do you think we’ll find with both cheese and potatoes?
I’m going for twelve, unless they have breakfast, lunch, and dinner
on one menu, then I’ll say over thirty.” Sakura laughed with her
friend as they made their usual wager.
    It had started out as a way to make
the different food easier to understand. Over time it became the
way they figured out who paid. The money came out of the same
expense account, but added an interesting element to their
meals.
    “Darn, you’ve picked what I
would’ve said. Okay, I’m going low. Seven and, if all three are
there, then eighteen.” Molly slowed down and pulled into the
parking lot surrounding a tidy building with lots of big windows.
They both breathed a sigh of relief as she turned off the
engine.
    “I knew this country was big, but
down here on the ground it feels massive. I didn’t realize how much
time it would take to drive from one place to the next, and we’re
not even near the West Coast.” Every hour they’d spent in the car
had solidified each joint and muscle in her body.
    They stepped out of the car and
stretched their arms and legs, seeking some relief and ability to
move normally. They were used to small towns, but knew not everyone
in them were comfortable seeing strangers invade their
space.
    While neither Sakura nor Molly
dwelled on what they looked like, it wasn’t long before they
realized what a unique picture they presented when together. She
was a Japanese woman with black hair, brown eyes, and light brown
tinted skin, and her best friend was an Englishwoman with blond
hair, blue eyes, and whiter than white skin. They also spoke with
different accents.
    During their trip to America,
starting in North Carolina, there had been no threats made against
them, although a lot of people silently stared. A couple of times
they’d been uncomfortable, but learned to ignore it. They
understood there were people everywhere around the world who didn’t
like to be faced with something new and different, at least not
without a warning.
    “I imagine it would take at least a
week of straight driving with little sleep, minimal food, and
bathroom stops to make it from one side to the other. Wouldn’t that
be a great way to explore this wonderful country?” Molly shared the
thought, but didn’t sound sure she could actually do it.
    “Honestly, anything having to do
with sitting in a car doesn’t sound like fun. Maybe it will after
I’ve eaten and slept in the same place for at least two days in a
row. Come on, let’s go inside and not think about
driving.”
    They locked arms and walked inside,
laughing.
    “It looks like you two ladies are
having a great day,” a pretty woman greeted them with a wonderfully
open smile.
    Sakura was pleased to find someone
who represented the image she had of Americans. Happy with life,
which she believed meant they were open to meeting new and
different people.
    “We’ve spent hours, days, driving
here and couldn’t be happier to have finally made it.” Sakura
smiled back as she shared what they were doing. She enjoyed talking
about their adventure with others and it was still
happening.
    “Sounds like a long and tedious
trip. Where have you come from?” The waitress slipped out from
behind the counter with menus in one hand and a big glass filled
with what looked like a cola