I Don't Have Much to Offer

I Don't Have Much to Offer

Faced with Baby's unexpected enthusiasm, Alvin nervously grabbed his daughter and had her wave frantically at Baby.

He was beginning to understand how the parents of those obsessive fans must feel. If Baby weren't a special case, Alvin figured he would have sent the kid packing to the West Coast.

Carefully gripping the steering wheel, Alvin was wondering whether he should pull over and teach Baby a lesson when Roman, the black guy from the Racing Family, pulled up in a muscle car. He pressed close to the Hellcat Baby was driving, swerved back and forth to provoke him, then shouted a few things at Baby.

Roman's antics hadn't bothered Baby, but they enraged little Ginny, who was interacting with her idol. The little girl bared her teeth angrily, wriggled into the back seat, grabbed the shotgun Alexei had given her, and aimed it through the window at Roman's car.

Unlucky Roman spotted the pink shotgun in his rearview mirror, stomped on the gas in terror, and took off like a shot.

As Roman fled, Baby started turning around too. Ever since the day Baby had taken Alvin's place in a thrilling race against the Racing Family, he had gotten to know them.

The boy could only communicate in his own special way within a world he knew well. For instance, they could tell what someone wanted to "say" from the way their car moved.

Roman probably hadn't meant any real harm just now. Otherwise, he never would have dared to mess with Baby right in front of Alvin.

Alvin pulled over, then helplessly took the shotgun from little Ginny and tossed it into the back seat. He gave her two swats on the bottom and said, "Don't point a gun at anyone again,