Full Speed Ahead: My Journey with Kit

I ask Kit if we could give our earned money to the hungry boy, since he’s worse off than we are, and find another way home instead of the train. Then I remember Kit’s family has no car or phone. Kit makes a face and suggests calling her Uncle Hendrick, pronouncing his name like Count Dracula’s. He has both and would come, though he’d grumble about the collect call. I agree, and Kit nods.

We find the little boy behind the back door, looking forlorn, and his face breaks into a huge smile when we hand him our four nickels, like we’re fairies. Mrs. Finch, who saw everything, scolds us for giving away our pot-scrubbing money and asks how we’re getting home now.

Kit explains our plan: call her uncle to come get us and drive us home to Cincinnati. Mrs. Finch won’t hear of it. Her husband is already driving to Cincinnati tomorrow, so he might as well change his schedule to take us this afternoon.

That’s exactly what happens. Mrs. Finch gets her way. We hug her goodbye and climb into the back of Mr. Finch’s old pick-up truck with Buddy for a bone-jouncing ride. He drops us at Union Station, and we walk home to the Kittredges’ house, happy and worn out.