[ WP ] The day nothing happened .

I kicked my toes against the curb, waiting for my dad again. School had let out an hour before, and I'd hid in the bathroom for most of that hour. Most of the day too. I tugged at my sleeves, jerking them down almost to the tips of my thumbs, and leaned back further into the shadow of the school building. It was hot out. 
 
 The crunch of gravel smashed under tires made me look up from the abused curb. I stood and grabbed my bag. Loaded down with books, and notes, and other things I could n't understand, my wrists twinged in protest at the weight. I just slung the mess onto my shoulders. That pain was n't new. 
 
 I pulled open the door and sank into the seat, not bothering to take the bag off my back. 
 
 My dad grinned at me for a second before shifting his gaze to the empty school. `` Sorry, honey, things went a bit long.'' 
 
 I shrugged. ``'s'ok.'' 
 
 `` Do n't mumble like that.'' He checked his mirrors. `` Are n't you hot?'' he asked, pulling away from the curb; he did n't adjust the temperature controls. 
 
 `` No.'' 
 
 Dad was too busy merging to notice my reply. `` So, anything interesting happen today?'' 
 
 I smoothed my sleeves down. `` No, nothing happened.'' 
 
 `` Is n't that how it always goes?'' 
 
 `` Yes,'' I whispered. 
 
 He nodded, gave a fleeting smile, and turned up the radio. We drove the rest of the way in noise-smothered silence, where he watched the traffic, I watched my hands, and nothing happened. That's how it always went.
