They drove for a little while and Henry tried to open the window but it didn’t work. The driver turned onto a highway and said something but Henry didn’t hear because he was scared. The driver started to sing. “They often call me Speedo, but my real name is Mr. Earl.” Then he looked into the rearview mirror. “C’mon up front,” he said and patted the seat next to him. Henry shook his head. “Aw, c’mon. I can’t see you sitting all the way back there.” Henry climbed over the seat. “What’s your name, boy?” Henry told him. “Pleased to meet you, Henry,” Mr. Earl said. They drove for a long time. Mr. Earl smoked cigarettes and pointed to some factories and steel mills as they drove past. “The only thing worse than a mill in full production is an abandoned one,” he said. “The world is unfair no matter how you look at it. It’s getting worse too. Never thought I’d see it that way, but there it is. Time was, all I wanted was to stay alive.” Mr. Earl rolled the window down and flicked another cigarette out onto the road.
