I take Interstate 15 north. We’ll soon cross the northwest tip of Arizona and go into Utah. There’s less traffic now that we’re past the Vegas Strip and I relax a little bit. My Icee is delicious. It’s been so long since I’ve had one. Years. In my battle against the bulge, I gave up dessert, butter on my bread, and frozen drinks, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. Too many calories. Too much sugar. Which is why this tastes so good, I’m sure. I open my bag of pretzels and have one. “Pretzel?” I offer the bag to Izzy. She’s got Doritos and cheese puffs and red licorice. And sour gummi worms. I should have told her to put it all back. Too much saturated fat and sugar for anyone, but she was so excited back at the mini-mart to be allowed to get what she wanted that I decided what the hell? A few days of junk food won’t hurt any of us. Haley and I could both stand to put on a couple of pounds. And if we stay with Laney, there won’t be a string of sugar or triangle of trans fats to be found in her cupboards.
