"Sammy, you there?"

Sam glanced up from his math book, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He wondered if Alex knew that she didn't have to yell so loudly for him to hear her through the door.
"I'm here. I'm doing homework."
"Can I come in?"

Sam sighed and put his pencil down. "Yeah, come in." The door handle turned slowly, and his eight-year-old sister squeezed through like she might disrupt him if she opened the door any farther than was absolutely necessary. She padded quietly over to his bed and sat down beside him. For a moment, she just sat and watched the wall thoughtfully. Sam picked his pencil back up.
"Watcha working on?" Alex asked quietly, peeking over his shoulder.
"Long division."
"Hmm. I don't like long division. Is it easier when you're nine?"
"A little. But I like math better than you."
"Yeah." Alex was silent again for a while.

Sam got through two more homework problems before Alex snuggled into his side, leaning against his shoulder. Sam breathed another little sigh, finished his equation, and set his math book aside.
"Do you need me to go away?" Alex murmured.
"Nah. I can do math later." Sam wrapped his arms around his sister and kissed the top of her hair.

"Is Momma busy?" Sam asked, grabbing his blanket and tossing it over Alex's head. She giggled and pulled it down.
"Yeah. I think she's paying bills. She's at her desk and can't cuddle right now."
"You know Dad's bringing home a surprise?"
"Yeah, he's bringing a new car!"

Sam wrinkled his brow, pulling away a bit to see his sister's face. "How do you know?"

"He said so." Alex grinned broadly.
"He didn't tell me that," Sam replied, looking frustrated. Why did Dad tell Alex stuff and not tell him?
"You didn't ask." Alex curled back into his arm.
"I guess I didn't." They were both quiet for a while longer.

"Hey Sammy?"
"Yes?"
"What's a home?"
"A home?" Sam turned to Alex again. "What's that got to do with anything?"
"You said Daddy was bringing the surprise home. I hear people say it a lot but I don't know what it means. Is it just another word for house?"

"Hmm, Allie, I don't know that one," Sam said, finally letting go of his sister and sitting cross-legged on the floor. Alex hopped down to follow suit. "I don't think a house and a home are the same thing. You know, Mom has that painting thing that says 'home is where your heart is.'"
Alex wrinkled her nose in confusion. "But my heart is in my chest." Sam laughed.

"I don't think it means it like that."
"Well, what does it mean?" Alex picked absently at a thread of the carpet.

"I don't know," Sam repeated. "Maybe Momma could tell you."
"Yeah, maybe." Alex jumped up, heading for Sam's bookshelf. "I kinda think it just means a house though."
"I don't know."
"You said so already. That's okay, we'll figure it out sometime."

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Alex dropped her book and bolted for the front door when they heard Dad pull into the driveway. Sam abandoned his math homework again and followed.

Alex shrieked in front of him when she made it to the driveway. Dad had borrowed their granddad's truck and trailer the day before, and it was almost strange seeing a big truck pulling an older, smaller truck behind it. The truck on the trailer was rusty, and Sam didn't think all the parts were there, but Alex seemed thrilled.

Dad climbed out of Granddad's truck, grinning when he saw Alex jumping up and down. "Daddy, it's so pretty!" She called, hurrying to wrap her arms around Dad's waist. Dad just laughed.

"You think so?" He asked, and Sam climbed up onto the trailer to look in the bed of the new truck. It was dirty, and it looked like some of the floor was coming out, but Sam thought he might like it.
"It'll definitely be pretty once I fix it back up," Dad continued.

"How old is it, Dad?" Sam asked, peeking into the cab.
"Older than me," Dad replied, swinging Alex up onto his shoulders. He walked over and handed Sam a little key. "It was made in 1965."
"Who made it?" Alex asked, resting her hand on the rusty hood.
"Chevy."
"Didn't they make Momma's car too?"
"They did."

"Cool!" Alex started to climb down onto the edge of the trailer, and Sam carefully turned the key in the lock.
"Can I open it?"
"Sure you can, Sam. Let me help you." Dad had to tug a couple of times to get the door open.
"You wanna get in, Allie?" Sam asked, taking a step back.
"Yeah."

Alex climbed up into the peeling bench, with a little help from Sam, and touched the steering wheel carefully. She turned to look through the back window, then scooted over. "Come on, Sammy!"

Sam grinned, clambering in behind his sister. Dad just watched the two of them, seeming amused. "I like this," Alex declared, smiling cheekily as she turned around in her seat again. "I bet the truck could be like a home, Sam."
"You know," Sam said, putting a finger to his chin. He gave Alex an exaggerated look of approval, and she giggled. "I think it could."

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