Guilt washed over Bette when she saw how happy Tina was. She should have been glad that she was sparing T the knowledge that her parents were in the same townbut lying to Tina, once again, kept eating away at her brain. And Shane knew exactly why Bette was unusually quiet, but Bette wouldnt look at her. Alice packed the food in the iceboxes they brought along with them and all piled back into the car. Tina insisted on driving and Bette sat in the front with her. For the entire drive she didnt say anythingBette didnt even join in for one of Kits dirty sing-a-longs. Instead the lyrics of some song kept coming into her mindmaybe cause of the way she was feeling, she didnt know whyBette stared out the window feeling guilty while the strange verses went through her head.
So long to this cold, cold part of the world

So long to this cold, cold part of the world
So long to this bone-bleached part of the world
So long to this cold, cold part of the world
So long to this salt-soaked part of the world
I stepped down as president of Antarctica
Can’t blame me
Don’t blame me
Dont
So long to this sad, sad part of the world
So long

She woke up to Tina who was shaking Bette awake. Alice and Shane were gone and Bette was asleep. She must have passed out half-way to the place. It was a guided tour of the Natural History Museum in some small city. Bette snapped out of her lethargy and saw Tinas face above herlooking very much at ease. Suddenly Bette sat up, this was ridiculous…she had to tell Tina she had to. And so sitting sideways on the car seat, the door was open, with Tina standing before her Bette swallowed and looked up again. Tina was silentshe seemed to sense that something was up. She brushed a piece of hair from Bettes forehead and asked what she was thinking. Looking down again Bette cleared her mouth, then she looked up at Tina and spoke.T I-I I havent been totally honest with youback in the grocery I sawI saw your parentsand I wanted to spare you that knowledge (gulp)and and Im sorry for keeping it from youI just didnt want anything to mar our trip thats allyou seemed so happyBette trailed off. She could see two blotches of red appear on Tinas cheek. After a couple of seconds T spokeBette I really dont know what to say to you right nowIm going for a walkplease dont follow me. And with that Tina turned around and left Bette with her head down. Bette didnt even bother to get out of the car and so she locked herself in and lowered the car seat. God she was so tiredand with that sleep soon overcame Bette.