IN BETWEEN IT ALL?? BARNES?

My mom stole a car. It was actually a very nice one. She usually stole nice cars because that told her that whoever it belonged to could go buy another one. My dad didn't have the same mindset as my mom when it came to things like that.

This was the most relaxing ride we'd had since we got here. I hated this place and I was glad that we were getting closer to leaving. I could almost fall asleep right now, and sleep was definitely well needed and earned by the three of us. 

I felt my head begin to nod. My eyes were starting to get heavy. Sleep sounded so nice right now. It was so quiet, we were cruising so comfortably, I might as well have just taken advantage of this while I could. I don't think we would be getting any sleep for a long time from now. 

Just when I shut my eyes, I heard Yelena say, "You know this is the first piece of clothing I ever bought for myself?" She sounded quite proud. I opened my eyes to look for a second. It was a green vest with a bunch of small compartments all over it. It was cool for missions, but I couldn't see myself wearing something like that any other time. 

My mom flashed her a look of confusion as she took a small glance up and down the vest. "That?" She questioned almost disgusted. The wrinkles showed on her face as she frowned at the poor selection, and I was sure wrinkles were showing in mine when I noticed that she was chewing gum. 

"Yeah. You don't like it?" Yelena asked quietly, turning to look at my mom. 

I glared at her because she was chewing gum that she didn't want to buy for me. I scanned the front seat for it so that I could snatch it away. 

"Is that like a..." she trailed on as she tried to find the words to explain it. "An army surplus, or-"

"Okay, it has a lot of pockets," Yelena bites back defensively. My mom laughed at her. "I use them all the time, and I made some of my own modifications," she informed, feeling like she needed to put it out there and defend herself further. 

My mom couldn't get the smile off of her face. "Oh yeah?"

"Whatever," Yelena dismisses bitterly. 

I found the gum sitting with Yelena so I didn't mind it being in the front anymore. As long as my mom didn't try to confiscate it and pretend that it was hers. 

She heard my mom laugh again and she got frustrated. I would have laughed too. "Shut up, the point is I've never- ...I've never had control over my own life and now I do," she says somewhat proud. "I want to do things," she turned to look at my mom as if she was asking with her eyes whether or not that should be okay.

My mom flashed her one more glance with her eyes slightly narrowed before she hummed in response. "I like your vest," she admits for the heck of it, smiling at Yelena's quick response.

Before she could take another breath, Yelena cheered almost desperately, "I knew it. I knew you did. It's so cool, right?" She pumped her fists excitedly and looked up again at my mom as if she needed her confirmation. My mom couldn't shake the smile that Yelena was putting on her face. 

I nod my head. "Very cool."

"It's good. Yes. I like it," my mom says, nodding slowly and giving the confirmation that she needed. 

"And you can put so much stuff in there," she goes on excitedly. "You wouldn't even know," she finished, sitting back proud and sitting up straight. She was very proud of her vest, and I think it was actually a very nice thing to be proud of. I knew that that was part of the reason why my mom just couldn't get that smile off of her face.