[b]THULILE[/b]

As Vincent turned of the engine of their truck, Thuly looked around. [i]‘It doesn’t look like much’[/i], she thought. Still, in the past months prioritizing keeping their head down above finding luxury accommodations had proven it’s worth. [i]‘Well, it’s not like we’re swimming in money anyways!’[/i], Thulile sniggered. 

Vincent got out of the car and Thuly did the same. He made a big show of stretching his limbs. Audrey and Eli joined him and Thuly hid her smirk. She did wonder when she’d lose her youthful flexibility. As she’d experienced, Thulile could sleep on a branch, ride a pony barebacked, perhaps even sit on a bed of nails without ending up with little or big aches and stiffness. [i]’One of the few perks of being a teenager ‘[/i], she concluded. 

Peering over the stretching trio, the dark curly head looked at the motel sign. It spelled out the name in bright neon letters: UNSET MOTEL. [i]’That can’t be right…’[/i], she wondered. Taking a better look, Thuly saw another dark shape in front of the others. “An S!”, Thuly cried out. Surprising herself, she murmured: “Sunset Motel. That’s it.” The first neon S must’ve been broken. Grinning she added: “I prefer Unset Motel. It fits us better”. 

It seemed Eli and Vincent would be off doing manly car things. That sure wasn’t anything Thulile could help them with. Audrey seemed inclined to explore a theme park. Smearing her most lovely smile over her lips, Thuly looked over at Audrey: “Hey Audrey, wanna go and visit one of those theme parks together?”
She so hoped Audrey would go with her. Thuly sure wasn’t planning on going there alone. The image of a horror clown smothering her in cotton candy flashed through her mind. She quickly shook the image from her head. “Are you with me?”, she asked briskly.