Near
Baltimore
was a concrete building. Sparse windows, three storeys, in the middle of a commercial park. When Derek saw it his older brother pointed it out. "Did you know that's a secret government building?"
Derek didn't believe. Although he liked the idea of it. So he asked for more details.
"No. Those kind of spies don't exist in real life. Plus most the people in there are just office workers."
"Like dad?"
His older brother grinned. "Yes just like dad."
The two of them spent a lot of time pointing at things while mom drove them around. They spent a lot of time looking at things or just staring off into space in silence as well. When Derek's brother pointed out the "secret government" building they had been on their way to pick up their dad.
The
Toyota
had been in the garage. So mom had to drop off and pick everybody up using the
Mitsubishi
.
It was a small car. Much smaller than the Toyota minivan. It was one of those cars with only one door on each side. You had to lean the front chair forward to let someone get into the back. Derek and his brother were now at the age where they could've been left home alone. But they wanted to ride along this evening.
Logistically it made no sense. But Derek's mom didn't fight them. She was just glad that they would rather do something other than watch
TV
.
Derek's dad was waiting outside. His figure cast a tall shadow in the mellow evening.