A trail of brake lights streams from the Downtown Tunnel. Cars jockey to beat each other into downtown parking garages. The bus drops her off at the corner of Main and Commercial streets. Adkins walks one block, cuts through Waterside and catches the Elizabeth River ferry for the homestretch. The early morning sun shimmers off the water.
Sea gulls squawk overhead.
The boat pitches and rolls slightly with the tide. Off to the east, cars are stacked up on the Berkley Bridge. On chilly days, she stays in the enclosed cabin downstairs where the engine drones loudly. Warm days lure her upstairs to the open deck, despite the havoc the wind wreaks on her hair. I'm saving wear and tear on my car.