They were all in the car, and ready to hit the road.
“Seat belts everyone?” said Charlotte’s mom.
“Check,” said Charlotte’s dad.
“Check,” said Charlotte.
“I don’t think I need a seat belt,” said Sheldon.
“Now Sheldon,” Charlotte’s mom said disapprovingly. “In this family we believe in safety first.”
“Mom’s very strict about those things,” Charlotte explained.
Sheldon looked at Charlotte for a long moment. “Is your mother worried that I’m going to die in an accident or something? Because I think that ship has sailed.”
“Oh, right. Mom, maybe we can skip the seat belt this one time.”
After they had gotten that sorted out, they were on their way.
“I can’t believe we’re going to New York City,” said Charlotte, regarding the dust jacket. “They even give the author’s address.”
Sheldon looked over at Charlotte, then at the volume she was studying. “Hey, is that the book we’re supposed to be in?”
“No, of course not.” She rolled her eyes. “You can’t read the book that you are in.”
“Why not?”
“Because that would be absurd.”