Summary:
Rilee just moved to New York City. Some of you may be thinking, "Well, good for her!" Actually, it isn't. She is a country girl through and through. She misses the grass and the animals and the way everyone in her hometown knew each other. They were all family. So this is the story of how Rilee came to create a new family. A family more unique than any other.
The beginning:
Rilee pounded her way up the stairs of her new apartment building. Stupid elevator! She thought. The dang thing is always broken. She wasn't really paying attention to where she was going, so it was a big shock when she collided with the boy. Man is more like it… He was tall and toned. "I am so, so sorry!" She almost yelled. She didn't really know what she was apologizing for; she was the one on the ground.
He laughed. "No problem!" Reaching his hand out to me, he said, "I'm Gregor." I took his hand. "Rilee."
"Nice to meet you Rilee! You new here?"
"Oh, yeah!" She said with her southern twang. "Most definitely! This is my first time in the 'Big City'." She made air quotes with her fingers.
"Well, this isn't the best building, but there are some good people here." Gregor said. "We're glad to have you."
"You're about the only ones then!" She laughed. "Good bye, Gregor." She took off back up the stairs, as he called, "See ya later!"
When she finally made it up to her apartment, she yelled out, "I'm home!"
"Wilee! Wilee!" , Screeched Asa. She crossed the room to her baby brother at the kitchen table. "Hey, Bud! Where's Seth?" She inquired. "Bafwoom.", Came Asa's reply.
Shifting her baby brother to her hip, she walked down the hall and banged on the bathroom door. "Come on! It's laundry time!"
"Shut up, Twin!" Seth yelled through the door.
Rilee and Seth were both freshmen in high school this coming school year. Super squeaky fun time!
"Hurry up! We gotta get down there and get it done before Mom and Dad come back!"
"I'm comin'!" He muttered. "Hold your horses!"
Rilee laughed. "Ain't got none! We're in the city now!"
That was when he chose to open the door. His eyes were red and puffy. "Aww, Seth! Not again!"
"I can't help it! I miss her so much!" You might think that he was talking about some pretty little girl he left back home, but he wasn't. Seth 'doesn't play for that team' as they say. He's about as queer as a three dollar bill. The 'her' he was referring to was our beautiful horse, Molly. They had to leave her behind in Townville.
Rilee just shook her head. "Let's go get this laundry done." She led the way, a basket on one hip and a baby on the other, down the stairs to the laundry room.
On their way down, they encountered a strange old lady. "Are you going to the laundry room?" The lady blurted.
"Yes, ma'am," I replied. "Why? Is there something wrong with it?"
She gazed at us in fear and hobbled off. Well that was odd… Seth and I exchanged glances.
We continued down and loaded all of our clothes into washers. That's when we noticed it. A rusty grate, screwed shut.
They didn't know it at the time, but that little grate would change their lives forever.