I love Silent Hill.
It's the kind of place where you can grow old with dignity and live without fear. The kind of place where words like love and peace make sense. It's been forever since I can remember the last time something bad happened here. But, lately I've had these terrible stomach pains, a "volcano in your stomach" as my wife Julia puts it. The doctors don't know what it is and the pains are getting worse and worse. "Less spicy food and more exercise Mr. Stills" they say. The only time they don't seem to hit me is when I'm driving to the next town over. It feels like summer never ends. It's never cold around here and today is the beginning of the Summer Fest.
I wait for Julia to get dressed and watch television.
With a high of 68 degrees and partly cloudy it's going to be another beautiful day here in Silent Hill. Be sure to get out and visit the summer fest with plenty to do and as usual plenty of Mrs. Davis' pecan pie.....
Mrs. Davis' pecan pie is a sensation here. We get tourist from all around trying to get as many as they can. I remember once as a teen working in her store selling them and some business tycoon or something wanted to buy the recipe from Mrs. Davis. She refused of course. But the guy wouldn't let up and kept pressuring her and telling her that it wouldn't take much too just take it from her. She reached calmly under the counter and fired a single shot from her revolver into the air. The business guy scurried out so quickly it was almost comical. After that point she became a Silent Hills spokeswoman against intruding big business. She was a hero to all small business owners. Funny thing that bullet hole is still there after 15 years.
The baby is crying, oh yeah I forgot to mention. I have a baby girl who was born 3 months ago. Her name is Alice. I swear the kid hasn't stopped crying since we brought her from the hospital. She is either sleeping or crying. She even cries when Julia holds her and is only quiet when I cuddle her small face to mine. I stare down into her violet eyes and get lost in them wondering why I'm still in Silent Hill. I guess it is because my entire family has lived and died here. My family goes as far back to when the town was founded. I always wanted to leave, I just can't.
The television turns off and I get startled. Above me is Julia holding the remote and a sleeping Alice in her arms.
We get in our car and drive off to the town's center. We have to leave the car parked on Lindsey Street. Since no traffic can come in or out through the festival. I get closer and the sounds of children running and laughing fill the air. Sirens and bells are going off at the different game booths.
"Connor, I see some friends from work-could you hold her for a sec?" Julia gives me Alice and walks off towards them.
I stand near a booth where a teen boy is trying to knock down heavy milk cans with a baseball. He keeps missing his mark but laughs it off as a teen girl smiles at him.
The festival has been around for years. At first it was suppose to be just an attraction to get tourist in and have them spend money. Later is sort of evolved into a day for everyone to cut work or summer school. The only places open today, besides the booths are the Ferris wheel overlooking Toluca Lake next to the park, Happy Burger and the Hospital.
It's sunny again. Everyone is eating vanilla bean ice cream. It's always sunny, as if though the sun makes it an excuse for us to eat more Ice Cream. An excuse to be happy and enjoy what we have.
Julia comes back over smiling "Katie and Trish want to see the baaaby" She says it really sweet and takes Alice out of my arms. She is still asleep so she doesn't cry. We walk over to where Julia's friends are.
"Maybe we can head over to the Ferris wheel later?" I say
"I don't know-you think it might be too scary for Alice?"
"No, she'll be fine."
It's the kind of place where you can grow old with dignity and live without fear. The kind of place where words like love and peace make sense. It's been forever since I can remember the last time something bad happened here. But, lately I've had these terrible stomach pains, a "volcano in your stomach" as my wife Julia puts it. The doctors don't know what it is and the pains are getting worse and worse. "Less spicy food and more exercise Mr. Stills" they say. The only time they don't seem to hit me is when I'm driving to the next town over. It feels like summer never ends. It's never cold around here and today is the beginning of the Summer Fest.
I wait for Julia to get dressed and watch television.
With a high of 68 degrees and partly cloudy it's going to be another beautiful day here in Silent Hill. Be sure to get out and visit the summer fest with plenty to do and as usual plenty of Mrs. Davis' pecan pie.....
Mrs. Davis' pecan pie is a sensation here. We get tourist from all around trying to get as many as they can. I remember once as a teen working in her store selling them and some business tycoon or something wanted to buy the recipe from Mrs. Davis. She refused of course. But the guy wouldn't let up and kept pressuring her and telling her that it wouldn't take much too just take it from her. She reached calmly under the counter and fired a single shot from her revolver into the air. The business guy scurried out so quickly it was almost comical. After that point she became a Silent Hills spokeswoman against intruding big business. She was a hero to all small business owners. Funny thing that bullet hole is still there after 15 years.
The baby is crying, oh yeah I forgot to mention. I have a baby girl who was born 3 months ago. Her name is Alice. I swear the kid hasn't stopped crying since we brought her from the hospital. She is either sleeping or crying. She even cries when Julia holds her and is only quiet when I cuddle her small face to mine. I stare down into her violet eyes and get lost in them wondering why I'm still in Silent Hill. I guess it is because my entire family has lived and died here. My family goes as far back to when the town was founded. I always wanted to leave, I just can't.
The television turns off and I get startled. Above me is Julia holding the remote and a sleeping Alice in her arms.
We get in our car and drive off to the town's center. We have to leave the car parked on Lindsey Street. Since no traffic can come in or out through the festival. I get closer and the sounds of children running and laughing fill the air. Sirens and bells are going off at the different game booths.
"Connor, I see some friends from work-could you hold her for a sec?" Julia gives me Alice and walks off towards them.
I stand near a booth where a teen boy is trying to knock down heavy milk cans with a baseball. He keeps missing his mark but laughs it off as a teen girl smiles at him.
The festival has been around for years. At first it was suppose to be just an attraction to get tourist in and have them spend money. Later is sort of evolved into a day for everyone to cut work or summer school. The only places open today, besides the booths are the Ferris wheel overlooking Toluca Lake next to the park, Happy Burger and the Hospital.
It's sunny again. Everyone is eating vanilla bean ice cream. It's always sunny, as if though the sun makes it an excuse for us to eat more Ice Cream. An excuse to be happy and enjoy what we have.
Julia comes back over smiling "Katie and Trish want to see the baaaby" She says it really sweet and takes Alice out of my arms. She is still asleep so she doesn't cry. We walk over to where Julia's friends are.
"Maybe we can head over to the Ferris wheel later?" I say
"I don't know-you think it might be too scary for Alice?"
"No, she'll be fine."
