Hawkins, August 1983.
I'm Still Standing by Elton John played through the cassette player headphones as Harriet Michaels pulled her suitcase along the concrete pathway, the suns rays beating down her. How ironic she thought to herself rolling her eyes at the feeling that life was laughing at her. She had finally made it to the small town of Hawkins, Indiana all the way from the United Kingdom. Taking 3 months of planning, 2 flights and one long coach journey across what felt to be the entire world, Harriet Michaels felt like she was done and tired with life at the young age of 16. The reason for this journey? Her mother had passed away due to ill health and seeing as her dad was a no show who walked out when she was three years of age, her only remaining family was here. So instead of going into the system, it was decided for her that she was to go live with her remaining family here in America, finish her schooling here and then see what other twists and turns life had for her.
Walking a bit further along the pathway Harriet saw a bench with green peeling pain outside a place called Melvald's General Store. Being under a shaded area made it all the more tempting to her. She dragged her suitcase to it, pulled her old but trusty cassette player out of her light blue denim jacket pocket and sat down to take a moment for herself. Looking at the watch that her mother had got her for her 15th birthday she saw that it was 4:27pm. Harriet realised that she would need to contact either her aunt or a taxi service to get her to her new home. Maybe I should see if the store has a phone to call my aunt? To let her know where about I am? If not I can always call a taxi and wait outside her house she thought to herself. Harriet pulled her headphones down to rest around her neck, pressed pause on the cassette player and placed it back in to her jacket pocket. Standing up she pulled her suitcase along with her, heading to the front door of the general store.
A small bell chimed above her as she entered alerting those who worked and shopped there of her entering. Very small town style she thought to herself smiling a little. Looking around she could see that although it was dated, being bland in both colour and style, it was still very well stocked and clean. Harriet walked down the isle that lead to the checkout area, trailing her suitcase along behind her. Approaching the checkout Harriet could see a tall elderly looking man standing behind it. Although elderly he still had thick grey and white hair, with dark blue eyes. Upon closer inspection she could see that he had a nametag which read Donald attached a blue work jacket, which he wore over his everyday clothes. Donald looked up at the sound of her, or most likely her suitcase, approaching and offered her a smile which made his eyes crinkle at the sides. "Hello there, a new face I see! How can I help you today young lady?" He asked in a grandfatherly tone.
Smiling back Harriet asked politely, "Excuse me Sir, do you have a phone I could use to call my aunt? I've arrived a bit early and I just want let her know where I am."
Looking taken aback slightly due to her accent Donald took a moment before replying, smile back in place. "I do indeed, may I ask who you are calling?" He walked out from behind the checkout, leading Harriet over to near the front window where there was a payphone installed on the wall, with a yellow pages on a shelf just below it. A sign on the front read 50 cents for local calls.
"My aunt, Claudia Henderson. I'm staying with her for a while." Harriet replied, not wanting to tell someone she has just met her life story.
Donald smiled and nodded his head in recognition of the name, "Ah yes, Mrs Henderson comes here regular, sometimes brings her son Dustin along with her." He smiled fondly at this. "Her number will be in the yellow pages if you don't know it." He added pointing to the book.
Smiling Harrient stands her suitcase up next to the huge display window by the doorway, "Thank you so much for your help Sir." She says and moved over to the phone, picking up the yellow pages.
Donald chuckled slightly at this, "Please just call me Donald, and give me a shout if you need any help." He added before walking away back to the checkout.
She watched Donald leave for a moment before looking down at the pages. Right, better start looking, she thought to herself. Flipping open the pages she kept on turning until she reached the H's. sliding her finger down the first page containing the list of surnames starting with H, she had no luck. Flipping the page a total of 3 times she finally finds her aunts name. Reaching into the pocket not containing her cassette player Harriet pulled out her purse. Opening it she pulled out the change needed to make the call and dialled in her aunts number. It rang a total of 4 times before someone answered on the other end.
"Hello, Henderson residence here." A woman's voice answered. Harriet's breath caught at this, causing her to pause all though of what she was going to say. She sounded just like her mother. "Hello?" The voice on the other end asked again after a pause.
Harriet shook her head and cleared her throat, "Err hello? Aunt Claudia? This is Harriet, Harriet Michaels."
Harriet heard an intake of breath on the other end of the line, "Harriet! Where are you calling from? Is everything alright? I'll come get you right now!" Claudia says excitedly. Harriet smiled sadly at this, she sounded and seemed to behave so much like her mother it brought forward fond memories of her mother to her. This thought, it hurt but also brought so much joy to her.
"I'm fine honestly Aunt Claudia, I'm at a place called Melvald's General Store. There's a bench out front so I'll wait there for you if you like." Harriet says with a smile in her voice, leaning forward on the shelf that held the yellow pages.
Movement that sounded like the grabbing of keys on the other end of the line indicated that Claudia was getting ready to leave, "I'll be right there honey, just wait out front. I'll be there in 5 minutes. See you soon." Claudia said before ending the call.
Placing the phone handset back onto the receiver Harriet took a deep, steadying breath. She didn't realise that Claudia would sound so much like her mother. Being sisters her mother decided to study abroad in England, while Claudia stayed here in Hawkins. Harriet's mother met her father while studying and got pregnant before finishing her studies. Doing the right thing Harriet's father married her mother, but after 3 years he just up and left without a trace. Although Harriet's mother still came back to visit her sister every now and then, Harriet could not really remember her or her little cousin that well. The thought saddened her a little, it would have been nice to grow up and have other family members around she thought to her self.
Harriet turned and looked out of the store display window to the street outside. It was quiet outside considering the time of day as the sun was still high up in the sky. Only a few cars and people were going about the day. Four young boys rode past the window in the middle of the clear street, laughing and shouting to each other as they went by. Grabbing her suitcase Harriet pulled it back over to the checkout with her. "Thank you so much for your help si- Donald, my aunt is on her way now so I'm going to wait for her now out front." Harriet smiled at Donald, getting ready to go.
Donald looked up from clearing his checkout area giving Harriet his full attention, "No worries dear, hope to see you around again. Have a good day now!" He says with kind smile, "And I hope you enjoy your stay here in Hawkins however long it is you plan to stay now." He adds.
Harriet smiled at this, "Thank you, I'm sure you'll see me again." Plus I think this might be the only store in town she thought to herself. "Bye!" She called out as she starts to head to the store exit, throwing a small wave and smile over her shoulder to Donald. The bell chimed again on her exit. The summer heat soon hit her as she stepped out onto the pathway. Luckily the old bench out front was still vacant. Harriet headed straight over to it, not wanting to wait in the suns rays for her aunt. She pulled out her cassette player while she waited, putting the headphones back on and pressing play to hear Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks.
Signing along lowly to herself, a van pulled up fast in front of her, almost coming up on to the curb. Harriet pulled herself back in reaction. Is this my aunt? she thought to herself, worry coming to her mind at the driving she had just witnessed. I think a taxi would be the safer option here, walking too she thought. She didn't realise that she held her breath waiting for the driver to emerge. To her immense relief a teenaged boy jumped down from the van. He looked to be around 17 or 18 years of age with longish dark brown curly hair that reached just past his ears and brown eyes. He wore black ripped jeans, white trainers and a Wasp band t-shirt. His arms had a few tattoos, the one caught her eye that was on his right arm. It was a tattoo of a group of bats flying.
Harriet looked up at him, lifting an eyebrow and shook her her head at him. She almost laughed at thinking that this driver would be her aunt, she ended up smiling instead. The driver looked back at her and gave her a crooked smile, saying something she couldn't catch due to having her headphones still on. She pulled them down to rest back around her neck, "Sorry, what was that you were saying?" She asked him as politely as she could.
The boy grinned at this, "Where are you from then with an accent like that?" he asked Harriet, his head cocking to one side his eyes narrowing in curiosity.
Smiling and rolling her eyes she figured early on in her trip to America that this question would most likely be the first one she would be asked, and would most likely continue when new people met her. Oh how she would tire of hearing it she thought to herself. "I'm from the England, but I'm guessing that wasn't what you originally said to me is it?" she replied, tilting her head to match his causing her blonde hair which was up in a high ponytail to spill to one side.
If possible the boys grin widened at this, his eyes shining with delight. He leaned back onto the front of his van. "Smart and mysterious, you here to stay Princess?" He asked while he looked at Harriet's suitcase.
Harriet snorted at this, shaking her head with a small grin, "Ah nothing passes you by does it Mr Holmes. Was it my suitcase that gave that away? Or the fact that I'm a new face in town?" Harriet replied, the sound of Billie Jean by Michael Jackson could be heard coming from the headset still around her neck.
"Mr Holmes?" He frowned, Eddie still kept eye contact with Harriet but was still smiling.
"You know, the detective? Sherlock Holmes? Surely you've heard of him over here?" Harriet says, her face going dropping the smile as she started to feel unsure of what to say.
The boy snorted, pushed himself off the front of his van, did a small twirl and sat next to Harriet. He leaned back and draped his arm over the back of the bench, lifted one leg and crossed it over his knee. Harriet's eyes widened slightly at this and shuffled over ever so slightly. "Of course I've heard of him, just wasn't expecting that reference." He chuckled lowly to himself, he kept the eye contact with Harriet. "The names Eddie. What's yours Princess?"
Harriet rolled her eyes at the pet name he kept using for her. Is that gonna stick? she thought to herself. "It's Harriet Michaels." She said, offering a small smile to Eddie. "Hattie to my friends." She added.
Eddie tilted his head at this, still smiling, "Oh friends are we?" he asked.
"Who knows in time we could be." Harriet replied laughing. "So tell me, what is there to do in this town before school starts?" She asked Eddie, turning more to face him on the bench.
"Take it you'll be here for a while then and that you'll be going to Hawkins High? If that's the case there isn't much to keep you interested in this small town." He said with a small laugh, looking away back to his van.
Harriet looked down at this, "Oh" was all she said in an small, even tone.
Hearing her tone Eddie looked back at Harriet, having a moment to actually study her without looking like a creep. She was tiny compared to him, most likely only 5ft 5. She had blonde hair that was up in a high ponytail with bits framing her face, He guessed her hair would be quite long if loose. Her eyes were a bright green that sat above a small nose covered in freckles. Below her nose was a pouty mouth. She was wearing jeans with black and white converse, paired with a plain white tee and a blue denim jacket. He admitted to himself that she pretty, different from the girls in Hawkins too considering that she was actually talking to him and looked like she was happy to do so, however that was most likely because the rumour mill hadn't had a chance to get to her yet.
Eddie shook his head to clear his thoughts and cleared his throat gaining her attention, "Well there are a few places" he said with a smile trying to cheer her up, "There's Hawk cinema right over there," He pointed across the road to the right of where they were sat Harriet noticing he a rings on his fingers, "and further down there's the arcade and pizza place." He said while he looked at her face to read her reaction. "All good places to go with friends." He added with a wink making Harriet laugh.
"By the sounds of it I won't be able to enter these places without friends," Harriet said with a thoughtful expression on her face, "Whatever shall I do if I can't make any? I guess I will be bored senseless." She added with a light chuckle.
"I guess so Princess." Eddie replied, earning a snort and an eyeroll from Harriet.
"I though I told you my name? Don't tell me you've forgotten it already Eddie? I mean I guessed you were older than me but I didn't think you would have severe memory loss already." Harriet asked him, she grinned a little at the small jab she gave him.
Eddie smiled at the sound of his name leaving her lips but laughed at the last comment she gave him, "Ouch, right through the the heart with that shot" he said while falling backwards on the bench holding his chest. This made Harriet laugh out loud at his actions. Eddie sat back up grinning and tilted his head, "Of course I haven't forgotten Harriet," he said still, "Just playing with you is all." He added, so as not to scare or upset her. "Besides don't you have all that royalty back in England?
Harriet laughed at this, "Oh I am far from royalty Eddie." She shook her head. "How old are you anyway? Do you go to Hawkins High?" She asked him, wanting to get to know this boy more. Who knew, he could be her first friend here, the though brought a soft smile to her face.
"Well, well inquisitive one aren't you," He said tilting his head at her putting on a theatrical voice which caused Harriet to chuckle lightly at him, "I'm 17 so it will be the start of my final year at Hawkins September. After that I plan on leaving this place for good, start a band in some big city and just live my life how I want."
Harriet smiled at this, that sounded like a different way to live life but a way to also be free? "How old are you Harriet?" Eddie asked her, breaking her out of her thoughts.
"Oh I'm 16, but I'll be in the sophomore grade I believe from what I've been told due to not meeting the grades needed to be a Junior. The year and grading system here confuses me compared to how we grade back in England." She said with a laugh. "I've had to have my school back home transfer all my grades over and what levels I'm working to make sure I'm put in the correct year for what level I'm currently working at as I don't want to have to repeat any more years than I already have to"
The sound of a car pulling up next to Eddies van cuts the conversation and eye contact that was between them. Harriet looked over to the car and watched as a woman in her late 40's climbed out of the drivers side. The woman looked around and then saw Harriet sat in the bench next to Eddie. As soon a she saw Harriet her face changed form one of concern to one of joy.
Eddie quickly stood up and away from Harriet. He didn't want this woman, who clearly knew her, to think that he was up to anything. He looked down to Harriet and cleared his throat to gain her attention, "I'm going to go now. I'll see you around, Hattie." He gave a dramatic bow which caused Harriet to giggle.
"I'll see you later Eddie," Harriet replied, smiling as Eddie gave on last look to her before walking into Melvald's General Store, the door bell chiming after him.
Harriet looked back to the woman who had a small resemblance to her late mother. "Aunt Claudia?" Harriet enquired tentatively, her brow furrowing in uncertainness. The woman nodded and smiled, approaching Harriet with a bit more speed now until she was right in front of her. Harriet stood up only to be pulled into a bone crushing hug. Shocked at first Harriet hesitated before slowly bringing her arms up and around her aunt, leaning into the hug.
"Oh darling look how much you have grown! And look how beautiful you are! Why the last time I saw you you were covered head to toe in mud!" she laughed putting Harriet at arms length to look at her better. "My how you have changed dear, you have your mothers looks about you though, there's no doubt about that." She added, tears coming to her eyes. This caused Harriet to smile faintly. She missed her mother dearly, so to her this brought joy to her.
Her aunts eyes widened at realisation of what she had said, "Oh Harriet I am so sorry, I didn't mean to bring her up, It just came out. I'm so sorry" she said her voice wobbling towards the end. Tears started to slowly flow down her aunts face at the mention of her sister. Harriet leaned forward and brought her in for another hug.
"Oh it's okay, honestly I would love to hear more about my mother from you," Harriet said tears starting to well up in her own eyes.
Her aunt gave a small chuckle, sniffing away the tears, "Oh do I have some stories for you, pictures too!" she said as she still sniffled while she brushed away the tears from her face. "Well isn't this a fine greeting I've gave you" She added, a small wobbly laugh leaving her.
"It's okay," Harriet said as she wiped at her own eyes, "I'll just get my suitcase and then we can go if you'd like." Harriet said turning back to grab her suitcase from the bench. Once it was packed into the boot of her aunts car, she jumped into the passenger side, while her aunt started the ignition and pulled away. As they pulled off Harriet saw Eddie leaving the store with a brown paper bag filled with what looked to be crisps and other snacks. Harriet smiled when she saw him look at her from next to his van, she sent him a small wave bye which he returned while sticking his tongue out at her which caused her to giggle.
"I can see you've made a new friend already then dear." Her aunt said from next to her, smiling softly.
Harriet nodded to her, "It seems so aunt Claudia." Harriet replied, smiling to herself as she looked out the passenger side window at the passing scenery that was Hawkins Downtown. Maybe this new chapter of her life wouldn't be as bad as she thought it would be.