5
The Spider was in the driveway like it had been ridden there, not dragged from a mire and bramble patch. Apart from a few little scratches it was pristine. Jack was intrigued as to how he had managed that, this Man Jones as the locals called him.
Oh yes, Jack had been taking notes and as he wandered the general store that morning and spoke lightly of the handsome man, he was told that said handsome man was very well respected. Also, one of the old men said softly under his breath that he was to be careful about that one, dangerous to put a big foot wrong.
Jack hadn't heard that before and found it an interesting term, had seen a little needlepoint cushion behind the counter of the Inn with a similar comment on it. "Don't put your Big Foot off" or something like that. No… "Don't get your Big Foot in the wrong place?" now it was going to bug the hell out of him.
Not like him to miss a Sasquatch saying like that only to have it suddenly jogged into the light.
He had to check the cushion again.
.
.
"Don't put your Big Foot in it?" Jack asked as he looked pointedly at the cushion Heather had been using in her chair behind the counter and she turned to look at it and laugh softly.
"Yes, my mama used to say that. My Daddy had a habit of putting his foot in his mouth and he always said they were too big, he bit off more than he could chew each time" she said with a soft snort.
"I like that. Sort of a 'Squach feel to it too" he grinned.
She smiled but it became a little more strained as she stared at him then said in a conspiratal whisper "Go see out Doc Douglas. He might help you there."
Jack leaned back and was glad he still had it, winking as he headed out the door. Not knowing that the moment he was gone she was lifting the phone to call the Doc and give him the heads up that fresh meat was coming his way.
.
.
The kids were playing in the playground, one of them on the swings idly leaning against the chain while watching the others. He watched the little girl approach and choose a swing, her little bright red shoes so weird out here where they all had either bare feet or proper boots.
Snakes ya know. If you're gonna go off the main path ya need ankle high boots. All the kids knew that. He watched her start to swing back and forth, her black ringlets bouncing in the breeze.
"I'm Anwen" she finally said with a wide smile, the gap in her teeth surprising the boy.
"Orinoco" he replied.
"Oh my god, is that a real name?" she asked with wide eyes and then started to laugh hysterically at him "That's the name of a womble."
"What's a womble?" he frowned at her, insulted as his name was unique and given to him at birth as a gift his mama always told him was a special one. "What sort of name is Anwen anyway. Like… when Anne? When are ya gonna stop bring a little bitch?"
Her swinging stopped, as did her laughter as she stared at the boy who was about the same size as her. "That's very rude!"
"Yeah, making fun of someone's name IS rude ya gap faced cow!" he said, rising for the swing to storm off and she gaped after him as he sounded so much older than his size. With anger, she extracted herself from the swing to go tell her Daddy.
He would sort that shit out.
.
.
Rhys was enraged, storming over the playground and looking around "Right… who can tell me where Orinoco lives!"
"According to that cow over there he's a womble so she must know that too" one of the kids yelled back without fear, the elders knew not to touch this bunch of them that were different to the others.
"What the hell!" Rhys roared and took a step towards them only to have Anwen yell "There he is. Come on out of the trees ya twat!"
Rhys turned so see a huge man in a set of bib overalls and a dark blue shirt storming towards him with the little boy running ahead with a look of glee. Then the man spoke and he realized with horror that is was in fact a female "Who called my son a fucking wobble!"
"No Ma… a womble" Orinoco corrected as he pointed "And it was her. In her red Dorothy shoes! Said her name was Anwen. Like her name is any better."
"Oh yeah? This your kid mister?" the … ah… woman snarled, looming over Rhys who found himself shrinking back from the large imposing figure that smelt… sort of… ew. Animal? He wondered if she was killing or skinning something back there to smell so bad.
"Your son was rude. My daughter is a guest here" he tried.
"Exactly. A guest. This is not HER back yard, its ours. We belong here, you and yours don't. Do not fuck with my cub!" the woman's hand came out to slap on his chest and he felt the blow like a horse kick, staggering back to see the size of it with horror. Like a fucking dinner plate.
The one of the townsfolk was there, pulling him away while apologising to … Creek? What sort of name is… ergh. Rhys felt the hand around his throat as he was turned to face away from the huge… seven foot? Monster female.
"Listen here buddy, pull your little girl's head in because they own this place, we are just allowed to live here. Fuck with them and ya might not like the toll you pay for it!" the man snarled leaving Rhys standing there in shock. He turned back to apologize but the woman was gone, as were all of the children from the playground.
What the fuck?