It was a cloudy day, every window and door wide open from the smell. There was an old moldy coffee maker but I tossed that in the garbage with everything else.
The only working electronic was a microwave made in the last decade that still needed a tiny clean. I felt like the people in those videos that clean hoarder houses, it was oddly satisfying.
I craved my coffee.
Sitting on my phone in the morning just drinking coffee and smoking was my normal. But it was a 40 minute walk into town. I only have so much data out here I was afraid to use it all in one week so I was pretty productive this morning.
The desk was the only thing not trash. I however liked the top of the kitchen table, a old strong pretty round wood with streaks of purple. Thinking I could fix it even if I don't know how but the bathroom needs a hammer as well so I will learn.
After I washed the floor I laid down and looked at my phone.
I called my mother. First she got mad for not calling sooner, then rambled about work and then about the colleague she hates just chatting my ear off.
Mothers.
After trying to end the call four times I finally was able to hang up.
The time was almost to 1pm and I could eat, sliding on my boots I started the dreaded trek to town.
I tried the spaghetti this time in the empty bar, it was just Gus and me. "Hey Gus right?" He looked up from dealing with money and nodded at me. "Is there a place I can rent a car or something?"
He looked up like he was staring at the answer and I looked at what he was but it was nothing but a ceiling. I watched him squint at the ceiling for just long enough to be odd and I looked again at what he was looking at.
"Well this place is so old no but the distance to get anywhere is not that long."
"Not long?" I was startled, in the city a long walk is the store ten minutes away.
"Get a bike or a horse."
"A horse?" I smiled. "Not seen any one ride a horse."
"Ya not many places to stitch it up, but Marnie sells all kinds of animals. She has the big farm down Forest road." He smiled at me. "Lewis is the cab in town but no one ever needs him." He laughed. "by the time he get's to you you could have walked."
"Ah thanks." I said barely eating the bad food. I might need to learn how to cook more.
Pierre's store was okay, it had things from a small rack of clothes to wallpaper. They amount they have on veggies and meat was low and questionable. There was a box of assorted eggs of two colors the word Marnie's under the box, I looked sadly at the large empty few boxes next to it with a half torn name 'Max' under it.
Guilt hit me again at not knowing him.
I was looking down the shampoo isle grabbing some as I did not bring any. I opened and sniffed it. The red haired lady down the isle then sniffed some foot lotion.
We just sniffed things together and shared a smile like I did something weird but smart. We were close so we started to let the other sniff what we did without a single word, not long until I grabbed the food I could.
I passed a very old lady as I grabbed so many snacks.
The door smashed open and a huffy large man with a suit and glasses came in. I stepped into a new isle seeing it was the man Lewis hated. He pulled out a stack of paper and said 50% off Jojamart coupon waving them in the air.
They have a jojamart? They have everything there. I moved forward and took one even if I don't like that place it really is useful. I was not alone as the two other lady's took one themselves.
I looked at the man and women that owned this shop. The women behind the counter glared with anger and the man just looked down sadly. The creepy man walked away like he just won something.
I felt bad and even if that place is cheaper I brought my stuff to the till with a smile.
"Hey there." He spoke. "Thanks' for shopping here."
"Jojamart sucks, last time I was in one I found a man in nothing but dirty tightly whities staring at blankets." I shared trying to lighten the mood.
They both laughed. "Ah out here it is almost to much stuff for no one, sometimes someone comes from an other small town but they are eating us out." She spoke with a smile.
She had this vibe I really liked.
"So where are you from?" He tried to make conversation and I smiled at the pretty green haired lady who was smiling at me just off to the side. "What brings you here?"
The lady spoke with joy. "Ya we don't see many strangers."
"Oh, I am Max's granddaughter just checking out his farm." I smiled not really paying attention but I noticed the air got cold. I looked between them confused he stared at me like I was a ghost and the women with big eye's nodded and just walked off towards a door at the back.
"Um. Did I?" I was asking.
"Oh your Adalyn?" He cut me off. Then looked me over both with large happy eye's and fear before it dropped from his face. "So you in town long?" He went back to his costumer service voice and continued to scan.
He looked away scratching his nose towards the back door and back at my bag of chocolate. "Not seen your mom in twenty years I believe, Is she here?" He smiled and looked at me with interest but like he was holding something back.
"No just me and not long." He looked almost sad.
"Well "21.25" I nodded. I felt bad for knowing where I was about to go after this.
The small bag hung at my side as I headed towards the river, pausing on an old stone bridge looking like it was made by hand just to admire the area. The waters moving so fast was just wonderful, the noise was quiet and loud at the same time from the stream. I leaned on it and just watched the water.
It was a stroll passed a few fenced off places.
In the city Jojamart was pretty nice looking but here in this town it was an eyesore. I see what Lewis meant. It is supposed to be a superstore but smaller then ones in the city.
Grabbing a cart I walked through. There was just one women on till looking at her nails and no one else.
I could see from here a room covered in windows where that man was pacing in his office. It was so quiet as I strolled around.
I grabbed a pack of cheep socks and a pretty dress. Some real food, even found a stack of amazing pans for like fifty and I know that was a bargain. This place is cheaper then the ones in the city but I honestly don't know how long it will last out here.
I went looking for paint and I just got lost, Isle after Isle and not a soul. I finally found one far down an isle stacking coffee mugs. Oh, Coffee maker and coffee mugs. Thanks man.
"Hey." I spoke excited. He looked at me with anger making me step back and my heart beet up. He had this decently looking dark messy beard and piercing dark blue eye's. "I am looking for paint." I spoke calmly. He sighed standing up a little slow rubbing his neck.
Something about him drew me in and I don't know why as I watched him move.
"No one is in here and yet they always find me." I was confused as he looked and pointed. "Somewhere over there."
"Ya, well that was where I was going." I mumbled, that did not help. "Thanks'." I checked out his fit in his weird little store outfit and hat. "Got ideas on color." He looked back at me angry.
"Just go paint and leave me alone." He was gone the other way leaving his mugs. "Next time ask Sam." I heard and I smiled. Sam works here? I liked Sam.
I looked at what he was stacking and they were decent sized mugs, I grabbed two.
I stared at the wall of paint colors for ages. They only had a few already mixed styles and with no way to make more out here I just scanned the cans.
Something hit me in the head and I was startled looking down at the soft ball and then down the isle. Sam was leaning on the shelf looking cute with that smile.
"Hey mushroom." I squinted and picked up the ball as he walked closer. "You painting?" I nodded. "How about bright blue." Really? "And this Orange." He pointed. He seemed to serious and I did not want to insult him but I hated the ones he picked. A different shade and they may be nice together but not the ones he pointed to.
"I think I need basic even if I want to be creative." I spoke back.
"What like boring white and gray?" He looked at me sadly.
"Ya boring white and gray." I sighed.
"Come on." He picked up a warm deep green. "Be brave." And shook it in front of me. I shyly smiled at him as we locked eye's and I took the can from his hands. I kind of liked at is I let the light hit the tiny color sample.
Honestly I loved it, I placed it in my cart.
"Yes." He cheered. "Wow So much stuff." He pulled up a large bag of chocolate covered popcorn, seeing all my sweets looking like a 12 year old boys shopping list.
"I got this." I showed him my coupon.
He laughed. "This is 50% off total." He smiled at me. "They got a sale on a tv." He jumped excited. "And video games." That sounded nice but I felt like I should not do that.
"I need tile." I spoke.
"Come." He was like a fucking puppy and I followed him off. We looked down many isles for the tile and got lost again. Ya, like a puppy I am happy to follow when we found it just next to the paint unsure how we missed it.
I watched the women beep in the t.v he talked me into buying, he said there is cable throughout the town for free and I could use some form of entertainment before he had to run off for some reason. When she scanned my coupon we shared the same smile seeing it cut that large number in half.
Honestly the higher the price the better deal.
I placed my items back in the cart with no hurry.
"Shane." She yelled so loud I jumped and looked behind me. "Help this women to her car." I stood up straight and my face drained. I, don't have a car. He walked over and started to push the large cart outside and I ran after him confused for a second, he moved so fast I had to jog. He looked pissed.
"Hey do you have Lewis number?" He paused and looked back at me, looking in the small parking lot as I held up my phone to type in his number. He understood and I kind of felt embarrassed.
He pushed the cart along the stores wall and leaned on it next to it, his phone on his ear. "Lewis." Paused. "Ya we got another." And he hung up. I leaned on the wall next to him in silence.
His face screamed 'fuck off'. I lit a smoke and leaned back enjoying it.
I saw his eye's land on mine and then my hand and held it out for him wondering if he wanted one. He took it and lit it his foot sliding up the wall as we just stood there quietly.
I looked him over as he looked away admiring his messy hair, it looks like he does not care but at the same time it was a weird purple color so he must dye it. I feel he is not one to talk but I am only here for like a week so why not try.
"Must be a slow job in a place like this." There was no one else around but I looked at my feet hating that to be what I said to him first.
He grunted at me and we stood in more silence.
"This place sucks and it is the only job." He finally spoke and flicked his smoke, I watched it fly. "Don't stay if you can help it." He looked at the door and sighed before leaning on the wall and closing his eye's and crossing his arms.
"So you are not from here?" I asked.
"I don't know you." He spoke with a tone that said shut up.
I stretched along the wall when the door opened and that man walked out, he looked Shane over with hate. I don't like this man. "Should you not be working, not being with some girl." The way he said that did not sit right with me, like I was not a person. He looked me over. "Who are you?" I saw the jaw of Shane tighten.
"He is helping me." The large man finally noticed my cart. "I need a strong man to make sure it wont float away as I wait for my ride." He looked like he recognized me. "I am nothing but a weak women and I can't lift my t.v." I lied, he looked misogynistic.
"You are..." He pointed when Lewis beeped pulling into the small but empty parking strip. "Lewis." He growled.
"Hey there Adalyn, Shane." We got the stuff in his old truck and then Shane got yelled at because he did not get back in the building fast enough. I wanted to stand up for him but I had nothing to say I watched him go back in sadly.
I noticed how crazy the roads were around here. I was lost as I watched the tree's pass by. The roads barely fit his old truck if someone was coming the other way it would be trouble.
"I see why most people walk."
"Did Max not have his truck on the farm?" I looked over and shook my head. "It was just a small truck, I wonder where it went."
I noticed that I could drive into my farm but it was overgrown. I thought it was a small dirt path but it was a large road. "Probably lost in the grass." He sounded sad. "Been almost a year." He spoke sadly.
I am an asshole.
He drove over the long grass and I had to grab my chest to stop from the extreme bouncing and he pulled up to my cabin.
He helped me get the stuff out of his truck and he looked around pulling up his pants. "Not been here in a while." He slowly hopped in his truck. "This was in your family for generations." I froze holding my bags. "I will miss it." He waved and drove off.
Way to guilt trip me.
I let the bags hang from my arms. It is working.
Oh man I feel like an asshole.
But what do I do with it if I don't sell it, it will just sit here.
I had to put my t.v on the floor with no way to hang it on the wall, that was when I found the old school jack on the wall and was mad for being talked into a t.v when all I got was five channels.
Food network, weather and news, a fuzzy channel of cartoons, Some sport thing that flashed out every once in a while and music.
People can talk me into buying shit easy, they say oh how cute on you and I buy it.
I Put real food in the freshly cleaned fridge and soaked my new pans in the sink.
Did he have a truck? I stepped out and slightly skipped as I peered around. I looked behind the cabin and looked for some form of tire tracks.
Walking along faded tracks like a detective I found a truck and a tiny open shed of tools behind the Silo and barn hidden behind so snuggly.
The shed had a lot of goodies and a tool box. I peered into the old truck the door opened with ease. The back of the truck had a little mud and hay but it was pretty decent even if it smelled funny.
I looked in the visor and the key's fell right into my hand. Huh. I sat on the worn down seat going through the six key's finding the trucks. I turned it and nothing happened making me sad. I sighed and tried again and it screamed to life loudly I almost bounced in my seat at the happiness of it.
It was manual as I sat here feeling it, not completely sure how to drive it.
I felt like an alien, I felt like I was stealing his stuff.
I patted the wheel and started to move forward as it jerked and bobbed having no suspension on the rough ground and I pulled it closer to the cabin. "Nice job my boy." I mumbled turning it off.
Before I can use it I moved to cut down and clear the path Lewis just darted over. One large stick I cut in half and that was kind of fun pulling it and throwing it away.
I laid on the cold wood floor and watched the cooking channel making me hungry as I played the offline game of sudoku on my phone.
After I got bored I changed to music and started on the peal and stick white tile flooring. I did a little but the lighting in here sucks and I was afraid of messing up in the dark. I just stopped and curled into the bed.
The window was open as I listened to the earth.
With a coffee in my hand, a smoke in my mouth and the sunrise I felt at peace. I felt like the time I went camping just missing friends and fire. The air was cold and warm at the same time making me shiver in comfort.
I spent the whole next day painting and redoing the tile. I learned how to use a hammer to fix the bathroom cabinets.
Waiting for a second coat of paint I started on the boxes in the barn with my mothers name on it, most where old clothes and shoes from her early twenties. Some were nice and fit me that I threw them in the wash. So much old stuff was just thrown out but there was also things I would not take home.
I will have like a yard sale for cash and take the rest to the nearest thrift store, where ever that may be.
I shuffled to the coffee maker waking up on my forth day here. My sock got caught on a slightly exposed nail and I fell face first so fast I did not catch myself.
"Ow." I moaned not moving when something brushed my face and I jumped up so fast.
There was a tiny little gray cat looking up at me. "Um hi?" She walked over and rubbed along my ankle. "How are you here." I looked around noticing my windows and door was wide open due to the smell. "Ah." I walked over and got her a bowl of water and some left over meat before making coffee. "Well I have a cat."
She joined me on the porch watching the morning.
"What is your name?" She just looked up at me and then rolled on the porch her soft looking belly screaming at me to pet it knowing it was a trap.
I went through a few more boxes before I laid on the empty floor and decided to actually have a vacation, not been in town in a few day's, have not explored the area at all.
I drove and parked in a spot in the tree's a bit of a walk into the closed in town.
I found my way to the beach, the cold wind was wonderful but strong and the water was never ending, it was magical.
I walked down a dock and stared wishing for warmer weather wanting to stay until I could at least swim. I bet it was ice cold, a small pond might be warmer.
I live hours from a decent lake to swim in, it is a day and trek to go so it never happens and I just love water, rain, baths. Can't keep me out if I can do it.
The sand was white and pretty but hard to walk on. The never-ending water fell into space and felt scary but the ocean is wonderful looking like it just falls off the world.
I headed back to town feeling cold slightly annoyed at the lose sand now deep in my boots.
I noticed a few people walking in and out of the bar that looked oddly packed. I whipped open the door and almost bumped into a short red haired but pretty girl. "Sorry." I sputtered. This door is scary.
"Oh, ah, sorry." She laughed sliding out of the bar. "Wait for me." She yelled after some guy trying to stop his long hair from blowing in the wind.
The place was pretty packed. I spotted Shane right away in the corner of the bar next to the fireplace in the darkest and quietest spot.
I smiled when his pretty blue eye's locked on mine, he pretended I did not exist and looked away back to his beer. Whatever. So many people I had yet to know chatted and danced and it was nice.
Come to think of it I think it was Friday, must be a weekend thing.
"Mushroom." I heard and looked towards the pool table where Sam, the purple girl and oh shit, that cute man that worked on a motorcycle playing pool. Sam waved me over and a few others looked my way curious.
Introducing me to Abigal and Sabastian.
"I want to go to the city." Sabastian spoke reminding me of that damn voice. "Saving up for it."
"Ya, I love it." I smiled at him and he barely smiled back.
Abigal was kind of between us suddenly. "So stupid. I got the next round, what do you drink city girl?" She smiled at me like I was kind of unwelcome and the tone she used felt off.
"Oh um."
"We just drink beer." She looked proud. "Us country folk." She moved her arm in a punch motion. I think she was waiting to make fun of me for what I will actually drink.
I paused, do I get beer or made fun of?
I do like cocktails, wine or whiskey because they make me happy and awake. While beer does the opposite, after like four I just want to go to sleep.
"Ya, I will take a pornstar." I smiled and she looked at me like I had a second head.
"Wierdo." And she walked off. "What on earth is a pornstar?" She mumbled walking away.
I looked at them with the odd looks on there faces feeling confused before Sabastian nodded at the bar. I looked back and Gus looked completely dumbfounded before pulling a book off the shelf and blowing the dust off it and she looked at us rolling her eye's to the boys.
"Ah." I chuckled.
"Ya, but the name is killer." Sam laughed and moved to play pool. "I want a pornstar. I got you emo." He spoke to other man. I looked over and Gus was digging around on the shelf looking for what he needs. I wonder if he has it all, I suddenly felt a little bad at that.
"He never wins." Sabastian spoke to me quietly stepping closer bringing me back to the game. "Where in the city do you live?" He seemed interested, he must really want to get out of here. If it how my mom describes it I don't blame him.
"Here." She shoved the drink in my hand and handed out the beers.
Sam walked over and bent over putting my straw in his mouth like I did not see him and sipped it. "Ya having a pornstar is pretty good." He laughed at his joke back to the table.
I watched them play for a bit sipping my fruity drink, she eyed it a few times and I held it out for her, she looked worried and then around at the two not paying attention to us and took it, I watched her as she sipped it and her eye's grew she gave it back sheepishly. "Okay, that is good." She whispered.
After a few drinks the three of them just left, I guess they live real close. I slid to the bar and asked for the famous pizza, starving and a wee bit tipsy, well maybe more then tipsy when I tripped on nothing and almost hit my head off the bar but I caught myself and no one noticed.
I worried about driving home but I doubt I will be pulled over. Not seen a single police, I wonder how that works.
I looked over at Shane who was almost asleep still staring at his beer zoned out like nothing else was going on around him.
"What is there to do around here?" I asked and he never looked up. "Okay." I spoke looking around sadly ignored. There was Lewis and some red head giggling and flirting and the older blonde lady actually asleep. I checked the time and it was around midnight. "Nothing I take it, wish I could go skinny dipping." I spoke to myself very quietly. "I always wanted to do that but it is cold."
"Huh?" I looked up at the bloodshot eye's of Shane. "Are you talking to me?" He looked around us.
"Myself." I sighed leaning on my arm. "The ghosts that surround me."
He looked at me like I was crazy when the pizza was placed in front of me. It looked like shit and half cooked I had disgust all over my face.
"Willy and Elliott live on the beach." All my wishes crashed around me.
"A dream I once had gone." I mumbled.
"Well there is probably a small area they can't see."
"Only talk to me when it comes to a naked women." I joked before nibbling the pizza with it in both hands.
"Of coarse." He made a noise like he laughed. "Only good thing to talk about." He sipped his beer and looked up at Gus that was smiling at us cleaning some cup a weird look in his eye's.
"Show me the small spot." I flirted not even clueing in that maybe I should not, the alcohol took over and there was something about this guy. I dropped the pizza disgusted. His hand reached over and pulled it to him.
"I don't feel like showing you the sadness I look like in the cold." He folded the pizza like a taco and took a large bite. "You will laugh at me in the morning." I looked at him with flirty joy, the guy is kind of funny. He then chugged his beer and got up wondering if I should go, are we going?
What am I doing?
"I am going home." He looked me over swaying a little.
"Little drunk huh?"
"I am always a little drunk." He looked at me and headed to the door. "Good luck, mushroom." He spoke like he was making fun of the nickname Sam gave me. "Welcome to the worst town."
I looked down at Gus trying to wake up that lady and headed out the bar with nothing else to do.
I was kind of a bit behind Shane. "I am not following you." I yelled as he looked back stumbling and then falling on his ass and face at the same time making me burst into laughter.
Jogging over I helped him up and I ended up following him some more. He had a cool up to date large white truck and looked way bigger next to mine. I feel like I should take his key's.
He probably does not live far, I wonder where he lives.
He looked at me once more pulling away and headed the opposite way from me. I sat in the back of my truck opening a bag of chips staring at the slightly cloudy sky trying to get slightly more sober with some music playing.
This was a great night, I felt wanted.