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July 22, 2008
Batesville Installment Eleven
“So where are you moving from?”
“Kansas City. I don’t know, it didn’t feel right living there anymore. Didn’t feel like home after a while,” Emily replies to Jaquie as they both carry in some boxes. After moving the furniture they were each trying to carry several boxes at a time, but they’ve since both worn out from that and have started only carrying one box at a time. “I grew up in Lee’s Summit, but it’s changed so much since I moved out it doesn’t feel like home, either.”
“Oh, I hear you. That town’s grown like crazy,” says Jaquie as she stacks her latest load with the rest of the boxes in the living room. “Jesus, thank God there’s only a couple more trips left.”
“No shit.”
“If you ever move again…”
“Use different movers?”
“Don’t ask me to help!” They both laugh hard. They get the last of the boxes into the house as the first raindrops start to fall. Emily looks over at Sarah and the cat Ellie playing in the kitchen and smiles, watching Ellie rolling around stoned from the catnip and Sarah giggling.
Emily calls to Jaquie, “You want some more water?”
“Yeah, please.” Emily refills both of the glasses which have been heartily drank from all day and carries them out to the porch where a couple of folding chairs have been set up. She joins Jaquie, feeling an intense sensation of relaxation from sitting, knowing the heavy work’s all done.
“Thank you so much for helping out, Jaquie. I don’t know what I’d have done without you,” Emily says earnestly.
“No problem, Em. I think you’ll find folks like helping each other out here in the ‘Ville.”
“Definite change of pace for me. I’m loving it so far.” Emily notices a man standing at the end of the street staring in her direction. He’s a tall white man with white hair and a deep tan. Maybe he’s not white. His features are kind of indiscernible, not just due to the distance down the road he’s standing. He’s wearing black pants and matching t-shirt which cover an athletic but not overly-bulky frame. Emily’s sure, he’s staring at her. “Who’s that?”
Jaquie turns to look in the direction Emily indicated and freezes. Emily can’t see Jaquie’s face, but it’s obvious by her posture that she’s uneasy. She looks down at her hand and Emily follows her glance, noticing the beautiful sapphire ring on her finger for the first time. Jaquie looks up at Emily and says in a low and serious voice, “Who’s who?”
“The man standing down the street pervin’ on us.” Emily looks up again and sees that the man is gone. “Huh, shit, must be seeing things.”
“You worked too hard today, sweetheart. So wore out you’re seeing spirits now.”
Posted by Schamberger at July 22, 2008 09:55 AM