Untitled (For Now)

September 30th. The day my life changed drastically. It was the day of my mother’s second wedding, but before I can go there, I first must recount the blissful days of innocence before the big storm called life blew over.          

My mom hit me with the idea of moving three weeks before my senior year in high school was to begin. Needless to say, I was completely noncompliant. I mean, does she really expect me to leave all my friends since middle school to go to some unknown town filled with unknown people? Ugh! Yet as much as I complained, she was firm and a week later we were headed to some obscure village in eastern North Carolina. 

It took us six days to drive there, even though it could have taken us one, two at the most. My mother insisted making a vacation of it, and stopping at anything remotely interesting. It was kind of fun until it hit me that my mom was probably doing this as a bribe to forgive her for making us move. So not happening!

By the time I stepped out in to the yard of my future home, I felt  as if I hadn’t moved in years. The minute my mom unlocked the door, I rushed in and ran up the stairs to pick the coolest room as my own. Five minutes later I came upon a door that led to the frog. Having been pulled away from everything familiar to be dumped in unknown territory was very nearly made up for in the sight of this room. It was perfect. One half of the ceiling slanted up to accommodate the roof. The other half was normal. The room wasn’t completely square, instead it had no real shape at all, just a turn here, and a soft curve there. There was a bathroom and a walk in closet. I had fallen in love.

I ran back down the stairs to direct the movers to my newfound haven. My mother gave me this look saying, “I take it you found your room?”

I answered back nonchalantly, “It’ll do I suppose, I only plan on staying until graduation.” as soon as I said that though, I saw the pain in my mom’s eyes. I knew she would be lonely without me and that I would never have the heart to leave permanently. I’d probably end up going to the nearest community college just to appease her. To shrug off the feeling of guilt I asked if I could take the car and go exploring. Of course she said, “just be back before dinner.” with a sigh and walked into what I assumed to be the kitchen.

It took me five minutes to drive from one end of the town to the next. “Unbelievable!” I gasped, used to the largeness of my old home. I parked the car at the towns idea of a home depot, and wept. I hadn’t done that in years and I felt so vulnerable. Still, I couldn’t stop. I missed all my friends dearly and the pain of longing brought me to my dad. How I wished he were here with us instead of buried and unidentified in the vast open waters of the pacific ocean. I think I would have cried forever if it hadn’t been for the knock on my window and the voice that asked, “Ma’am, are you alright?”

I quickly dried my eyes, opened the car door and stepped into the arms of a complete stranger. I quickly withdrew, not meaning to be anywhere near this unknown male. “s-sorry bout that.” I said still with a slight shake in my voice from crying. “That’s quite alright young lady. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine!” I said, as one last tear rolled down my cheek.

“I’m sorry, you must be new in town, I can’t say that I know you.” the middle aged man said.

“My mom and I moved in just today. I’m sorry to dash, but I’m going to be late for dinner.” I told him hastily, getting back into my car. Before I could close the door, however, the man grabbed it saying, “Well let me follow you home, ma’am, just to make sure you make it safe.”

I tried to decline, but he insisted, so I closed the door and put on my seat belt. I hadn’t even noticed him pull up in a car, but as my gaze followed him, I recognized the unmistakable make of a sheriff‘s SUV. I sighed deeply, thinking I may be in trouble, and started my own vehicle.

I drove slowly, so as not to lose him, slowing the trip to my house by two or three minutes. As I pulled into the driveway, my heart began to beat a little faster. I half heartedly hoped the sheriff would just pull away as I pulled in, but he didn’t. He got out of the SUV as I got out of my mom’s gray Buick. I trudged up the steps to our front door as the sheriff carried on amiably. It suddenly occurred to me I had no idea who this man was. I only assumed he was a sheriff by his vehicle. He wasn’t in a uniform or anything, and he never told me his name. Upon this realization, I stopped and faced the cop.

“I’m sorry, but I think I need to see ID. I know this is a small town and everyone knows everyone, but I don’t know you. For all I know you could be a serial killer who just happened to steal a sheriff’s car.” I went on, but the sheriff held up a hand with a chuckle.

He reached into his coat pocket and removed a worn brown leather wallet. “My name is David Harris, you can call me Dave. and I’m the town sheriff.” He said, producing a badge and ID. “I’m off duty, which explains the lack of uniform. Your mom probably will recognize my voice. I spoke to her over the phone when she was looking into this town.”          

I sighed, slightly embarrassed and opened the door. As I did, I was immediately met with the intoxicating smell of my mothers spaghetti. It really was intoxicating, she often used wine, or some form of alcohol in the sauce. I smiled inwardly and led Officer Harris to the kitchen. I only got lost once and ended up in a bathroom.
         
When we entered the kitchen, I saw to my surprise, my mother in cut off jeans and a too tight tank. She didn’t usually wear things like that. She was very conservative. Her hair was even up in a bun with chopsticks!! Evidently some of the alcohol didn’t make it into the sauce, but instead ended up down my mother’s throat, for she was dancing and singing to the small radio on the counter, oblivious of our presence.  I glanced behind me and noticed the sheriff with a look of amusement on his face.
         
I quickly turned around and coughed loudly. To my horror, my mother screamed and dropped the bottle of wine she was holding. It crashed to the floor spilling the white liquid everywhere. I scurried to the sink and turned it on only to realize there were no towels anywhere.

I turned to find my mom and Officer Harris kneeling around the puddle, mopping it up with an old rag.