Facade, Nebraska

  FACADE, NEBRASKA                        chapter 1



                             "UNSETTLED"                                        



         The little town of Byron, North Dakota has become a nightmare to everything I once believed.  No way could I let my parents move us there.  My father has been out of work for three years.  This spot in the road offered my father a job as a district attorney.  My last part of my junior year in my old school and now my parents say I have to finish my senior year in the Podunk town of Byron.  What is so important in this little town that my parents decide to move there?  I would like to stay with my friends Tim and Tom Oddwell.  They are twins and have been my friends since I was three.  I am the captain of the Fighting Braves football team at Thomas High.  It sounds a little corny, but that is where Buffy the Vampire slayer lived.  I like that show, Mrs. Freddie Prince, was hot.

But back to the matter at hand, this town has become a thorn in my side.  I asked my parents if I could stay with the Oddwells, but they say we move as a family.  My brother Walter doesn't like this idea either.  But neither one of us could convince them that we are happy here, and we do not want to move.  What am I supposed to do?  Life has given me a bad hand, and somehow I need to get us out of this predicament.   

         A town without the comforts of home, I dread the thought of something like that corrupting my mind.  Even hanging out with friends could be a curse there.  I grew up in the town of Los Angeles. Byron, to me is a step back compared to where I am from.  No way would my parents stay here.  Just last week, my parents' car was broken in to. So I, Ezekiel Allen Farnsworth, have to move to Byron, North Dakota.  But then I thought it is only a year, and then I can move back to the city.  Of course, a year in a small town is

like being imprisoned for seven years.  The ideas of being utterly bored runs wild through my mind.  Sara, my girlfriend, waves goodbye as we drive away from the only home I have known.  Tim and Tom say they will visit, and she can come along with them.  Man, she is pretty.  I met her in fifth grade, and we have been close since.  I will go nuts there, I promise you that.  The trip seems to take forever.  No one spoke a word the whole trip, which is uncommon for my parents.  They usually argue about what road to take, or gas is too much, but they didn't even have one conversation.  Walter was nervous; I could see it in his eyes.  He doesn't know what to expect and neither do I.  All we could see were farms on either side of the road.  Every time we drive through a big city, we wish it was Byron.  I whispered to Walter it will be alright, but I could tell it was hard for him to believe me.  I am his older brother, and I will protect him to the best of my ability. I mean what can I say to ease his worries?  So many questions invade my mind, but answers were hard to come by.  I begin to think of Sara and how much I love her.  Why am I doing this?  Life has a way to surprise you, and the chances are I will hate this community. Small towns give great hospitality, but what is the cost?  I want to find out as much as I can of this little town before I make my decision whether this is a right decision.  Of course, if it is not, I will protect my family before any harm comes to them.  I will not accept this town as it advertises.  Finally we see a sign that read, "Byron only ten miles ahead."  Butterflies begin to dance in my stomach.  I have this certain uneasy feeling which I can't shake.  Walter kept looking out the window wishing he wasn't here.  I agree with him, but I can't do anything right now.  Wait in till we arrive and I get to see my so called home.  I begin to ask around for any information I can get.  I must know my

                                                                                                                                     

enemy before I can defeat them.  Writing stories have become my only outlet to release my feelings about any topic.  This town will become a headline in a story that might take everyone outside by surprise.  Sara told me to have any open mind, but I believe this will be a bad experience for my family and me.                                                                                 I then saw the sign which read, "Welcome to Byron, We promote pride in our community."  I started to have second thoughts, but that was just a passing phase.  My true hope is that I can survive this town for a year because I am playing to move back and be with Sara.  I notice that the town is in a valley.  The homes and buildings were all the same color.  I then seen the path that you must walk up to get to the grave yard.  The grave yard is on a cliff called, "Promise Keep."  This town is already on my weird scale.  But I will try to hold my opinions in till I have all the information.  I notice this town is only one mile each way.  The streets were littered with places to park bicycles.  I didn't see any cars besides the sheriff vehicles parked in front of the sheriff's office.  Where are all the cars?  Also the streets were empty.  It appears to be that all the townspeople either is at work or school.  I then stared at the house yards.  Every house had a fence around the front yard.  There were even lamp posts on every corner.  I am beginning to think that this town has some issues.  Dad turned down 11th street, and we drove past two houses before we came to ours.  I notice that we have a fence.  The house was just like the others. The paint was bright blue and the window shutters were green. Dad pulls up into the drive.  We saw four brand new bikes standing in front of the garage.  Dad shuts off the car.  Mom and dad climb out to see their new home.  Walter and I sit in the car wondering what to do now.  I open the car door and climb out.  Walter follows my lead.  We couldn't believe this, it appears to just be a dream.  I walk down to the end of the driveway to look down the street.  I still didn't see anyone. This looks like an episode of the twilight zone.  A part of me wanted to get back into the car and keep driving, but this town intrigues me.  I bet the secrets that this town holds can crumble everything I once believe.  They say they take pride in their community, and what I seen have got me thinking, they took that phrase literally.  "Come on Zeke, lets unload the car," my father says.  Walter and I begin to carry boxes out of the car.  Dad opens the door, and you can still smell the fresh paint.  The house was beautiful inside, and we noticed that it has been completely furnished.  This seems to be too good to be true.  We saw a staircase.  So I begin to climb up the stairs.  I didn't even hear any creaking of the steps.  I look back to see Walter was following me.  My parents were still in awe of their new home.  I thought that this can't be real, there has to be a catch.  Walter and I reached the second floor to notice three doors on the left of the hallway and two on the other side.  One was the bathroom, but there are four bedrooms.  This house is surprising.  My eyes couldn't believe how big the rooms were.  Walter and I picked our rooms.  We were across from each other.  I shut the door and begin to unpack the box I brought in, but I then realize there are still more boxes in the car.  I open the door and to my surprise was my father.  "Yes dad, can I help you," I ask.  "Mom and I are walking to the grocery store, we'll be back soon," he says.  But the way he said it was unusual.  Ii shrug it off and went down the stairs.  I open the front door went out to the car.  The air was crisp and clean.  You could smell the flowers across the street.  This town is really pulling out all the stops for us to like it here.  I saw my parents exit the

PG. 4

house and head back down the street we came down.  I didn't know what to think yet, but I have only scratched the surface of what this town holds close to its heart.  I then notice the house numbers, one side was A and the other side was B.  This town is really weird.  I remembered something that Tim told me when they lived in small town.  Small towns like to get into your business, and they try to get to know you and never leave anything to mystery.  This will be my defining moment of what kind of person and writer I want to be. I usually write poems, but now I think I'll try to write a short story.  I came out of my dreamland and begin pulling boxes out of the car.

          I then look down the street to see a girl riding her bike down the sidewalk.  I look up to see how beautiful she was.  She had red hair blowing in the wind, and she wore shorts and a tank top. Her face was perfect, and her eyes were blue.  I drop a box I was holding on my foot.  I heard dishes break.  "Oh crap," I mutter.  By surprise, the girl pulls up at the end of the driveway.  She climbs off her bike and sits down the kickstand.  "Hi," she says smiling.  "Hi," I say.  "You are new here, right," she inquires. "Yes, is it that obvious," I chuckle.  "Yes, but the whole town knew you guys would be here soon," she giggles.  "That is nice to hear, I guess," I remark.  "Well we give warm welcomes to those new arrivals," she suggests.  "Who are you," I wondered.  "My name is Karen, and yours," she smiles.  "Well my name is Trevor," I reply.  "No it isn't, your name is Ezekiel," Karen implies.  "How do you know that," I ask.  "Like I said, the whole town knows your family and where you are from," Karen responds.  "Ok, but call me Zeke," I suggest.  "Ok Zeke, well what do you think of Byron so far," Karen wonders.  "I'll let you

know later. I have to unpack the car, no time for chit chat," I remark.  "Wait," she says.



She then whistles, what is she doing?  Two minutes later, I hear doors open and shut.  I look across the street to see people come out of their houses.  They begin to walk toward my house.  "What is going on," I ask Karen.  "We will help," she answers.  I pull off my hat to wipe off the sweat.  My Mohawk felt the cool breeze coming from the north.  Karen stares at my hair in disgust.  "What is that," she asks.  "This is a style in Los Angeles," I say.  The neighbors were standing in front of my gate.  They all have the same expressions on their faces.  It appears that my hair style has already caused trouble in this community.  Figures, I am a bad seed no matter where we go.  "What is wrong," I inquire.  A man in the crowd said, "We already know you'll be trouble."  I heard whispers amongst the crowd.  Just then Walter walks out of the front door.  The crowd and Karen's attention focused on Walter.  "Hi," Walters mumbles.  "The one has arrived," Karen smiles.  I slip back on my hat and walk to where Walter was standing.  "Walter, let's get inside," I suggest.  "No, I feel like a celebrity," he states.  "I know, but this is getting really weird," I remark.  Walter finally gives in, and we walk into the house.  I shut the door.  "What was that about," Walter asks.  "I do not know, but they seem to like you for some reason, and I am going to find out what that is," I promised him.  We look out the naked windows to see the crowd still in awe of Walter's presence.  I almost think that Walter knows these people, but that is not really possible.  Maybe it is his name.  Walter here might actually carry some weight.  In till I can figure that out, I dread letting Walter go out by himself.  My parents really need to hear what happened here.  I mean if this is not a warning sign, I do not know what would be.  Karen was beautiful, but so is the whole town.  That really alarms me; I need to keep guard of what I cherish.  This



town is unique, but something tells me that we might not like what is behind the true reasons we are here.  I look up the street to see my parents.  They were carrying groceries.  The crowd dispersed heading toward my parents.  I beat on the glass of the window trying to get my parent's attention.  But they weren't even looking at me.  Just then my cell phone rings.  I pull it out of my pocket and put it to my ear.  "Hello," I say.  I could hear Sara on the other line, but there was too much static.  I couldn't make out what she was saying.  Walter touches my arm.  "I already tried, but we can't get any reception with cliffs all around us," Walter replies.  I still tried to listen, but nothing but noise came from my phone.  I hung up, what is going on?  I really need to talk to Sara.  This town has become the nightmare I feel will change all of us for the worst. I look down the street to see our neighbors helping my parents bring the groceries down here to our house. This has become the final straw.  I need to get out of this town.  The way the people are makes me wonder about the true intentions of this town.  My parents finally made it home.  I unlock the door to let them in.  As the door flew open, the crowd outside are now in the house.  Walter and I climb up the stairs to the second floor.  We watch cautiously, hoping that these people will leave.  I must find out what is going on.  Tomorrow I am going to the library.    This town is has yet to express itself, and I can't wait to uncover the mystery.  Small towns, which I have never lived in one, I heard has a certain beauty and intrigue to them. 

         That night as we sit down for dinner, my parents were acting rather odd.  They seem to have a different personality than before.  They seem to be quiet and never looking at Walter or me.  I spoke up, "This town doesn't like me."  "We know, it is



because of your hair style and by the way tomorrow we will go to the barber shop to

shave your head," my father replies.  "I will not go, this is my decision, unlike moving us here," I scream.  "Zeke, calm down, it is for the best," mom pleads.  "No, I want to be different, and I think my hair cut is part of my character," I say.  "Yes, I like his hair," Walter steps in.  "Walter, your hair cut is fine. This town thinks the best of you," my father suggests.  "I know, they think he is some God here, no offense Walter, but you are not," I smile.  Walter smiles back.  At least someone is on my side.  "Look, I want to go back to LA," I remark.  "No Zeke, and we'll decide about your tomorrow," my father replies.  The rest of dinner, I sit there watching my family and their new eating habits.  They look like completely different people.  Walter and I are normal.  My parents were never normal, but they are even weirder than I imagine. 

         I finish dinner and climbed upstairs to go to my room.  I slammed the door as I entered my room.  I sit at the edge of my bed and pull out my cell phone.  I realized that I had a missed call.  The number was nothing I remembered, so I deleted it.  I dialed Sara's number.  The other line rang and rang, but she never picked up the phone.  I fell back on my bed and looked up at the ceiling. What am I going to do?  Just then a knock came at my door.  "Come in," I reply.  The door flew open and it was Walter.  "Man, what is wrong with our parents," Walter chuckles.  "I think they have been brain washed about this little town," I chuckle.  "You are right," my father says as we see him standing in the doorway.  We stared at him, wondering if he was serious.  We then all three cracked up laughing.  "Good night boys," my father says as he walks away.  My father is a middle aged man, very tall, blue eyes, and a beard.  His glasses have been through rough times. 



He stepped on them once, and Walter ran over them with his bike before we moved.  But

my father doesn't seem to mind that.  Walter and I said our goodnights, and he went to bed.  He shut my door as he left.  I plugged in my alarm clock with my cell phone time.  I turned on my radio to try to get a station in.  But I couldn't get anything.  Man, I wish this town could be normal or a big city.  Is that too much to ask?  I found my portable CD player and put in one of the Kiss albums.  I begin to rock out, enjoying this music.  I had a rough day, and this music soothes me.  The next morning, I will begin to find the information I need.  I want my parents to see the truth about this town.  The only way I can do that is be honest with what I find.