“Uh, thanks. Thanks, Elmer.” I hang up the phone but I admit I’m still reeling. I liked my job. I’m suddenly a free agent again and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
“It’s everything okay?” Bud pokes his head around the tavern door. “It’s not bad news, is it?”
“I lost my job. The TV station has been sold.” I gaze around despairingly, realizing that Euthanasia has begun to feel like home to me. I’m about to be set adrift again, no doubt to end up in some other small town with it’s own share of problems and challenges. Is this to be the endlessly frustrating story of my life?
Bud doesn’t act as if it’s bad news. In fact, he seems delighted to hear it. “Great! That means you’re in no hurry to leave Euthanasia. Come back inside. We have some more celebrating to do.”
“I guess.” His grin is infectious and I find myself smiling back. Bud’s right. Today is all about celebrations. It’s not as if I can change anything. I give him my hand and allow him to pull me back inside to the noise and merriment.
Epilogue
I’m standing on the steps at Windfell, lost in my own thoughts. The last few months have been busy but satisfying. The people who own this house said they’re happy for my family and me to continue living here for the time being. They said it suits them to have people in the house rather than it standing empty and we were happy to accept the offer.
Yeah, my nutso family are all still here in Euthanasia. Organza and Matt are dating and I have to admit that I’m glad for my exasperating, irritating, frustrating sister. I’ve never seen her so happy and while I won’t go so far as to say she’s changed, she’s definitely easier to live with.
Reece and Agnes have started a cute friendship. It’s not a romance yet but one day it might be. Agnes is living with Jane, Maisie, and Myrtle in a house a few blocks away from Windfell. They’ve all found jobs locally and they’re slowly adjusting to this century’s technology, environment, and women’s rights. The last time I spoke to Jane, she told me she’s thinking of running for election to the Town Council. I think it’s a great idea.
Milk prices have finally stabilized, a Euthanasia & Districts Economic Committee was recently formed, and the division between town and country no longer exists. People are feeling optimistic and more content. Plans are underway to start a drive to encourage young women to visit the area and the future looks bright for the town. Belle is leading a project focused on offering cheap, single girl va-cays on the Kenworth farm, a get-back-to-basics retreat down country. She’s hoping that once the girls see all that Euthanasia and its surrounds has to offer they might consider making their home here.
Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention Mom. Surprise, surprise – she’s still dating Sheriff Dixie. To be honest, he’s not too bad and I’m gradually starting to warm to the man. The hand of friendship hasn’t been offered yet, at least not from my side of the fence, but one day it might be. Good things take time.
Feeling pensive, I allow my thoughts to drift back over my own life. I’ve been living and breathing for nearly three decades now. It’s insane to think that I’ve been through so much yet here I am still standing, ready to fight another day. I haven’t found myself a new job yet but several ideas are circling. In fact, I interviewed for the role of librarian yesterday and I’m hoping to hear back later today. My Dad would be so proud of me.
A fly buzzes lazily past and I swat it away, unconcerned. Strangely enough, my fly phobia vanished at the same time as Obidiah. It’s a bat shit crazy old world. Just shows you that you never can be totally sure of what’s around the next bend.
“What are you thinking about, Ellie?”
I turn around and smile at Bud, who has just walked out the door behind me. We’ve been seeing a lot of each other and people are starting to call us a couple. He’s even taken me out to visit his pine plantation so I guess things are getting serious. He did mention that he might chop some of his trees down in the near future and start building a house from scratch. I’ve offered to help, of course. Strange days indeed. “I’m just thinking about my Dad. It’s such a shame that so many people made stupid mistakes or refused to listen to advice. Innocent people were hurt, lives ruined. It’s so sad to think about it.”
“You’ve basically summed up life in general. Mistakes are made and bad things happen. It is what it is. There’s nothing you can do to change it but you can choose to focus on the positive instead.” He pulls me into his arms and I don’t try to resist.
Maybe it’s because I’ve finally made peace with the fact that I have nothing to lose by letting someone else be the strong one. Shit-a-roonie, Ellie Friedlander - daughter, sister, and fearless zombie fighter - might just have discovered that there’s plenty of room for more love in that hardened heart of hers.
Seems I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Shit-a-roonie, I like it.
The End
Check out Cherie Mitchell’s website and book gallery at www.hotfromthepen.com or visit her Facebook page HERE. There’s always a new book in the pipeline!
Table of Contents
Nothing Town
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Epilogue
Nothing Town Page 16