“In a bit,” Frank responds with a sigh, his hands resting on his hips. “I know I said that I’ll look your engine over, but first, I want to have a look at the battery just to be sure. Got to run through the basics first and work our way down. Otherwise, we’re just making things harder than what they should be.”
“Yeah, I understand,” I say after solemnly nodding my head. Right after that, Valerie exits my car, keys in hand.
“What should I do with these? Leave them, right?” She asks as she gives them a shake.
“Yes, Ma’am. Put them up on that key rack right there by that push cart. Thank you, darling.” I eye Valerie as she places them on the rack posted against the old shed wall. The central area of the shed is essentially clean, but on both sides, there’s a ton of junk…kinda like something you’d see if you stepped into your average suburban American middle class home except, instead of having broken down beds and cribs, there’s a bunch of gizmos and work equipment. Lawn stuff, car stuff, and repair tools. Things of that nature. From what I can see, there’s at least some kind of order to it all, well, for the stuff that’s neatly tucked away. Beyond the ridges where the shed opens, it’s like a swamp of rusted parts. Not to mention the place has a peculiar sent. Almost like crude oil.
“…Can I go now?” Trent groans from beside me in the way that only a child can. Clearly empathy and situationally appropriate questions aren’t a strength for him.
“Yeah, son. You can go,” Frank responds with a slight tinge of disappointment in his voice. He moves past us and makes his way over to one of his old push carts and places a portable battery tester on the top tray along with an array of other tools. “The safety on the hood is off, right?” Frank asks as he parks the buggy on the side of my car. Before I can answer, he slips his hand under the hood and raises it. “Guess so,” he mutters to himself. Valerie glances my way and I do the same to her.
It feels weird that both of us are just standing in the shed like a big waste of space.
I cross my arms and press them against my diaphragm as I lean forward.
“Do you need help with anything? We’d be more than happy to lend a hand if you need it.”
“Nope, you’re good, darling. Why don’t you two go and relax for a bit,” Frank says as he reaches for the cords to the checker and attaches it to my car. “I got this. You’re on vacation, remember?”
Reminding me seems to be the trend around here…
“Yeah, I know, but I feel kinda bad having you do all of this for us.”
“It’s no problem, really. Can’t you tell I like this sort of thing? Brings me back to when I was your age. I’m more worried that you get where you’re going in one piece without breaking an arm and a leg. If something comes up, I’ll send for ya.” He grunts as he adjusts something out of my field of view. “How about that?”
“Okay, yeah. That works.”
“I do admire the fact that you’re willing to work. Most kids in your generation want everything for free.” I fight the urge to roll my eyes even though he isn’t looking my way. “On the flip side, it’s okay every once in a while to ask for help. That’s different from being straight-up entitled. It’s also good to accept help when it’s given and to honor it…what I’m saying is, don’t worry. Everything is under control. Worrying will only make you end up looking like me. Wrinkles and a potbelly. You don’t want that, do you?” He laughs.
“I don’t think I’m ready for either of those.”
“I don’t blame you. By the way, it’s not your battery—or at least it doesn’t seem to be. I’m going to hook it up to a charger in a bit just in case. Nothing too much, just a little touch up. I’m going to prop up your car and see if I can get a better view of what’s going on from a different angle, well, after I take another look at the insides.”
“All right. Sounds good. Thanks. If you figure out what’s wrong, tell me, okay? I mean, I know you will, but can you explain it to me so I can know how to explain it if it happens again? I like to be in the know.”
“Sure thing, sweetie.”
Valerie and I vacate Frank’s workstation without saying another word. I turn my back to him while Valerie waves. “I just wanted to help,” I mutter to Valerie after putting some distance between us and the shed. “Was I like, rude or something? I don’t understand.”
“No, I don’t think it was that. I think he really just wanted you to chill out. He has a point. It isn’t a bad thing to accept help every once in a while, don’t take this the wrong way, but you’ve been pretty much against all forms of help since we got back in touch. Something to consider.”
Valerie opens the door to the front of the house, and I walk in before her.
“Such as?”
“Well, for one. I offered to cover pretty much all of the expenses for this trip, and we somehow ended up with the arrangement we have now.”
“Yeah, because it’s unnatural. I’d feel like crap if I didn’t pitch in,” I answer as we venture up the stairs to our room.
“It’s not a month long trip, and it wasn’t like I was going to pay for your every meal and souvenir you decided to pick up on the way.”
“Covering for your meals is not a big deal, just like how you didn’t think twice about booking our rooms or whatever. I still don’t even know all our stops.”
“Yeah and I offered to drive…after you volunteered your car. Another point. And it’s not like we were staying at the Taj Mahal…”
“Whatever.”
We turn the corner after we reach the top of the stairs. On our way to our room, we pass the bathroom and find Miss Helen folding a fresh set of bath towels on top of the counter. Things deescalate real quick. I pass her and wave while Valerie stops in the door frame. I turn and watch her, withholding my ever so slightly building contempt as I wait for Valerie out of Helen’s field of view. Honestly, I don’t even have a reason to be angry with her. Annoyed maybe, but nothing to justify how I feel right now. As with everything else, I blame the demon inside me for being on edge. I’ve got to chill, for real. “Hey, Miss Helen. Mr. Frank is working on our car. He doesn’t think it’s the battery.”
“Oh, well I’m sure he’ll find out what’s wrong with it sooner or later. Frank knows a thing or two about cars.”
“Yup. Just decided to give you an update while I saw you.”
“Thanks, dear.”
“No problem.”
With my arms folded, I watch Valerie as she breaks away from the bathroom entrance, and then march into our room. Valerie shuts the door behind us.
“It doesn’t feel right when you get too much without giving,” I say calmly. “I offered to do all of those things because of all the hoops you had to jump through, that’s all.”
“That’s understandable,” Valerie says as she plops down onto our mattress. “I’m not saying this to be rude or anything, but just realize why you’re getting what you’re getting in the first place. I wanted to treat you to take your mind off things, you know, I wanted to treat you. This couple wants to help us out because we’ve been down on our luck. I know you value your independence and we live totally different lives, but just hear me out. Okay? It’s okay to get some help every once in a while. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
And there’s some truth to that… Hence the situation I’m dealing with now. The life I live runs by a different code. You have to learn to do for yourself, or else you’re weak. And if you’re weak, you’re the first one they’ll go after to break the chain. Take it from Morgan.
“Yeah, I get that. It just feels weird. I’m still going to help with the food and gas. That’s not changing. I get what you’re trying to do. Frank, too. I guess helping is my way of showing my appreciation. I don’t know…when you’re on the sidelines…it kind of feels like you’re a burden. I rather help carry a weight than add on to it. Even if a friend or someone else is willing to help. That’s just the way I operate. People have enough on their plate as it is.”
“Wh
en people care for you, they tend to help you out. It isn’t about returning the favor or doing your share. They do it because they want to, knowing the cost. It doesn’t matter to them because that’s what they want to do. They help.”
“True.”
“It’s kind of like how some people can’t take a compliment, you know?” Valerie gestures her hands in the air as if she’s talking to the ceiling fan. “Like, if I tell someone they’re smart or whatever, they get bashful and be like, no they’re not. Just say thank you and keep it moving. Seriously. If someone compliments me, I take it and go about my business.”
“Oh, I know.” I chuckle. “I kinda feel the same way.”
“Good, then you know what I’m getting at.”
“More or less.” I shrug. “Umm…let people help you when they offer, and you need it, and I should pretty much take everything you say as pure, unadulterated truth?”
“Yes, that.”
“Hmm. I’ll consider,” I say with a smirk. “… I’m stubborn. Can we talk about something else now? I’m starting to get the feeling that you’re trying to be my personal therapist.”
“I’m your friend. Same difference.”
“Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Therapist have been known to be the first in line for therapy.”
“I’ll be fine. If you’ve followed me around for a month, you’d know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“I’m a tough case,” I say as I walk deeper into the room and sit on the chair beside our bed. “Trust me, the same goes for me, and I’ll leave it at that. TV? People have been using it for ages to sit down in silence for long periods of time. I’m totally down if you are. No hard feelings, but if we’re going to talk about our feelings, I’d rather do it with some sense of privacy.” I pick up the remote and stretch my hand towards Valerie. She blindly grabs for it and then centers the remote in front of her face. “We have some time to kill before we’re out on the road. I’m sure we can find something to watch.”
“Who watches TV while on vacation?”
“I mean, would you rather walk down a dirt road until you see signs of civilization? Our options are limited. I figure we can either sleep, watch TV, or try to move the bars on our phones with our minds. Trent seems like he doesn’t want to be bothered, and Nathan is doing whatever it is that little kids do. He probably went back to sleep or something.” I shrug.
“Think they have the good channels?” Valerie powers on the TV and crosses her legs.
“Dunno… Just try to find a good movie or something. If you can find one of those judge shows that come on, that works too.”
“Got it.” While Valerie flicks away at the TV, I perch my head against my palm. Eventually, she finds some documentary about a string of unexplained occurrences tied to an abandoned hospital. Missing teens, people going crazy after visits, apparitions…things like that. It’s pretty interesting to watch, but when it comes down to it, I’m still a skeptic. It’s hard to tell what’s real with TV because they have a tendency to add a lot of fluff to the stories. Same goes for people in general when asking around for information on haunted sites. You get a loose outline for what to expect when you combine the elements from different stories, but going there is the only way to get the full picture. But check this out…if a bunch of people have been saying a place is haunted or that, people die and have been dying there for the past fifty years, why in the hell would you go there? If you want to risk your life messing with the supernatural just for kicks, you’ve got issues and you’re just looking to get your life ruined.
I try to watch it for as long as I can, but ultimately, I lose interest once the paranormal crew starts doing some crazy stuff to lure out whatever’s haunting the site. And by crazy stuff, I mean things that make zero sense what so ever outside of raising up their network’s views. It seems to be working on Valerie. I can’t blame her. She doesn’t know any better.
The episode rolls over to the next and then the one after that, the line between reality and dreams becoming thinner and thinner as time moves on. I doze off on occasion, but the only thing that brings me back is a random loud noise from the show or Valerie making a sudden movement. The last sound-bite I was actually interested in was about the ghost of a woman who haunted an old mine where she and her husband died. She was trying to get to him after a cave in, so she ran past the other workers on the outside and got killed from a structure collapsing on her during her search. I think they mentioned something about her and her husband just returning back from their honeymoon, too. Tragic story, but my lack of sleep coupled with a set of heavy eyelids prevented me getting too sucked in.
Eventually, I cave and let my body get the better of me.
****
“…What?” I groan groggily. “Use your words.” Valerie faintly giggles and I feel her poke me on my forehead. “Is the car ready?” I ask with closed eyes, still half asleep. Valerie doesn’t answer but instead continues to prod me with her finger. “Dude, can you stop. Val, I swear.” If she put whip cream on me or something, I’m going to kill her.
“Oh my gosh, this is so priceless.”
“Valerie!” I open my eyes in a flash but instantly calm down once I see what’s in front of me. Actually, it would be better to say who. Nathan buries his face into his hands with glee, giggling at my most likely baffled expression. “So I see you’ve made a new friend,” I say to him, a smile emerging on my face. Nathan playfully scampers away to the other side of the room and I look to Valerie with a raised brow. “See what I mean?” I ask Valerie. “So, you let him in?”
“Kinda, I guess. I went to use the bathroom, so I left the door slightly cracked. Nathan snuck in while I was gone. Didn’t even know he was there till I heard him laughing under the bed.”
“Oh,” I respond flatly. I break eye contact from Valerie and glance at Nathan. His hands are resting on the bed and a giant smile is on his face. “I’m going to take a wild guess and assume he doesn’t really know about p-r-i-v-a-c-y. How long has he been in here?” I ask, returning my gaze to Valerie. I thought I was a fairly light sleeper. Nathan isn’t a threat, but still. Valerie and these country folks must really have me loosening up.
“Uh, not long. About fifteen minutes tops. Probably two of them, unattended. He’s been chilling with me ever since. We’ve been watching ‘Happy-Fun-Robo-Time.' Mr. Robo is a beast.”
“I bet.”
“Yeah, he kinda got bored during one of the commercials, so here we are.”
“Lovely,” I say as I begin to stretch. “How long was I out for?”
“A couple hours.”
“Geez. Any news on the car?”
“Nope. Mr. Frank is in the house though, I thought I heard him coming up the stairs and into his room. He’s probably cleaning up for work.”
“Yeah, handling a car and then handling someone’s food isn’t a good look,” I muse.
“Nathan? Ah, there you are!” Speak of the devil. Frank walks into the room from the doorway and goes to pick him up. “What did I tell you about bothering our guests, huh?” Nathan’s smile quickly disappears and he tilts his head down towards his chest as he’s held in his father’s arms. The room falls silent with Nathan at a loss for words.
“He wasn’t any trouble, really,” Valerie says, breaking the silence. “We were watching TV together.”
“How’s the car doing?” I almost didn’t want to ask, but having Nathan be disciplined by his father was not something I wanted to see.
“That’s actually why I wanted to stop in here before I go to work.” I sit up in my seat, the drowsiness fully shaken from my body.
“How bad is it?”
“It’s not bad per se, just different. A buddy of mine works with us at the restaurant. I’m going to run out and get the part after work and see if he can help me with this one.”
“He’s good at cars, too?”
“Yeah. He works with me from time to time.” Frank lowers Nathan from his arms near the exit of our
room, blocking him from the rest of our room with his body. “His name is Bruce. Good guy. Now, I’m not going to cut his hours for this. The man has to make a living for himself and whatnot, but he should be able to get you situated,” he says as he places his hands on his hips.
“Yeah, I totally understand.”
“I’m going to run it by him when I see him. It shouldn’t be an issue. We’ll just whip him up a good meal. Same for y’all—a nice dinner before we send you off.”
“Great.”
“I know all this waiting is a pain, but by tonight, everything will be taken care of, darling.”
“So, what’s wrong with the car exactly?” I ask as I reposition myself in my seat. “You never mentioned it.”
“One of the belts is busted, and the pulley system needs to be adjusted. It’s not too hard of a fix, but it’s something I’d rather have backup for. Bruce knows his way around an engine better than me. Rather have him help me out with it in case things get hairy.”
“Okay, cool. I’m just glad you know what it is.”
“It shouldn’t take more than an hour to fix. Two, if we hit a snag along the way.”
“Great.”
“Helen should be having lunch ready for you guys in a bit. Just try to tough it out a bit longer.”
“Will do,” Valerie responds.
Nathan peeps into our room from the window between Frank’s legs. In an attempt to save him from being punished, I signal him to back away with my eyes. Unfortunately, it fails and only causes him to giggle. I suppress my urge to grimace, dreading the awkwardness that comes when a parent disciplines their child in front of you. Frank turns his head back to his son and shoves him away with the back of his leg. Nathan stumbles back but manages not to fall, which I’m thankful for considering that there’s a set of stairs not too far from our room. Nathan’s like, barely five. He used way too much force on him.
I guess they aren’t the perfect family after all.
“Trent,” Frank calls from our door frame. “Trent, I told you to look after your brother!” I glance at Valerie, and she returns a skeptical stare while Frank’s head is still turned towards the hall. I return my gaze to Frank only to see his oldest son making his way towards the both of them. “Your brother was pestering the guests,” he says to Trent under his breath; not that it makes any sense. Getting called out by your parents is bad enough as it is.
Sailor Ray and the Beautiful Lie (The Pact Book 3) Page 9