I opened my fridge and grimaced. I never did end up going to the store and now I had nothing to drink but a half drank bottle of cheap booze. “Why do I always end up forgetting the most important things in life?” I sighed as I grabbed the beer and chugged it. “Why do crazy things like this always seem to happen around me? It MUST be just some sort of coincidence though.” Right?? I sat down in my recliner and turned on the TV.
“...”
I woke up hours later still in my chair with the empty bottle in my lap and someone laughing loudly on TV. I rubbed my stubbled chin and yawned. “Man, what time is it?” I got up and stretched as I walked into the kitchen. “Hmmm only 5 am? Why am I up so early?” Then I remember what happened last night. “Oh yeah. Crazy night I suppose I should get ready for the day though. Go venture out and see if any of the neighbours found out what happened.”
After a quick shower I decided to venture over to Mrs. Abergathys house to check in on her first. She definitely seemed like she might have seen something horrifying last night. As I was locking up my house the older man from last night came over. “Howdy neighbour. How you feeling this morning?” He looked at me with a toothy grin. “Mornin, uhhh I’m sorry I do not think I caught your name.” He chuckled softly, “sorry I guess I forgot my manners last night. Names Alec Bennett. I have lived here since I was about your age. If you have any questions about anything round ere, feel free to stop by my house. I am always home.”
I shook his hand. “Names Corey Kennedy. Have you happened to hear anything from the officers about what happened? I didn’t see any new crews or anything out there.”
“Round here we don’t really have news crews. There isn’t really much local news that normally happens save for the odd lost cat or something of the such. I take it you are from a big city. You do seem like you might be city folk.” He chuckled to himself again, shaking his head.
“Yes I am from San Branchforks. Stoneyel Heights is definitely very different from where I am from. There would have been like 20 reporters out front of the house back home.” I started to walk down my driveway toward Mrs. Abergathys. Alec followed behind me reminiscing about his early years in Stoneyel. “I’m sorry Mr. Bennett but do you know if Mrs. Abergathy would be home? I would like to check in on her after last night and make sure she is doing alright all things considered.”
“Course she’s home. Janice seldom leaves her house. Her daughter Noelle normally does all the shopping and what have you for her. Janice ain’t very mobile these days. Last night was the first time I’ve seen her out in months.” He scratched his beard as he shuffled slowly alongside me. “Oh my I surely hope she is okay. After the fright she must have had last night now I surely must check in on her."
“Oh my. That is mighty fine of you to be so worried about someone you haven’t even met yet.” I sighed kicking myself because I really did hate having to deal with people. “Well my mother did instill in me to worry about those older and wiser than you.” I balled my hands into fists trying to calm myself down. Ever since Clay I really did hate talking to people. I never was really sure why it affected me so but I was growing ever agitated as he continued to drone on about his late wife and his crass ungrateful children. I cleared my throat as we reached Janice's front door.
I knocked three time and heard someone shout from somewhere inside the house, “Micah! Could you get the door for me? I am still helping mother dress.” What sounded like three or four locks clicked before the door swung open harshly. “Can I help you,” he asked gruffly as he folded his arm across his chest. He stared me down, he seemed rather angry. His bulky six foot frame looked cramped in the tiny doorway. I coughed lightly, “Sorry sir we were just looking to check in on Mrs. Abergathy. She was very distraught last night and we wanted to make sure she was okay,” he clenched his jaw and I was afraid he might just decide to slam the door in our face.
“Now now Micah, that is no way to treat our guests,” Mrs Abergathys voice sounded raspy, probably from the screaming and crying from last night if I had to guess. Micah grumbled to himself and went somewhere else in the house. I could have swore I just heard him call me a pesky b*stard. I just shook my head and smiled at Mrs. Abergathy as she shuffled over to the door, Noelle following close behind her smiling at me. “I really am sorry to bother you miss. I am Corey Kennedy. I live at the end of the street."
“OH MY! I was wondering when we would meet the family that moved into that old house. No one has lived there for YEARS. I feared they was gonna end up demolishing it.” She patted my shoulder and turned to Noelle, “Noelle honey, why don't you start some tea. We are going to sit on the sun deck and have a nice chat.” She grabbed my hand and lightly urged me to follow her into the house.
I turned around and looked at Alec blankly. He just smiled at me as he urged me to move forward so he could also join for tea. I sighed as I followed her through her surprisingly tidy house. When we reached the sun deck she shooed three cats off the chairs and motioned us to have a seat. She smiled at me brightly. “So what to we owe the pleasure of having you here so early this morning.”
I gave Alec a quick glance and ran a hand through my hair, “Well ma’am I was hoping to check up on you after last night. You were very frightened. I was worried that you might have seen something that no one else did.” She gave me a somber look. Sh*t. Maybe I should not have asked her quite yet. My heart started to race as I tried to think of a way out of this. “You do not have to talk about it ma’am if you are still too in shock over it.”
She smiled warmly at me, “Oh dear sookay. I am afraid I did witness something I’m not too sure I should have.”
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