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The Lone Girl (Chapter: 3)
IN A RUSH
Still shaken, I stood there for a few seconds trying to the recall the whole act. I really started to think that maybe she had escaped from some asylum and wanted to run away before anyone could recognize her. Maybe that was why she wore a hoody so that no one would notice her. I felt that’s certainly the fact.
I went to get the bike and when I found it, I was very much annoyed. That bike was entirely covered in snow. I had to clean all the snow from the bike. After cleaning for nearly an hour, I got on my bike and drove as fast as I could. In less than a minute, I reached home.
The moment I entered my home, I had to speed things up. I changed into my nightdress, did the dishes, took the cake box and tucked it in my fridge, made my cot and finally slipped into my comfy bed and made myself comfortable.
It was certainly a big day tomorrow and I tried to get some peaceful sleep but I couldn’t. I twisted and turned in bed trying to close my eyes. I couldn’t help but look at the ceiling. My mind was revolving around the girl so-called Eva. I guess her name is Eva because that’s what she called herself when she screamed at me. I felt angry when I thought about her. All I wanted to do was help her but the way she behaved it looked like I wanted to do the opposite - harm her. She looked totally depressed, no doubt about it and I guess that’s maybe because she is suffering a lot due to some mental illness. Poor girl!
I was completely lost in thought but finally I slept. I got like only two to three hours to sleep before I got up the next day at 4a.m. I had to attend church at 5a.m. So I knew I had to hurry up. I took a quick hot shower, changed into a beautiful floral-print frock and hurried out. My bike was under repair so, I had to walk all the way to church and the good part was that though the church was quite far, I made it on time.
The mass had started just when I reached. Thank God! I had a wonderful time at church. It was serene and I loved it! After mass, It struck me that I had to return Shelly’s bike which I left in my toolshed last night. The sky was getting dark and I was a little worried about the weather. I got out, waved my friends goodbye and headed home. The minute I reached home, I hurried to my shed. It was all dark and dingy inside. Luckily, I stumbled upon a flashlight in front of me. I flashed it on and there in the corner was Shelly’s attractive bike.
I got it out on the street and that was when my bothersome neighbor Mr. Clinton Scott waved to me from his garden, “So, Jessie, you got a new bike. Well, when did you get it?” I tried to ignore him but he wouldn’t let me go. “I think my son’s cycle is way better than this funky looking bike of yours.” Mr. Clinton just doesn’t know what to relate. I think his comparison between a cycle and a bike is terrible.
He gets very jealous when someone has things that are better than his and he just can’t tolerate it. Quite vexed, I told him that it was my friend’s bike. His face turned red and he stared at me, “Then you tell your friend what I just said.” I got irritated so I pretended to look at my watch and made a tense face and that seemed to do the trick. He looked at me and smirked, “Well, I can see that you‘re in a hurry to go somewhere. Anyway, enjoy Christmas.” Saying this, he walked into his house and banged the door after him.
I personally don’t like the Clintons. I think they are the most unpleasant neighbors ever seen or heard of. I was glad to resume the journey to Shelly’s house. I reached there at about half past twelve and I was feeling hungry. Shelly was sitting at the doorstep and she called out to me and greeted me with a warm smile, “Hey, Jessie, merry Christmas! You have brought my bike back. Come in.”
I parked the bike in her garage and headed for Shelly’s home. I turned over the keys to her and we went inside the house together. It was very chill and gloomy outside. Shelly looked at me wearily, “I have not eaten anything since morning and I’m famished. Can you help me prepare lunch? I told her that I would be glad to do so. We prepared quite a good lunch. I made tuna rolls and cucumber salad while she made grape squash and blueberry tart. I must admit that Shelly is an impressive cook.
As we ate lunch, we complemented each other’s cooking. The grape squash and blueberry tart was fantastic. While eating, I told her about how Clinton had acted on seeing her bike. Shelly heaved a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes, “Well, let me get this straight, Jessie, I hate that neighbor of yours. And by the way, what about the Primewood Christmas program? I hope you have not forgotten about it.” That was when I remembered that I had to go and I thanked her for reminding me. I bid her goodbye and I was on my way to the repair shop.
I walked as fast as I could. I needed to see my bike’s new look. Was it a charm like my friend Shelly’s? I reached the shop at about three. Mr. Donald, the shop’s owner looked at me and smiled, “You are so punctual. I ought to learn a thing or two about time management from you.” I kind of felt bad but decided to play along with it. “I know that I have come here fifteen minutes earlier. Right, Mister.”
Continuing to smile he told me, “You have a timepiece tied on your left wrist. Am I right? Why don’t you take a look at it dear? I pretended to look at it as if I didn’t know the time before. “I am late and didn’t know that I was. My sincere apologies.” He patted me hard on the shoulder, “Come in. your face is pale from the snow.” I walked in and as usual started passing on comments. “Why does your shop have such a weird name Mr. Donald?” he turned instantaneously and looked at me “Why dear. It’s a beautiful name. ‘The Punkie Ducky repairs’. There is nothing strange about it.”
I looked at him and grinned “Maybe not for you. But for me it is certainly the funniest name.” He ignored my comment and proceeded to move ahead. “Here is your beauty Jessie. Play with it harder and it would look new. It’s Jessie-proof.” I kind of got fascinated when I saw my bike. It looked awe-some!
I didn’t speak for a moment. “It’s all yours. Go ahead.” I went on and sat. Starting the bike, Mr. Donald exclaimed in surprise, “I like the way you maneuver that beauty. I understand she likes it the rough way.” I got out the bike and waved to him “Thanks a lot for the help. Certainly Punkie Ducky is the best.” His eyes gleamed with a little bit of what you could say - joy and pride. “You bet.”
© All Rights Reserved
Still shaken, I stood there for a few seconds trying to the recall the whole act. I really started to think that maybe she had escaped from some asylum and wanted to run away before anyone could recognize her. Maybe that was why she wore a hoody so that no one would notice her. I felt that’s certainly the fact.
I went to get the bike and when I found it, I was very much annoyed. That bike was entirely covered in snow. I had to clean all the snow from the bike. After cleaning for nearly an hour, I got on my bike and drove as fast as I could. In less than a minute, I reached home.
The moment I entered my home, I had to speed things up. I changed into my nightdress, did the dishes, took the cake box and tucked it in my fridge, made my cot and finally slipped into my comfy bed and made myself comfortable.
It was certainly a big day tomorrow and I tried to get some peaceful sleep but I couldn’t. I twisted and turned in bed trying to close my eyes. I couldn’t help but look at the ceiling. My mind was revolving around the girl so-called Eva. I guess her name is Eva because that’s what she called herself when she screamed at me. I felt angry when I thought about her. All I wanted to do was help her but the way she behaved it looked like I wanted to do the opposite - harm her. She looked totally depressed, no doubt about it and I guess that’s maybe because she is suffering a lot due to some mental illness. Poor girl!
I was completely lost in thought but finally I slept. I got like only two to three hours to sleep before I got up the next day at 4a.m. I had to attend church at 5a.m. So I knew I had to hurry up. I took a quick hot shower, changed into a beautiful floral-print frock and hurried out. My bike was under repair so, I had to walk all the way to church and the good part was that though the church was quite far, I made it on time.
The mass had started just when I reached. Thank God! I had a wonderful time at church. It was serene and I loved it! After mass, It struck me that I had to return Shelly’s bike which I left in my toolshed last night. The sky was getting dark and I was a little worried about the weather. I got out, waved my friends goodbye and headed home. The minute I reached home, I hurried to my shed. It was all dark and dingy inside. Luckily, I stumbled upon a flashlight in front of me. I flashed it on and there in the corner was Shelly’s attractive bike.
I got it out on the street and that was when my bothersome neighbor Mr. Clinton Scott waved to me from his garden, “So, Jessie, you got a new bike. Well, when did you get it?” I tried to ignore him but he wouldn’t let me go. “I think my son’s cycle is way better than this funky looking bike of yours.” Mr. Clinton just doesn’t know what to relate. I think his comparison between a cycle and a bike is terrible.
He gets very jealous when someone has things that are better than his and he just can’t tolerate it. Quite vexed, I told him that it was my friend’s bike. His face turned red and he stared at me, “Then you tell your friend what I just said.” I got irritated so I pretended to look at my watch and made a tense face and that seemed to do the trick. He looked at me and smirked, “Well, I can see that you‘re in a hurry to go somewhere. Anyway, enjoy Christmas.” Saying this, he walked into his house and banged the door after him.
I personally don’t like the Clintons. I think they are the most unpleasant neighbors ever seen or heard of. I was glad to resume the journey to Shelly’s house. I reached there at about half past twelve and I was feeling hungry. Shelly was sitting at the doorstep and she called out to me and greeted me with a warm smile, “Hey, Jessie, merry Christmas! You have brought my bike back. Come in.”
I parked the bike in her garage and headed for Shelly’s home. I turned over the keys to her and we went inside the house together. It was very chill and gloomy outside. Shelly looked at me wearily, “I have not eaten anything since morning and I’m famished. Can you help me prepare lunch? I told her that I would be glad to do so. We prepared quite a good lunch. I made tuna rolls and cucumber salad while she made grape squash and blueberry tart. I must admit that Shelly is an impressive cook.
As we ate lunch, we complemented each other’s cooking. The grape squash and blueberry tart was fantastic. While eating, I told her about how Clinton had acted on seeing her bike. Shelly heaved a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes, “Well, let me get this straight, Jessie, I hate that neighbor of yours. And by the way, what about the Primewood Christmas program? I hope you have not forgotten about it.” That was when I remembered that I had to go and I thanked her for reminding me. I bid her goodbye and I was on my way to the repair shop.
I walked as fast as I could. I needed to see my bike’s new look. Was it a charm like my friend Shelly’s? I reached the shop at about three. Mr. Donald, the shop’s owner looked at me and smiled, “You are so punctual. I ought to learn a thing or two about time management from you.” I kind of felt bad but decided to play along with it. “I know that I have come here fifteen minutes earlier. Right, Mister.”
Continuing to smile he told me, “You have a timepiece tied on your left wrist. Am I right? Why don’t you take a look at it dear? I pretended to look at it as if I didn’t know the time before. “I am late and didn’t know that I was. My sincere apologies.” He patted me hard on the shoulder, “Come in. your face is pale from the snow.” I walked in and as usual started passing on comments. “Why does your shop have such a weird name Mr. Donald?” he turned instantaneously and looked at me “Why dear. It’s a beautiful name. ‘The Punkie Ducky repairs’. There is nothing strange about it.”
I looked at him and grinned “Maybe not for you. But for me it is certainly the funniest name.” He ignored my comment and proceeded to move ahead. “Here is your beauty Jessie. Play with it harder and it would look new. It’s Jessie-proof.” I kind of got fascinated when I saw my bike. It looked awe-some!
I didn’t speak for a moment. “It’s all yours. Go ahead.” I went on and sat. Starting the bike, Mr. Donald exclaimed in surprise, “I like the way you maneuver that beauty. I understand she likes it the rough way.” I got out the bike and waved to him “Thanks a lot for the help. Certainly Punkie Ducky is the best.” His eyes gleamed with a little bit of what you could say - joy and pride. “You bet.”
© All Rights Reserved
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