Watching The Star | On Hold

Chapter 2

Mike's black car stopped next to the stables, where one of the many horses took a curious look outside. The horse had a black coat and on its head was a white spot. At first glance, the ranch did not seem as big as I had imagined it to be. We parked by the stables and a little behind it there was a house. It was not very big from the look of the outside.

All around me I could hear the chirping of birds and the sound of nature, it was completely different from back home, where most of what I heard was the engine of cars or the chatter of people.

Everyone stepped out of the car and I did so last, closing the car door behind me and looking around. It was beautiful. It was a nice sunny day with a slight breeze and I felt the warm wind touch my skin as I looked at the horses and cattle grazing on the paddock. A smile grew on my face; I knew I would like it here.

I turned around to face the group and watched as Susan's mom walked over from the house. She was a very nice, middle-aged woman. She had long, straight, black hair, reaching a little beneath her shoulders, but I could notice some gray hairs sticking out.

"Hello." Susan's mom looked over at the group and smiled, then pointed over at the house. "Please, come inside."

As we entered the house, an Australian Shepperd dog ran up to everyone and sniffed them. Its ears stood up and he wagged his tail. I could tell he was one energetic dog. I bet he loved having all this space outside to run around.

We all soon took a seat at the kitchen table. The kitchen was rather small, with one square dining table set in the center of the room. The stone wall had a nice flower pattern and the rest of the kitchen was painted white. Looking around and taking a glance around the kitchen and the living room, I found the house to have a bit of a vintage look. So far as I could see, there was no television, no computers. However, near the sofa stood a cupboard. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a television hiding inside. There was also a house telephone that stood on the coffee table. The furniture also looked like something you could find at your grandma's house. They had a cozy vibe. There was a brown leather sofa with a dark wooden table. Near the sofa there was a fireplace, unlit because it was Summer. There was also a black rug placed under the sofa and table, and a white cat was curled up on the rug. I noticed a big bookcase, and I knew that with my reading addiction, I could find much enjoyment in that.

Susan's mom turned to me, "It's been a while since I've seen you, Lorena, I hope you're doing well?"

I nodded.

"Well, since you'll be staying with us for the summer, you can call me Elizabeth." She smiled at me. I hadn't known her name, so far she's just always been Susan's mom to me and I haven't had to address her for anything, I'd only ever seen her and her husband at the neighbors' home.

"I hope your trip went okay?" Elizabeth asked no one in particular as she braided her dark brown hair.

"Oh, it did!" Susan's smile couldn't grow any wider. It was clear she was happy to be here, and she was overjoyed to have her friends around. "We talked the entire ride. It was lots of fun."

"That is good to hear." Elizabeth laughed. "Well, would anyone like something to drink or eat?"

All of us sat down and enjoyed a meal of beef stew with freshly grown vegetables from the garden.

After the meal, Susan showed me around the house. Mike and Lance would head home. Kara stayed the night because she said she had lots to talk about while Susan was gone. The house was built with two floors and a basement. Upstairs, there was a bathroom and two bedrooms, a storage room was located downstairs.

Susan shared her room with Kara for the night. I would stay in the storage room located downstairs for the two months. The room had been emptied and a single bed and a small closet stood inside.

"You can put your clothes and other stuff in the closet there," Susan said after showing me to my room. "And if you need anything else, I'll be in the living room."

"Okay, thanks," I said with a smile and sat myself down on the bed.

A while later, when I had finished unpacking, I went over to the living room. Susan sat on the sofa alone, looking through her phone. Susan had brought little with her because she's got most of that she needs already here at the house.

"Hey!" Susan chirped. "Come sit down."

"Where is Kara?" I asked.

"Oh, she's still upstairs, in my room. She said she was going to rest awhile, she was feeling a bit tired," Susan said. "I understand. We were in the car for a while, and I don't think we'll be taking any trips yet today. You can rest too?"

"No, I'm not tired." I was a little tired, but I didn't want to take any rest. I'd just gotten here; I would love to wander around and explore.

"Um... Then would you mind going grocery shopping with me?" Susan asked, standing up from the sofa and looking at me. "The shops will close soon, so we should probably hurry."

"Sure, I don't mind," I said, and I too stood up.

And then, without a word, Susan ran over to the kitchen and I followed her, wondering what was going on.

"Mom!" Susan shouted when she entered the kitchen. And there stood Elizabeth, writing a shopping list. "We'll go, me and Lor."

Lor was the nickname Susan often used for me.

"Really?" she said, "You don't have to. I was just about ready to leave."

"But we'd like to, right Lor?"

I nodded.

And with that, Elizabeth smiled and handed Susan the shopping list she'd just written.

"Don't be out too long, alright?"

****

And so both me and Susan walked over to the nearby town. The walk to town took us about 20 minutes and we had taken a path that went through a forest. Susan said that sometimes there were lots of deer but we hadn't come across any this time, though I did see a squirrel climbing a tree.

It was a rather small town. There were few modern buildings and stores, all with western-style storefronts. The grocery store; our destination was in the center of them.

We were both full in conversation about our plans for the Summer and how excited I was to learn horseback riding.

"I think Star will be the perfect fit for you," Susan said as she was looking over the shopping list her mom had written.

"Star?" I asked.

"Oh, he is one of our horses, and best for you to train with, he used to be trained to take part in competitions, but he doesn't do them anymore. He is very calm and he will be perfect for you." Susan said. "Lor, I'm sure you'll love him."

I laughed. "I have no doubt I will."

We were now about to enter the store when I - still in conversation with Susan and for once not paying any attention to my surroundings - bumped into a boy leaving the store.

"Watch out, will you! I believe you have eyes that work, right?" The boy said, glaring at me and storming past, seeming to be in a hurry. I had to process what had happened for a second and it made me feel unwell. He didn't need to be so rude, it's not like any harm had been done.

Susan saw the uncomfortable look on my face. "You shouldn't mind Henry, he's always a little on edge."