My Painted On Smile

New Places and New Faces

I walked outside. It had been a week since we moved. I haven't really left the house. So I decided to get my lazy butt up and head out the door.

As soon as I hit the sidewalk my neighbor walked out of her tiny yellow cottage across the street. Scrawny and old. So old I was surprised she could walk at all especially at her speed.

"Hello honey. I saw y'all moved in last week. So good to have new neighbors 'round here."

As she was talking I was looking at her. My guess is she was 75,80.

"Thank you so much for welcoming me" I fakely replied.

"Wow how old are you? Eighteen?" The lady said stepping closer.
"What's that?" She asked

I hesitated not knowing what she was talking about. "That thang on your face sweetie"

I realized she was referring to my nose.

How do you not know what a nose piercing is? Have you been in a box for the last 30 something years?

"It's a piercing. Like the ones in your ears. Except this ones in my nose."

"Wow. That's that's somethang. Y'all young folks with that technological stuff"

The painful shrill of her high pitched voice lingered in my head. That's going to take some getting used too. Just like that accent that most of the people in this town hav

"Well it was nice talking to you. See you around" I said hurrying away trying not to lash out at the lady.

I got away taking a right turn onto a slightly bigger street. Which I later found out was the main road.

It was sweltering hot. I guess it would help not to wear baggy sweatpants. I saw Bell. Which appeared to be the only clothing store in sight. I detoured left off the sidrwalk and to the store.