My Perfect Stranger

Chapter 8

Clara

I was not able to understand how Joshua was not freaking out about our situation and it was making me look dramatic and insane. My brain went numb and I was not able to think of a solution. I was only able to think about burgers and pizzas. I was pacing around him whilst she stood by the side of the road in deep thought. He was rubbing his chin and was nodding. I was not sure if he was trying to find a solution to our problem or was calculating the mass of dark matter but I knew for sure that he was close to a breakthrough. After using his big brain for about 8 minutes, he finally spoke.

"I think we should go and find help."

"Wow genius! Thanks for wasting 8 minutes of my life." I said to him.

"Shut up, I was going through all the possibilities. I can see a farm at a distance. Let's go and ask for help there." Joshua said and started walking towards the farm and I followed him.

We reached the farm house and Joshua knocked on the door. The house was very small and the exterior seemed weak and shabby. However, the farm was pretty impressive. The flock of sleep were in the sheepfold, the cows were gazing in grass and they all looked very healthy and fine. I could see a stable but was not able to see how many horses were in here. Joshua knocked again as there was no response. We waited for a while and still there was no response.

"Let's go around the house and see if anybody is there." I suggested and Joshua nodded.

We went to the backside of the house and found a big man with a stomach as huge as a hot air balloon. So huge that his t-shirt was struggling to stay together. He was snoring and was surrounded by empty beer bottles.

"There is no way this man can possibly help us." I whispered to Joshua.

"There is only one way left now." He whispered back to me.

"What is it smart pants?" I murmured to him

"Wait here." Joshua said to be and ran back to the front of the fat man's house while I stood there staring at the fat man and trying by best to not judge him. His snores were like the whistle of a cooker and he was bald. Not entirely because I could see one hair right in the center of his bald head. He was drinking cheap beer and had mosquito bites on his face. He probably passed out while drinking at night and slept in his backyard. Joshua came running back and started staring at the fat man like I was but not to judge. His eyes were searching for something.

"Get me that bundle of keys." He pointed out to a bundle of keys hanging from the fat man's torn pants.

"Why should I do it?" I asked Joshua with a defensive and surprised look.

"Because we both are a team and you have not helped me out even a little. I used my brain and thought of a great idea while you just panicked." Joshua said to me.

"And your great idea was to go and find help so that counts for nothing." I said defensively.

"That was not my great idea. Just get me the key Clara and I'll tell you, my plan." Joshua said to me in a calm and persuasive tone.

I rolled my eyes at him and tip toed towards the fat man. He was smelling like cow dung, beer and junk. As I got closer to him, I was finding it very difficult to not throw up. I kneeled down and tried my best to get the keys without waking him up but his body odor was making it impossible. I finally managed to get the bunch of keys and stepped away from him.

"Here are your keys. This plan better be worth it or I'll make you kiss the fat guy and then you'll understand the pain I went through to get this bunch." I said to him and handed him the keys.