A Town Called Sunrise

Sunrise In Sunrise

First day of the jamboree and the street was already buzzing with excitement. Final touches to decorations, inspections of all the activity booths, and wagons and horses cleared from the street. Miss Pointer was directing the progress of the not so eager children, cleaning up the messes left behind, so people could walk the street worry free. Her reluctant labourers pressed on, with encouraging words - no homework. No staying after class to clean slates.

Colt sat up on his cot in the jail and flicked sleep from his eyes. The sun was carving a sharp image on the far wall from the window, and he knew it was just past seven-thirty. Pulling on his pants and boots, he grabbed a basin, and went out back of the jail to the pump, filling it with cold water. The wash woke him up the rest of the way, as it usually did, and he dumped the water, went back inside and finished dressing.

Outside, the street was beginning to fill, and he could hear the kids complaining while their harried teacher laid down the law. Hammering from finishing touches added to the din, and he took a deep breath, checked the office, strapped on his gun, locked up, and headed to the barber shop.

"Knew you'd be in, Sheriff," Klaus beamed as Colt entered the shop. "Once a year like clockwork."

"Once a year for a professional shave, Klaus. Rest of the time I scrape it off myself."

"Yes . . . I can tell." He seated Cole in the chair, swirled a cover over him and clipped it behind his neck, then wrapped a steaming hot cloth over his face and told him to relax. "No use complaining, it'll stop stinging in a minute."

Jeremy Child climbed up into the small loft and sat in the chair, testing it for comfort and suitability. He could see the whole of the livery from there, and directly down on top of the where the assayer would sit with his scales and other tools. Satisfied, he climbed down and walked toward the diner, slowing to watch the school teacher herd her class about with shovels and pails.

"Great Job, Charlotte," he called, waving and grinning widely. He saw Colt enter the barber shop just as he went inside the diner. Arvil was at a table having breakfast along with Doc Staples, and Jeremy joined them, calling to Jin, the cook, for some bacon and eggs.

"Tried out your loft seat, Arvil, works just fine. Just have to remember to stock up on some food and drink before I get up there."

Arvil nodded, chomping on a mouthful of fried potato.

"What do you do if you need . . . you know?" Doc asked, casually.

"Huh? Uh-"

"Well you can't climb down or everyone'll know you're up there - and why."

Jeremy looked at Arvil again.

"I put a bucket in the corner with some straw in it so's you don't make a noise." He wiped his mouth and drank some coffee.

Doc muffled a laugh, keeping his face down.

"Hang it, Arvil, ain't there another way out? Through the roof or somethin'?"

"My livery don't have a hole in the roof, Jeremy. It ain't some posh hotel."

At that, Doc's laugh exploded, and he turned away coughing, then laughing even louder at Jeremy's expression.

"It ain't something to laugh at, Doc."

"Don't worry, Jeremy. The assayer will want to take breaks too, and the livery will be emptied out at that time. You'll get your chance. You just have to practice self-control."

"I liked it better when it was at the saloon."

"Me too," Arvil said. "Ain't as interestin' knowin' where everythin' is, bein' all neat and tidy."