The Collector.

Pulling Weeds

^ the picture up there is a picture of Ash's new car huehue●▽●

HAPPY READING MUFFINS xx
______
[Unedited]

At 7:45 a.m,I leave Wink Hotel and head for Charlotte's house.After a night of sleep and frivolous spending,I feel like myself again.Like Ashton freakin' Irwin,the best damn collector on planet Earth.

I'm going to collect Charlotte's soul.I'm not going to feel bad doing it.It's my job.It's nothing personal.

This morning,I'm relishing the perks of working for the Underworld.I press my foot down on the accelerator,and the deep rumble of my candy apple-red Range Rover growls.My new baby girl has black leather,Bose surround sound,and twenty-tow-inch rims.Match.com couldn't have created a happier couple.

Outside Charlotte's house,I honk once and wait.I want to see her face when she walks out of the door.She's going to like this ride as much as I do.Only lovers of red can trully appreciate this beauty.

As I'm watching her door,I feel something outside my window.I glance to my left,but there's nothing there.At least that's what my eyes say.But I can feel the collector watching me through his shadow.Watching and waiting for me to botch this assignment.

A tapping sound to my right sends chill up my spine.Charlotte is smiling through the passenger window.Her backpack is slung over both shoulders,and she's dressed in dark jeans and a tie-dyed T-shirt.Tie-dye?Really?

She opens the door,and her wide gaze darts around,taking it all in."You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm telling you I'm not."

"This is awesome!" She says through the hand over her mouth."Where'd you get it?"

"It's mine.Mom said she's buy it for me if I moved to Alabama peacefully." I wave my hand around the interior."I chose peace."

"I'd choose peace too." Charlotte climbs into the passenger seat,then tosses her bag into the back."Let's name it."

"Name my car?Hm,how bout no."

"Hm,how bout yes!Ooh,let me do it.How bout Jellybean?"

"You want to name my car Jellybean?"

"Not want to.Did.It's done."

I pull in a long breath."Can you just tell me where Jellybean needs to go?"

Charlotte claps her hands together and tells me where we're headed.I punch the address into the nav system,and twenty-five minutes later,we're parked in front of Peachville's ghetto.I was sure a city with the name Peachville couldn't have a rough part of town,but I stand corrected.

Decrepit houses line the streets,barely a foot between them.Chain-link fences enclose weed-infested yards,and iron bars protect the windows.I watch Charlotte from the corner of my eyes.

"You got a death wish?"

"Trust me,okay?" She chirps,even though it's way too early for chirping.Charlotte slides out of the car and waves at a yellow school bus parked near a crumbling curb.People start pouring out of the bus and heading towards her.They're carrying paint buckets,flower pots,sod,and lots of tool murderers use.

"Charlotte,can you clue me in?" I ask,getting out and stretching my legs.

She opens the back door,grabs her backpack,and pulls out two long-sleeved T-shirts.I grab one as it flied towards me and read the bright,obnoxious logo:Hands Helping Hands.

"What does this mean?" I ask.Then it clicks."Oh hell no.I don't do manual labor.And I certainly don't do it at 8 am without coffee."

"Hands Helping Hands is a charity." she says. "I do this every Saturday morning.It's so much fun.You'll see."