Gone and Back Again

Chapter 7- Secrets

Chapter 7- Secrets

"Get me out 10 eggs!" Jeremiah commanded, as he popped 2 pieces of toast into the toaster.

"T-ten? Why so many?" Isobel stuttered, throwing open the fridge door.

"Because I'm as hunger as a horse, that's why! I'm a full grown man ya know." He gruffly shot back as he  set the table.

"Oh. Right, I would never question that." Isobel hastened to start cracking the eggs into the warming frying pan.

Jeremiah did not hear her though, his mind having wandered off into the past...

"Jeremiah! Jeremiah? Are you going to just stand there reading that newspaper or are you going to help me make this food?" Rachel screeched, waving a spatula in the air.

Jeremiah was entangled in a complicated cross word puzzle that he was determined to finish.

"Who was the 11th president again?" Jeremiah scratched his head. "I mean, if you know that one then that would mean I would only be 4 away from finishing, and I am pretty sure I know what this one is," he squinted looking even closer at the newspaper.

"Jeremiah? Did you hear me? Help? This will never be a surprise breakfast for your parents if we don't hurry!" Rachel shook her head.

"Oh right, sorry! What should I do?" Jeremiah innocently ran over to her.

"Jeremiah," Rachel giggled annoyed. "You are a lost cause. It is a good thing you have me!" She pointed her spatula into his face.

Jeremiah playfully pushed it aside, and squeezed her into a hug. "It sure is," he responded happily. "It sure is."

"The eggs are done!" Isobel interrupted his thoughts, as she plunked the frying pan unto the table. "How do you get all this food?" She questioned.

"Ohh, I just get it shipped here, I don't bother heading to town, it's a long way from here." He shrugged his shoulders.

Jeremiah got butter and jelly out of the cupboard, and set those on the table.

"Jelly, butter, or both?" Jeremiah asked.

"Got any peanut butter?" Isobel grinned.

"Peanut butter!? Why?" He asked puzzled.

"It's what I normally put on my toast, it's delicious!" She squealed.

Jeremiah rolled his eyes, and rummaged through his cupboards to find some.

"Don't judge a food until you try it" Isobel said in a sing-song type of voice.

"Alright, I'll try it" Jeremiah mimicked her back.

Isobel spread the peanut butter on her toast, and then a small portion on Jeremiah's piece, and shoved it unto his plate.

"Try!" She said, eagerly waiting for his response.

Jeremiah picked up the toast, and tried a bite.

"This is nasty!" Jeremiah spat, shriveling up his nose in disgust. He then tried to cover up the smile that played on his lips by looking the other way.

"You can try to hide it all you want, but I know you like it" Isobel smirked.

"Maybe," Jeremiah smugly stated. "Maybe not."

Isobel rolled her eyes at him as she continued stuffing her face with food.

When Jeremiah and Isobel were done eating, Jeremiah lost his cheerfulness again and became stern.

"We need to go over some rules of the house."    

"I'm not 7, I think I know how to be a good girl!" Isobel playfully glared.

Jeremiah ignored her, and continued.

"You can stay in the room I put you in for now, my bedroom is right next to yours, so if you need anything in the night, you'll know where to find me.

There's a green house to the right of this house. Do not enter it unless your going to tend to that garden. The more heat we let in there, the more likely those plants will die. You can help yourself to food whenever you want, though please be considerate of the fact that there's not any stores near by."

"Alright," Isobel said plainly, as she pushed herself away from the table to leave.

"Oh and there's one more thing you MUST know!" Jeremiah stopped her, reaching for her hand abruptly.

"You may not enter the room that's next to the entrance of the house! I have it closed off for a good reason, so don't go prying around, got it?" He asked, with a little bit of nervousness in his voice.

Isobel looked into his eyes intently, wondering why she couldn't enter that room. She could see a hint of fear, anger, and sadness glinting in his eyes.

So mysterious, Isobel thought to herself, as she kept looking into his dark, and empty eyes. Shivers ran down her back as he equally stared back at her.

"Alright, I'll try to remember." Isobel hesitatingly said with a slight grin, trying to shake off the shivers.

"Please try extra hard Isobel, there's stuff in that room that I don't want anyone to be meddling around in. Stuff that even I don't want to meddle around in again." He said, with tightness in his voice.

Isobel walked out the kitchen, and out the door to get a good look of her surroundings.

To the left of her was a small chickens coup, that was turning from a bright red to a rustic burgundy. It was surrounded by a tall, beat up, metal fence to keep the chickens where they belonged.

In front of her was what looked like a partial trail that went out a little ways, and then just kind of blended in with its surrounds from not getting driven on often. Parked next to the trail was a old blue Chevy pick up truck that looked like it had had rust spilled on it. To the left of her was a mini shed that had tool falling out of it. Rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, and old tires were scattered all around it. It looked like someone had gone in there with a baseball bat, and hit everything all over the place.

Isobel turned around and headed back inside, dizziness overcoming her again. She walked back through the kitchen to ask what he ever did around here, but he had left.

"I wonder where he went?" Isobel muttered to herself, as she strode down the hall into her room.

She crumpled unto her bed, and spread her body out in full, allowing her body to fully relax.

Isobel just couldn't shake the shivers she had from when Jeremiah and her held contact. It was such a repelling feelng that she never wanted to feel again. Something lurked within these walls, and she just had to find out. And she had a feeling that the closed off room had a good deal to do with it.

"Oh how I miss home" Isobel sighed, as she stuffed her head in her pillow, and let the tears fall from her eyes.