Year Walk

Chapter 1: Ace

I suggest reading this on the minimum font, black background, and font style "Marion." Thank you, and enjoy.

It is the day before New Year's Eve, and following my religious beliefs, I am due to year walk my way to the future, tomorrow night. To this day, I believe the cause of my parent's death is not year walking in their childhood. I do not wish to die, so if this practice becomes successful, I shall do it every year.

Pausing from my writing, I stare down at my small dog, Charlie, who is nibbling on the carpet. I lean over and begin to stroke his white curly hair. "You must be hungry if you turned to the carpet for food." I purse my lips and stand up to stretch. "But I can't afford anything." I stare out the window at the newly fallen snow. It was noon and my daughter was still sleeping. "Alicia!" I shouted up the stairs. I hear frantic footsteps upstairs and my daughter appears at the top of the stairs. "Good morning, dad. Did you sleep okay?" Her innocent look disgusted me. She was only 12, but she already looked like her wretched mother.

"Morning? It's noon. You have chores to do. Please fix up lunch."

"Will you be eating with us?" She asked, picking up Charlie as she walks to the kitchen.

"No. I have some errands to run."

She nods and I grab my scarf and coat off the rack, swinging the front door open.

I pause as I feel the cold breeze on my face. I shout behind me to my daughter. "You know the rules. Keep the door locked." I shut the door and wait quietly outside, wrapping the scarf around my neck. I leave when I hear Alicia click the door lock.

I storm into the department store and start to study the aisles' signs.

"Ace!" I hear an eager squeal behind me. I whirl around and stare at a man- the door greeter. I'm not supposed to speak the days before the year walk, so to practice I lean my head to the side, pursing my lips as I wait for him to say more.

"Remember me? It's Tom. You gave my family a turkey for the annual church holiday." He gives me an awkward smile. "I'm not sure if thanked you, though. Here." He reaches into his pitiful pockets and pulls out a wad of singles. He opens his palm out to me, waiting for me to grab it. "I know it's not much-"

I shrug and turn to walk away, and he didn't stop me. I am sure he would rather keep the money. Selfish, poor bastard.

My jacket moved against the wind as I walked down the aisles. I'm not sure what exactly I'm looking for, but I know I'm needing something for tomorrow.

I came upon a large gallery of different sizes of metal dog cages. All were too big for my liking, but I bought one anyways.

I stared at the girl who was behind the counter, as she counted the cash I handed her. She was was not fun to look at.

"Hello sir. How are you?" She stared right back. It should be okay to let some words slip. Shouldn't make a difference.

"Fine, yourself?"

She smiles and nods. "I think I know you.. Or at least heard of you. Ace, is it?"

"Yeah." I read her name tag. "I believe you go to my church."

"Oh yeah!" She giggles and facepalms her forehead. "Duh. I'll see you Sunday then."

"Sounds good." I stuff my change in my pocket and begin to walk away. I don't go to church.

"Oh, and Ace-" I stop and look back. She immediately looks away. "I believe you have my number, so feel free to call anytime, you know, if you need anything." Her face turned red.

I nod in response and head for the exit.

----

After I ran around the town to grab things for tomorrow night, the sun was setting when I got home. Alicia should be sleeping by now.

Alicia seems to never smile, but I take fault in that. I don't allow her to go to school or contact anyone. Her sanity needs to be protected from the world, at least for awhile, so I can get mine back. If the year walking fails, she will be left alone with nothing but that damned dog and this cold, wet cabin.

I pause at my front door. I stared at the gape in the door and realized that it had been opened.