Chapter Six-Jenny
I slammed the door of my red truck and began the short walk along the sidewalk to the bakery. The sun was high in the sky and it was a steaming hot day.
I smiled at two girls walking their dogs, they looked about twelve and each one held an ice-cream.
“Hey, Jenny.” The brunette greeted.
I smiled a hello and kept walking down the street nearing the bakery.
“Morning, Jenny.”
I looked across the street and saw the elderly lady from Meadow Lane packing her groceries into her car.
“Morning, Victoria!” I called, across the quiet street.
Pushing open the bakery door I smiled at the familiar sound of the little bell.
“Jenny? Is that you?” Muriel’s voice called from the back.
“Yes, just me. Sorry I’m a bit late today, trouble with the truck again.”
Muriel appeared at the back entrance, wiping her flour covered hands on her red and white apron.
“Is the truck still giving you trouble?”
“I really need to think of selling her, you know, and getting something better.”
I put on an apron before placing my bag under the counter and placing some more brown bags on the counter for customers.
“Any news from the university?”
I sighed, leaning against the counter and looking at Muriel, who was stacking loaves on the shelves.
“Nope, not one word.”
“That is too bad, love. I heard yesterday that Todd was accepted.”
“I’m happy for him. Really.”
We were silent for a moment as we worked, finally I broke the silence that had fallen.
“Maybe I should apply at colleges out of state, even in other towns maybe. The university here really is too small. Maybe I could even study abroad, I mean, I’m sure my grades are good enough, I worked really hard.”
“Do what you think is best, Jenny.”
I smiled at her and began sprinkling icing sugar on the warm doughnuts Muriel had placed on the counter.
“Jenny, I have to leave early, Leah has a ballet recital in an hour. Would you mind staying a bit later today and locking up for me?”
Leah was Muriel’s eight year granddaughter and I adored her.
“I wouldn’t mind one bit. Wish little Leah good luck for me.”
“Will do.” Muriel called back, as the bell rung signaling her leaving the shop.
I sighed and sat back, looking around the quiet bakery and sitting down on the stool behind the wooden counter, picking up a magazine and beginning to read.
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The day passed quickly and all too soon I was taking the final batch of rolls out of the over and placing them on the rack. Today had gone by fast like every other day. I had been out of school for nearly two months and summer had been hot and dry.
Taking my apron off, I walked slowly over to the cash register. Today had been a busy day for the quiet bakery and my feet were killing me, I was sick and tired of greeting the people who entered and stayed to chat and honestly, I couldn’t wait to just go home.
I looked up as the bell rung quietly and a boy my age entered. He had on skinny denim shorts that stopped just before his knee and a red shirt covered his thin frame. He had a dirty sling bag hanging on his shoulder and a pair of worn out slops. His short dark hair was covered by a black cap and he had on a pair of ray bans.
He smiled at me as he entered, before stopping.
“Sorry, were you about to go home? I will leave, it’s no problem.”
I smiled at the young traveler and shook my head.
“No, please take your time, it really isn’t any trouble.”
He looked relived before speaking again in an accent I was sure is British.
“I have been craving freshly baked bread for weeks. There was this bakery a few blocks down from my house back in London and I used to go there every morning for a croissant or something. They were the best.”
“Well you should try ours.” I offered, with a small smile.
“Are they of standard?” he teased.
I laughed at his friendliness as he moved slowly around the shop, looking at all the fresh goods that lined the shelves.
“I’m Jenny.” I said, smiling at him as he looked up.
“Harry.”
I loved the way he said his name, his accent thick.
“What brings you to this one horse town, Harry?”
“Curiosity. I was passing through in a car I had hitched a ride from and I saw the sign about the fresh bread and, I don’t know, something told me to stop and have a little look.”
“Well can I interest you in a croissant?”
“Do you have chocolate croissants?” he asked, narrowing his green eyes as if suspicious.
“Of course!”
I began folding a box to place the croissant in, talking to Harry as I worked.
“So, where are you going?”
Harry paused before smiling at me, locking eyes for a brief second before I looked away and back down at the box I was attempting to make the boy.
“Anywhere.”
“Anywhere? Surely you have a destination in mind?”
“Nope.” Harry said, popping the ‘P’ as he twirled a serviette around the counter.
“Well, why not?”
I looked at me with a smirk before answering me.
“Because I’m a runaway.”
