Just Keep Smilin'

Anew Every Morning, Part 4

EPISODE ONE: Anew Every Morning

Part 4: Like Old Times

After leaving Chattanooga, Luke and Nick passed through an idyllic landscape of vast fields and forests, and the Appalachians off in the distance. Neither of them spoke for a while, Luke still trying to process what had happened earlier with the woman. He didn't want to think about what he'd done to her, and attempted to occupy his thoughts with the worn-down road in front of them and the radio.

Eventually, Nick decided to ask him, "Luke, do you think there's somethin' goin' on?"

| Yes. |

| No. |

| I don't know. |

| ... |

"I really don't know what to think right now, Nick. We were attacked by some girl, and I kicked her in the face. Then we took off speedin'," Luke replied.

"I know that, but somethin' ain't right with her and the girl from last night. I mean, whatever that was happened all the way back in Atlanta and then over at that gas station. Whatever it is, we gotta find out soon, man," Nick said.

"I guess you're right. I bet that we'll get things figured out soon," Luke said encouragingly.

Nick suggested, "Maybe we'll find out what's goin' on when we get home."

"I'm thinkin' that we will. If any place's got a bunch of secrets just waitin' to be discovered, you bet it's that old town." Luke chuckled.

"Speak of the devil-"

Luke could make out the old farmhouses and the busy main street just ahead. He noticed the ancient sign to his left. Welcome to Clevesville, Tennessee. A proud little town in the middle of nowhere with all sorts of secrets and skeletons in people's closets.

Driving down the main avenue, Luke recognized the familiar storefronts and some of the people walking by. Everything was just as he'd remembered it, from the pretty facades and rusted old gates, to the scents of fresh pastries and overgrown lawns, to the sound of the songs from the town's most popular hangout and the noise of people laughing.

He slowed down to appreciate the familiar sights of their hometown. Even the slightest of things brought back the memories. Luke had definitely needed to come home. Even if he'd always dreamed of leaving for the city and to pursue what he'd thought were bigger and better things, here was where his heart was, and always would be.

(O) Look up

"Hey, see that up there, Nick? I'm surprised that our bridge's lasted this long." Luke pointed out the window, up at the gap formed by the alley. He had noticed the makeshift bridge they'd set up a decade and a half ago between the rooftops. Luke smiled, remembering how they, along with some other boys, decided on the bright idea of climbing onto the top of main street and jumping across the buildings for the heck of it. When they'd injured themselves quite a few times and gotten sick of all the effort, they set up a ladder up to the roof, and laid down a plank across the gap to access the short-lived club they formed on top of the abandoned office building.

"It's crazy to think how that's still there after all these years," Nick said. "Though I'll admit I tried goin' back up there once or twice since you left."