Open the Gates

Hello?

Zzzz...hHHGggg...zzzZZZ

I'm going to suffocate him with his own pillow. Sighing, I sat up and stretched my arms. The storm had passed and so sunlight streamed into the apartment to give me no need for any electrical lights. Yawning, I stood and emptied the coffee maker.

Brrring! Brrring!

I jumped as our phone destroyed the silence with two rings. Who's calling this early? I groaned in my head as I glanced at the clock. Oh...it's noon... "Hello?"

"Hey, Quinn! It's Tom...the fourth!" An elderly man's voiced echoed through the phone.

"Hi Mr. Smythe-"

"Young lady, it's just Tom." He laughed. "Always so polite. Anyways, is there any way you could pop by the store? The storm was a strong one, but people still expect their deliveries. I would have David do it, but he's running errands for the Shea family."

"But isn't Yori home to help out now? That means all of their children are home."

"The storm ruined some of their shipments and made a mess at their own house. Plus their grandmother is out collecting shells." I nodded even though he couldn't see me.

"I get it. Give me an...hour? I'll be there soon." We said our goodbyes and I smirked. "Hey loser!!" I ran into my room and jumped on the bed closest to the door.

"Mmphmf! What are you doing?" Zen shouted as he rolled off the side of the bed.

"I need to help the Smythe's with deliveries." I peered over the edge of the bed to see him glaring at me and showing no intention of moving.

"And you needed to wake me up because...?"

"What if our guest gets up while I'm gone?"

"What guest?" I stared at him and tried to figure out if he was joking or not. He stared back at me confused until something in his mind clicked. "Oh, Kevin. Right, well...did you have to wake me like that?" He scowled, but pushed himself off the ground.

"Duh. How else was I supposed to wake you up?" I rolled my eyes as I pushed him out of the room.

"Like any normal, sane person would. Just say my name and shake me."

"We both know that won't work." I closed the door before he could protest anymore.

Ding!

"Hello? It's Quinn!" I shouted as I stepped into the small candy shop. Sweets covered the walls and the displays, but I didn't see any people. However, I was used to that and simply walked around the counter across the room and into the back section. "Tom? Patricia?"

"Oh, hi Quinn!" An eighty-year-old man with copper colored hair came into view. His pale blue eyes sparkled as he handed me a package. "This is for the Zamp family, specifically Gerald. Then these packages-" At this Tom handed me a basket full of smaller packages. "-They're labeled for the beach houses down the street. You know, the ones we use for the off-season tourists? If they aren't home, then just leave the usual contact slips on their door."

"Okay, sounds good." I smiled, but froze when he started to grab something else.

"There's also all of these, which is for the Shea family. You can guess who." He whispered the last sentence as I gaped at the wagon filled with packages.

"How is she so skinny with her sweet tooth?" Tom chuckled at me.

"We will never know. Everyone has already paid, which is part of the reason why we're delivering today."

"Oh, okay. I guess I'll head to the tourists first then." I waved, grabbed the wagon and proceeded to walk out of the shop to my bike. It wasn't anything special; it was an old, shiny, green bike with silver tassels, a front basket and a hook on the seat post. I hooked the wagon up to my bike, placed the basket into the front basket and took off with the Zamp package in one arm.