The Wanderer

1

It was winter.

It was snowing. Everybody was inside their homes by that time.

Tasha closed the window and walked to the furnace.

"Tasha, did you already close the window?," her aunt asked. She nodded yes.

As the night went colder and colder, they heard a noise from the back door.

Tasha gasped and dashed to the back door. Zie was there.

She hugged her dog, and went back to the couch. "Oh, goodness. Thank, God, Zie's safe," Wendy smiled.

"Aunt Wendy, can I sleep now?," Tasha softly asked.

"Yes, sweetie. You go ahead,"

Wendy opened a book she got from the cabinet. She grabbed a pen, and started writing.

After awhile, she knew it was late. She closed her book and walked to their bed.

"Tasha, you're not yet sleeping... is there a problem?," she asked.

"No. I just wonder, what if there is a glorious place somewhere out there where sadness is not an option. It's just pure joy, music-filled air and there's no problem. And, there's no crying. And, we can express ourselves that we won't need to hide and pretend to be somebody else we're not. I would like to go there. You know, so we can just be free. You will no longer need to clean filthy dishes to feed me. Would you like to go there, too?," Tasha turned to her aunt.

"Come on, Tasha, you're 17. Grow up. I would like to go there, too. But, there is no such thing. You sleep now. We have a big day tomorrow. We will make money this time. We know what to do,"Wendy said.

"Rock it like an auntie," they both uttered and smiled.

"Good night," Tasha closed her eyes.

Morning, Wendy woke up. She turned to her side, and noticed that Tasha was no longer there.

"Tasha?!," she got up quickly.

She ran around the house, searched for her niece, knelt down and sobbed. "Aunt Wendy? Why are you crying?," a gentle voice asked.

Wendy looked up, and saw her. "Tasha! Oh my goodness, I thought you were gone!,"

"Me? Gone? No way," she giggled.

"Just don't go to places without telling me. Okay?,"

They got ready and rode a bus to the diner where Wendy works as a dishwasher. "Are you sure you're okay without Jesse?," Wendy asked.

"Yes. I can go home alone,"

Tasha walked a kilometer and finally she arrived. At the end of the town.

It was almost lunch, so she thought she needed to go on.

"So, you're going without me?," Jesse asked. Tasha turned around and saw his very good friend. "Your mom said you won't go," she smiled.

"So, where are we going?," he asked as he walked towards Tasha.

"I don't know. Guess I'll have to wander," Tasha answered. "Yup. As expected. You would always say that," Jesse laughed.

They didn't know where they were going. But, somehow, they managed to reach a seashore.

"Astounding," Tasha sighed.

"Yeah. Sunsets are amazing," Jesse added.

They immediately grabbed shells and clams and stones. "These are too beautiful to sell," Tasha said.
"Yeah. But, you know, we went here to grab things, sell them, and have money. Right, wanderer?," Jesse asked.

"Yes, you're right. But, seriously, stop calling me that," Tasha headed towards north.

"Why? You wander. You're a wanderer."

"I just feel that, we've already went everywhere, but I still feel a place not yet known. I want to go there," Tasha wondered.

"Fine. If you want to, I'll help you. It's getting late, we better go home now," Jesse said.

They traveled back to their town and went to the market.

"Tasha! Jesse! So, what do we have here?," an enthusiastic vendor asked.

"We have shells," Jesse answered.

"Nice! People love shells...," Helen paid for the items.

"Thanks, Miss Helen," Tasha waved goodbye.

"So, nine dollars for you. Eight dollars for me," Jesse smiled.

"No. You take the dollar,"

"Tasha," Jesse refused.

"It's okay. I've seen wonderful things, that's enough for me," Tasha answered.

Jesse reached for Tasha's hand and placed the dollar. "Tasha, I just helped you pick up things. You did most of everything. You led us to that place. You deserve it."

Tasha took the dollar and hugged Jesse. "Thanks," Tasha smiled.

"Yeah. See you tomorrow." Jesse walked away.

"So, you guys found an exclusive beach?" Wendy asked. "Yes. No one is there. We should go there sometimes." Tasha answered.

Wendy took Zie with her. Together, Tasha and her aunt went to bed and slept.