Red Chevrolet

About the Town

The point of view of
Hazel Maeve Reddish

Pepperwhit left and I continued to sit on the balcony for about an hour. I wasn't sad or depressed or tired, (okay maybe a little tired). I was simply afraid. Afraid of seeing them again.

Afraid to know what it is going to feel like when they open the door, and here I am, and there they are, and there's only one thing missing.

The way me and him felt a year ago. Now, normally if you break up with someone then you break up and you either are or aren't friends. In this situation, we were never dating. We just had mutual feelings for one another. And then he moved to this simple town to live a new, simple life. Eventually our feelings went away, but once your best friend is gone you realize that you have to find a way back to them. And then something tragic happens and you aren't there or vice versa and all hell breaks loose.

In other words, Jack Wilson is my best friend. And Jack Wilson was in a devastating car wreck. His sister, Mollie, lost her life. They held the funeral not too long ago. I told Jack's parents that I was coming, they all knew that I would come to him eventually. Now all I needed to do was call and figure out where he lives and when I can see him. If he's out of the hospital, that is.

Sighing, I stood up and went back inside to put on my shoes. I passed the kitchen counter and saw the number Pepperwhit wrote on a piece of paper. Next to it he didn't sign his first name, or his middle name, but the last name I always called him by.

Benedict. What kind of name is that? We aren't famous British people so what's the point? When I decided to call him by his first name, it was going to be Ben. And just Ben. If even that, I might just call him Lucas.

I snatched a room key, Pepperwhit's number, my satchel with my wallet and phone, and ball cap and then headed out the door.

I placed my hat on my head and then began scrolling through my phone, searching for Jack Wilson. He was easy to find honestly. And once I had the number in front of me, I resisted calling him. Would he answer? Would he have his phone on him? Surely he wouldn't want to talk to me, right? What if his phone was ruined in the wreck?

I pressed the call button. On "accident" of course, I didn't really want to call anyway. And once it was ringing I had to put it against my ear.

The phone rang four or five times before going to voicemail. "This is Jack Wilson, sorry I couldn't get to the phone, leave a message!" His voice came through cheerful and humorous and I imagined that now it must not be like that and he was avoiding calls. Hesitating, I called his moms number next. As it began to ring, I started walking down the street, towards town and the lake.

"Hello?" It was Chelsea, his mom, and she sounded so sad.

I cleared my throat uneasily. "Uh, hi Chelsea, it's me, Hazel."

"Hello Hazel, what can I help you with?" She asked, a little more light hearted now.

I tried to think through what I was going to say next but then decided to wing it. "Well, I'm in McCall. I was wondering if it was alright, if there was a time that I could visit you and your family? Pay my respects and talk with Jack, you know..." My voice was uncertain as I spoke to her. I was afraid of her telling me no, the answer I was almost always afraid of.

She sighed, "Hazel..."

"If it's too much then I can go home! I don't mean to barge in or-"

"Hazel, no, listen-"

"Oh, okay. Sorry."

Chelsea Wilson cleared her throat. "It would be a good thing for you to visit Jack. I encourage you to do so, just know that when you see him that he isn't the same Jack from Colorado who went to school with you. Ever since the accident, he's changed a lot. You can come Saturday if you would like, I can text you the address and time. Just don't rush into this thinking he is the same person he was. Nothing I tell you can prepare you for who he is becoming. Understand?" She sounded worried as she spoke and that made me worried as well.

"Oh, okay. Yeah. I totally understand." I replied.

"Good, I'm glad you're here. It'll be good for him to see a friend from before... this, if you know what I mean..." She said.

"Yeah I do, I guess I'll just let you know if anything comes up on Saturday." I said back, getting the sense that she is preoccupied.

"Okay. Goodbye, Hazel."

"Goodbye, Chelsea."

____

The town wasn't exciting. I had been to McCall before during my childhood and I had loved it! But now? Seventeen years old and the most exciting thing was the ice cream shop down the alley way.

I made my way in and out of all the shops, looked at the random knick knacks and ended up buying a hoodie in the hoodie shop. I couldn't help it, I have this hoodie addiction and it was a nice looking hoodie! Of course, I didn't put it on, it was way too hot for that, so I just carried it in its plastic bag and continued strolling down the block.

Eventually I made my way to the ice skating rink. I didn't go inside though, instead I peeked through the glass and tried to spot Pepperwhit. With all the people in there dressed head to toe in gear, I couldn't figure out which one was him. Before I started looking like a creep, I simply walked away and headed to the beach along the lake.

It was a beautiful morning, I enjoyed sitting in the grass away from the kids throwing sand, and hearing the sounds all around me. To my left was a young couple playing with their Australian Shepherd, to my right was a group of teenagers laughing and eating candy. It was a peaceful place. McCall wasn't loud and busy like the cities, it was buzzing with laughter and serenity.

After an hour I began to get hungry, so I drudgingly rose to my feet and headed back to the condo. I could of very much just went back to the rink and waited for Pepperwhit, but the day was so lovely that I had to walk. The fresh air and summer breeze needed to be enjoyed, and who better to do it then myself?