Red Chevrolet

The First Night

The point of view of Benedict Lucas John Pepperwhit

We ate cereal for dinner. We didn't have anything else to eat really, so cereal it was. The TV was on while we ate, which was fine, but that meant we didn't have any conversation. Instead we watched a whale documentary. I was more interested in talking, but Hazel said she likes whales more and didn't want me speaking. So I shut my lips and watched the whale.

After the documentary and eating an entire box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Hazel took the remote and turned off the TV. She brought our bowls and the empty box back to the kitchen and then returned silently to sit facing me on the couch. "Wanna sit on the balcony?" I asked her.

"Okay." Hazel muttered.

We moved out to the balcony chairs and sat down. We stared at one another for a bit, not saying anything. The silence was getting more and more awkward and I really wanted to clap my hands together, stand up, and leave. But I knew there had to be something that Hazel needed to say.

And then she spoke. Quiet and subtle. Her gray eyes were darker in the fading light, and the dying sunshine was shining just on the top of her head and back. She had showered and let her hair dry naturally after swimming, leaving a little bit of frizz on the ends of her hair. "Ask your questions." She muttered to me.

I turned my body toward her and licked my chapped lips before speaking, "where are your parents? Why were you allowed to leave?"

"My mom sells medicine to foreign countries. She is always gone two weeks a month and goes to a different country every time. My dad is in the military and trains the new recruits, so he's gone for months on end. When I was younger I would go with my mom or stay at my grandparents. I told my parents and grandparents that I was going on a road trip with a few friends to McCall. So yes, they know where I am they just don't know who I'm with. If they need me or want to check up on me then they can call or text me." Hazel explained. She spoke about it as though it was nothing.

"What kind of person are you?" I meant this to be a sarcastic question but that didn't work.

"I'm the kind of person to split an apple with her head and figure out your whole life by one look at your Facebook." She said. Her seriousness was unbelievable. Surely this was all a joke, right? There was no way that she could split an apple with her head!

"Are you serious?" I asked.

"Yep."

"Then I believe you." After I spoke those words I couldn't help but laugh a little.

My next question was a little more serious. "I want to know why we came here." I said.

Hazel thought about her reply. She was silent so long I began to think that she forgot I even asked. "Because I couldn't go alone. My parents wouldn't take me and I needed someone with a car that could drive Idaho roads. I might've put names in a hat of people with trucks that I knew and you just happened to be the chosen one. So I figured out a plan on how to get you to go. I did my research and discovered that you really liked hockey and you enjoyed playing. I knew McCall had an ice rink so then I did my research with the hockey team try outs and then planned to come at that time. I would let you do your hockey stuff and when hockey was over, I would go visit my friend."

She was creepily smart. Smart enough to figure me out, smart enough to trick my parents, smart enough to trick me into coming. I shouldn't of given in. But just like Star Wars, I couldn't resist the powers of the Jedi mind.

"Okay," I said. "Who is this friend? What's their name? Why did you need to come?"

Hazel bit her lip and looked away.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You don't have to tell right now..." I stuttered quickly, I didn't want her upset at me. I just needed answers.

"No it's okay. I'll tell. It's just a touchy subject."

"You sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." Hazel paused to clear her throat and look at me. "His name is Jack Wilson. He was in a car accident with his sister. She didn't make it. Her name was Mollie Claire Wilson. She was only eleven." Hazel stopped and got choked up, tears beginning to slip down her cheeks. She took a deep breath and then continued, "I don't know details, I just know that she didn't make it. They had her funeral a few days ago. I talked to Jacks mom, she told me that I could see him but he isn't the same. That's why I came, I knew he wouldn't be the same anymore. I thought that maybe a visit from an old friend would do him good. We were best friends before he moved. I think he needs me, and I need to see him. I miss Mollie just like he does and I think I can help him while helping myself." She continued to have a shaky breath and voice when she spoke and I felt terrible every shuddering breath she took.

Silence filled the space between us. I didn't know what to say or do. I thought that this would be a joke but it wasn't. Hazel Maeve Reddish came to take care of someone who was broken. I couldn't hate her before but now I really couldn't. She was trying to fix someone while she was broken herself.

I couldn't figure out how to comfort her. We weren't close friends, I couldn't take her in my arms and make her feel better. That'd be weird. Right? It'd get awkward and then we'd be awkward together. I could pat her back but that's just as awkward. Maybe I should just leave...

"I'm sorry for asking and making you answer. I didn't want you to cry. Can I do anything for you?" I asked with a soft voice.

Hazel rubbed her eyes and laughed. "I'm okay, I just have a lot of feelings. It kinda sucks." She chuckled and I laughed a little with her. She'd be okay. It's a good thing I didn't touch her.

"I think that was enough questions for tonight. We should get to bed." I said, standing up.

Hazel nodded. She was about to get up when I did the gentlemanly thing and reached out a hand for her to grab. At first she looked shocked and uncertain, but that soon dispersed and Hazel placed her hand in mine and allowed me to help put her on her feet.

"Thank you." She said quietly. I nodded a "you're welcome" and released her hand. Hazel made her way to the door and I followed her in. When she stood at her room door she turned to look at me. She was going to say goodnight, I could tell, and I really hoped she'd say my first name. "Goodnight Pepperwhit."

Disappointment.

"Goodnight Hazel."