Moving To Town

Prologue: This Scenery

"Hey Mom, how close are we to Sacramento?" I ask as the wind rolls through my shaggy hair. We've been on the road for hours non-stop, in hopes of making it to Sacramento before sundown.

"Yes and no Tristan. We're just a few miles out." My mother replies still steadily focused on the road, just like she's been all day. She has barely turned her head at all, maybe just a few times to check the scenery and make sure she's making the right turn. We put away the map hours ago, right as we crossed the border into California.

You see, you might be asking why we're on the road and why're we're in such a rush to get to California before sundown. Here's the long-short of it. My mother, Holly Sheehan was born in Sacramento, California and had moved to Redmond, Oregon after getting married to my father right out of high school. Of course, my parents lived happily together for about 4 years before having me, and even after they were still happy for about another 13 years. Here's the sad part. My father and my mother got into an argument a while back, and my dad left for work the next day still angry. And then... he didn't come home. Now don't get me wrong, he didn't abandon us. When I mean he didn't come home, I meant that he had died. On his way home from work, some idiot drunk-driver smashed directly into his driver-side door. He was killed in seconds. My mother and him didn't even get to work it out, they didn't talk at all that day. There were no "I love you's" or apologies or anything. And so my mother was devastated. We stayed in town long enough for me to finish my Junior year and have the funeral for my father. Everyone at my father's work attended, and my mother and her closest friends came. It was nice, but I knew not everyone really cared as much as me, Mom and Uncle Brendan did.

"Hey look honey, the ocean!" My mother elbowed me to sit up and look out her window. As we came around a bend, you could see the ocean for miles out. And it was clear, sparkling and untouched almost. Now yes, I get what your about to say. The ocean is far from Sacramento, and the only reason we're seeing it is cause we went the long way around. After the funeral, we had to take Uncle Brendan back home to his abode in Albany, Oregon. And from there we took the far route along California so we could see the ocean. My mother loves it, and to me its alright. Sacramento is still far off, so we will probably have to sleep out in the car another night. I miss the things I left behind in Redmond. I left my friends, my hobbies, my dreams, my hopes and most importantly I left Elizabeth back there. Elizabeth was my best friend, I had known her since I was as little as could be. We hung out all the time, and did everything together. She even helped me through the time following my father's death. When she found out I was moving away, she didn't take it well at first. She got mad any time she and I would hang out, but after a while she cooled off about it. I even promised her I'd find a way to keep in touch or even come see her. I don't know how I'll keep that promise but I guess I'll wing that part.

"Hey Mom, let's stop for the night. We won't make it today, the sun's already setting." I sighed trying to be as positive sounding as I can.

"You're right Tristan. There's an outcropping over there. We'll sleep there for tonight." She said, also sighing and pointing to the outcropping amongst the grass and dirt.

-8 Hours of Sleep Pass-

-7 Grueling Hours of Travel Pass-

On the road again. We've been on the road again for hooouuurrsss I tell you. I just want it to be over. Like I want this to be over so bad, I'll even start thinking positively about being the new kid in town. OH! And what I said about moving to Sacramento, that's not entirely accurate. We're going to be living in Lincoln which is like an hour to an hour and a half outside of Sacramento. My mom's work is in Sacramento, we just can't afford to live in Sacramento cause of how expensive it is. But the good news is we're coming up on Lincoln. We should be there in an hours time. I guess I need to start thinking positive about being the new kid. That should give me less anxiety about the whole thing. It's just hard. High school is hard in general. Like the academics part isn't hard. I got A's and B's all last year. Its the social part. Everyone grooves into cliches and being the new kids is like social suicide. You have no idea where you fall or who wants you around or how to approach anyone. Lincoln is sort of small which makes it worse since everyone pretty much knows each other. So I have no idea what I'm gonna do, who I'm gonna make friends with, who I'm gonna have to deal with, or what people will expect from me.

-Some More Time Passes-

"Hey Tristan! Yo Tristy! Wakey-wakey! We're here." My mom shouts and she elbows me in the chest and ribs. It hurts a small bit. She doesn't know her own strength.

"Alright, I'm up. I'm up. I said I'm up Mom! Stop elbowing me." I start raising my voice as I shove her elbow away from me. I find we're parked in the middle of the road, on a hill overlooking Lincoln. Thank god there's no traffic. I look out at the setting sun, which we made it in time for surprisingly, as it glints along the view of Lincoln. The town almost looks bearable in this nice orange tint. Makes me forget about tomorrow's troubles. Well except I'm remembering them now but that's not the point.

"Tristan, try to think positive about this place. I know it's not Sacramento, but this is where your father was born. So it's close enough to where I was born for you to enjoy it. So please give this a try for me. Please?" She looks pleadingly at me.

"Alright Mom, I'll give the first week my best attitude. But if I don't like it by week two, I have full right to complain." She chuckles.

"That's fine honey. But I'm sure you'll like it here. Sacramento, and by extension, Lincoln is a nice place and I'm sure all of life's hardest questions can be answered for you here. Maybe even love." She turns to look back out at the sun, which is even lower now then before.

I look out at the slowly setting sun and city which is now illuminated by oranges and pale blues. You know, I've never been a sucker for love or anything. But if this view, this one of Lincoln, were to determine my future and my outlook on love... I'd be shocked. But not disappointed.

Well, enough of that. For now, let's worry about Day One of Senior year. That's my most important problem currently.