Adam&Audrey

Rule #13: Knock You Down

Rule #13: Knock You Down

I pushed down on the head of the suitcase, grunting as I zipped it from the side. Sighing with relief as the zipper finally slid across easily, I let go, moving my hair out of my eyes. Crud, it was growing long.

”You ready?” Audrey appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she was carelessly playing with the house phone in her hands. I finally managed to talk to my dad after calling both Mr. West and him multiple times to find out that the incoming condolence calls had caused the constant busy signal.

It really pissed me off. Granny was like family to us, but where was her family?

“Yeah,” I murmured, grabbing my laptop bag and slinging it over my shoulder. Checking to see if all the lights were off I grabbed Lana’s keys and opened the door stepping out into the hallway with Audrey at my heels.

It was drizzling outside, the snow turning to slush on the roads. Our boots sloshed through the wet mush as we silently opened the truck and sat inside, immediately turning on the heater, letting the car idle as the windows defrosted. Audrey’s nose was pink, yet the gloomy mood didn’t let me appreciate the beauty of it with her hair.

“You’ve got the address of – of the place?” Audrey’s voice broke at the word ‘cemetery’.

We had convinced Dad and Mr. West to hold off the ceremonial procedures for the day – at least until Audrey and I reached there. The distance was only giving us enough time to drive out in the evening and reach there by night. Tomorrow morning was the funeral services and the burial.

I nodded, reversing out of the lot and soon, we were on the highway.

The rain made a little difficult to drive and I could see the slightest delay was making Audrey uneasy. Grabbing her hand, I rubbed my fingers over her knuckles, attempting to soothe her.

Why do people do that anyways? Do knuckles have a direct contact with the heart or something? I knew I should’ve paid more attention in Biology all those years ago.

You’re thinking about useless things, Adam.

At least I wasn’t thinking of Granny. Or her ivory scent. Or her soft and wrinkled face.

Turning into the mall parking lot, I shifted the gear and parked the car. “Listen, I’ll be right back. May wasn’t picking up her phone earlier, and I can’t leave without-”

“It’s fine, Adam.” Her voice came out strong and steady. “Just hurry up.”

I gave her hand a squeeze before stepping out into the cold, walking fast all the way to the Starbucks. Dianne was at the counter.

“Di!” I called, shoving my way to the front of the busy line. The short brown curls on her head wiggled as she popped her gum and chewed, squinting at me.

“Adam, you’re early today,” She said in her Southern twang.

“I need to say May.” She jerked a thumb to the back, where I had changed into the uniform May had given me on the day I met her.

I nodded once and vaulted myself over the counter with one hand. “Thanks!” I called over my shoulder, already halfway in the back.

“Hey, you can’t just-” The door closed behind me and I rushed through the kitchen employees, finally catching sight of May’s familiar long black hair.

“May!”

She turned her head, her clipboard in her hand. Eyebrows skyrocketing, she came over to where I had finally barreled through. “What are you doing here?”