Along the Way

Chapter 3

Packing was a blur. It was 11 o’clock at night and I was trying to get as many pairs of clothes to fit in one bag. We decided to leave tomorrow mostly because we were scared to death and wanted to get out of this town as soon as possible.

After my suitcase was so full that it could explode at any moment, I closed it, using all my strength, and collapse to the floor, exhausted.

I recollect myself about five minutes later and get back up. I search for anything thing else I could possibly need before going on this journey. I spin around for a bit, looking around my room for anything, when something caught my eye. It was my most prized possession. Of course! My ukulele! I couldn’t leave for months without that. I grab the case and open it up ever so slightly, and graze my hand across its strings. I then close it up and swing the straps over my shoulders. I grab my suitcase and head out the door to meet Alex.

Earlier, I had left a note for my parents telling them I was leaving for a few months and not to worry because I was with Alex. She did the same.

We were going to camp out behind the diner so that as soon as we woke up, we could grab something small before we left.

As I walked towards the diner, I saw something lingering in the front of the building. It was definitely a person, but who could it be? The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I inch closer to the diner. I couldn’t see their face because of how dark it is, which just makes things worse. I freeze in my tracks as who ever it is starts walking across the road towards me. I begin to ever so slightly back away when suddenly, they called out to me.

“Naomi? Naomi it's me, calm down.”
As soon as I heard her voice I relaxed, brushing off my fear with a slight laugh.

We both walked across the street and then behind the diner.

We walked far enough out of sight that, hopefully, no one could see us, but not so far that we were right by the woods, because we were still traumatized from earlier.

“Alex, I figured out one way we could get money,” I whisper with excitement, not sure if anyone else could hear us if we talked normally.

“Really?” She asked, a bit too loud.

She immediately covered her mouth with her hands and looked at me, horror filling her eyes.

She continued after a few minutes, whispering very softly this time.

“How?”

I then shrugged the ukulele case off of my shoulders and opened it to reveal my very good quality ukulele. She gasped with excitement.

“Of course, of course!” She whispered enthusiastically.

“You’re so good, people won’t be able to resist watching you play, then they’ll have to pay you! It’s perfect,”

She added.

I nodded and put my ukulele on my shoulders.

“Mainly I picked this over the guitar was because it’s smaller and means a lot more to me,” I say, even though she didn’t ask.

We both laid in the grass and slowly drifted to sleep.

We awoke at dawn the next morning. The sun was creeping over the horizon while colors of pink, orange, and blue danced with the clouds. The birds sang, almost as if to give the sky a reason to be so bright. Workers were already preparing this morning breakfast so that they could get a small head start before opening.

Alex yawned as she asked, “How long before they open?”

“Hopefully not too long,” I replied, “The sooner the better.”

She nods and starts to gather her stuff, as do I. We walk around the front and asked a worker, who had just walked up to the front, how long until opening.

“Let’s see,” He started. He unlocked the door and shouted to one of the other workers. “About 10 minutes,” He finishes.

We both give a thanks in reply as he walked all the way into the building, the door locking behind him.
“What do we do for 10 minutes?” Alex asked.

I shrugged in reply, then said, “I don’t know, wait out front I guess?”

We both sat down, our backs against the building and suitcases beside us. I then remember my ukulele, and take it out of it's case, plucking the strings to tune them as best as I can by ear.

Alex studies me carefully as I start to strum the delicate instrument. I leave my case open in front of me, in case anyone is kind enough to drop in some change. I continue to play until one of the workers opens the door, signifying that the diner is now open.

I didn’t get change, but it might’ve been because it's early. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself. We grab two small pastries to go before heading back out.

“This is it,” I say, “No going back.”
She nodded and sighed, “Let's go.”
We began to follow the route through town, and before we knew it we were entering a new place. Our journey begins now.