Never Look Back

Chapter Two

It was just another boring day here in White County, Tennessee. Well, at least, it was until closing time. The day had started out like usual. The normal kids my age were making their way to school, and I was heading to work at Ol' Marshell's General Store.

The business was slow, as to expect in the middle of nowhere, but my regulars stopped by for their daily ritual of two hot coffees, black, and a nice chat of lecturing me. Mr. Gandbe always started it by mentioning that I was too young to be running a store all by myself.

"Joe, you gotta' remember that she done graduated. From homeschooling was it?" Asked Mr. McKinsey

"Yes sir. I graduated when I was 15." I answered, not that it mattered. Mr. Gandbe just changed the subject onto something else that was wrong about me. This time he was griping about me having a couple of holes in my jeans.

"You gotta make yourself look decent if you want to catch yourself a feller," He continued, "and for goodness sakes start dressing up! Make an effort; instead of wearing blue jeans, wear a nice sensible skirt."

"I think she looks fine the way she is, but you could make a bit more of an effort dear." Mr. McKinsey chided.

I looked down at myself. My clothes weren't bad. I had on a grey tank top, a dark blue flannel shirt, and some blue jeans. It may not be fancy, but it was me. I mean what's wrong with comfortable? Besides there's not even any decent looking guys in this town.

"Jay, Jay?! Hello? Anybody there?" Mr. McKinsey asked waving his hand in front of my face.

"Huh? Oh, sorry! Spaced out for a minute there, so what were we talking about?" I asked

"We asked if you knew how your sister was doing?" asked Mr. Gandbe loudly.

"Uh, I visited her a couple weeks ago. She seems to have calmed down a bit."

"It's a shame what happened with her. Hope you don't follow in her footsteps." Mr. Gandbe said

"Yea," I answered awkwardly, "Um, if you two don't leave soon y'all are gonna miss your appointment with the V.A."

"Oh my goodness you're right!" Mr. McKinsey said looking at his watch, "Better get going, Joe."

After that they said their goodbyes, they bought another set of coffees and then, like that, they were off. I let out a sigh of relief when I heard their truck pull out. Talking about my sister was a real touchy subject. Five years ago she supposedly just snapped and killed seven men and two women. She had stopped taking her medicine and I'm guessing her first victim, our uncle, triggered something in her that led her to kill. So she's in a mental institution for the criminally insane. Isn't that a bombshell?

On that happy note, I went about my normal routine for the rest of the day, and then, thank the Lord, it was closing time! I made sure everything was off and locked the door on my way out. If only for freakin Carter, my life would've been somewhat normal.

I noticed Carter standing at the edge of the parking lot with someone in a dark hoodie. Then he handed the mysterious hooded dude a huge wad of cash in exchange for a couple ziplock baggies full of something. Oh my god, that fucker is buying drugs.

In my parking lot. As I was watching I grew angry. Not because he was buying drugs, but because it was in MY parking lot! The police are always looking for a way to give me a hard time because of where I'm from, and everyone in town knows it. Carter is always pulling shit like this! Ever since he came here! He's from Cookeville and tries to act cool by being a 'bad' boy, but in reality he just looks like a wannabe idiot.

I was about to march down there and smack him across his ugly, pimpled infested face when someone behind me grabbed my arm and twisted it upwards.

I was stunned at first. I mean, would you not be if someone just put you in a one-arm hold? My assailant leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Sorry, but we can't have any witnesses, so stop struggling please."