The Man With The Carved Smile

Chapter 2

After the firefighters had left I walked back to my neighbor's house. I led my family to the living room and told my mom to put on a movie to calm down the younger ones. As mom was putting on a movie I walked out of the room and went into the kitchen to talk to Cheryl.

"Hey Cheryl. I just wanted to say thanks again for allowing my family and I to come so late at night."

"No problem sweetheart. It's such a shame that beautiful house of yours burned down."

"Yeah, do you mind if we stay a day or two? After that I'm sure we will have found somewhere to go."

"You are more than welcome here. You all stay as long as you need to."

"Thank you so much!"

"Now you better get off to bed you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."

"Thanks, goodnight Cheryl."

"Night Skylar."

And with that I gave her a hug and headed back into the living room. When I walked into the living room my siblings were asleep. My brother was asleep on the loveseat on one side of the room. My sister was curled up in a ball in my mother's lap on the arm chair. My step dad was asleep on the big couch. I walked over to my mom and told her everything would be okay. I told her to go to sleep. I sat there and sung my mom to sleep "...hush now, everything is alright. No one is going to get you tonight. I am right here and always will be. Now goodnight and close your eyes. Drift off to a land of fairytales and fantasies..." and with that she was asleep.

Since my stepdad had taken the couch I made myself a pallet on the floor. Once I finished making the pallet I sat down and just stared out the window. I couldn't get that man out of my mind. He said no matter where I go he will come and find me. I shook a little at this thought and looked at my house. It was burned and I knew we wouldn't be able to afford the repair costs. We had to start over, somewhere new. With that thought in mind I fell asleep.

The next day I woke up and realized I had no clothes and I had to go to work. I looked around and everyone else was gone. I got up and walked into the kitchen and everyone was eating breakfast. There was chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, and hashbrowns. Along with chocolate milk. I sat down between Cheryl and my mom. We had all filled our plates with food and before we ate we prayed. Everyone took someone's hand in theirs and we began to pray.

After praying and eating I went up to the bathroom to get ready. Cheryl told me I could take a shower, use the extra toothbrush, and hairbrush. She lent me a pair of clothes for the day and then I was off. I told everyone bye. I walked over to my house and got in my car. It was a dark purple mercedes. I got into my car and waved my parents and neighbors goodbye.

I got to work and there was a new customer I hadn't seen before in the corner. I worked at IHop and I was a waitress today. I walked over to the man to take his order and the metallic smell of blood immediately hit me. I looked at the man and he wore a Grey hoodie with black jeans and black converse. I went to look at his face but he was facing the window so I couldn't see it.

I brushed off the scent and went up to him to take his order.

"Hello sir, can I start you off with something to drink?"

"Oh, yes can I please get an Ice Tea. And actually I'm ready to order."

"Okay, great." I said with the biggest smile I could manage.

"I would like Chocolate pancakes with hash brown please."

"Right away sir." I smiled and walked away to give the chef his order and to get his drink. As I walked away I thought to myself and realized that I had never seen his face. I shook my head and laughed a little and realized that I was crazy for thinking he was the same man from last night.

I came back with the man's drink and handed it to him. "Your food will be here any minute now sir thanks for your patience."

"Thanks and no problem anytime."

With that I walked over to the kitchen to get his meal and came back and gave it to him then left. I ran around the place all day and he was there the whole time. When it was closing time I came up to him to let him know. "Excuse me sir, we are closing now." I got no answer I look at him and he was face down on the table asleep. I took his dishes and everything and went back to the kitchen to clean the dishes. I came back and he was gone. "Guess he got up and left." I finished my shift and was heading home when I saw him walking on the side of the road. I drove next to him and rolled down my window."Hey where are you going?"

"The park. I got to meet up with a couple of my buddies there."

"Need a lift?"

"Sure, why not."

"So which park are you going to?"

"Seymour Park. Thanks"

"For what?"

"The ride."

"Oh, no problem anytime."

I dropped him off at the park and we listened to set it off and it turns out he likes them too so it was a great ride. After I dropped him off I started heading back to my neighbor's house when I got a call. It was From the fire department. They had called to let me know that they found a house that we could move into. It was about two hours away from the town we live. But it was a home I thanked the fire department for the news and told them I would get back to them.