A Small Town

Chapter Twelve\ Cars and Scars

Bax and Lisa stared after Paster Black listening to the tinkling of the bell over the door. The story had been everything the man's reluctance to tell it had foreshadowed. A horrific tale of mob mentality taking the life of a damaged yet innocent girl. Made worse only by the fact that it had actually happened, right here in this small town.

Lisa looked as shaken as Bax, which must mean that she had never heard the whole story. Most likely what was torn out of 'Magnetawan Ontario – A History' was a watered down version, lacking the gory details. Those details were, Bax was sure, what made Lisa's eyes shine wetly before she quickly turned her gaze to her shoes.

He wanted to hold her then, wanted to scoop her up in his arms and take away that hurt look, but instead, he patted her shoulder and let himself out. He didn't even say goodbye.

Out on the street, the town of Primacy was no different. The sidewalk was mostly empty. He saw Pastor Black shambling towards the church and almost called out to him. Opened his mouth in fact but before the words came out he spotted the red pick up truck and changed his mind.

The truck was parked in front of the General Store and Bax did a half-jog down the block and laid his hand on the hood. It was still warm. He debated staying by the truck and just waiting for Teddy but knew there was only one place the man could be.

Bax pushed open the door of the General Store and stepped inside. He had never been in a place like this before. The air was thick with the smell of cinnamon, sugar, and fresh bread. There were barrels of corn on the cob, runner beans and apples. Hand knit sweaters, hats and scarves hung on racks next to post hole diggers and barbed wire.

Teddy was standing by the old-fashioned black cash register talking to a fat woman. Not plump... fat. She was the fattest person Bax had ever seen in real life. He was amazed her stubby legs could support the enormous bulk of her upper torso. A huge curtain of flesh hung down over her thighs and protruded beneath the hem of her tent-like dress.

Teddy turned and grinned at him with that disturbing set of half teeth and beckoned him over. The two of them looked like they should be working a carnival sideshow but Bax dutifully extended his hand and joined them at the counter. The fat lady, whose name was Heather Munday, squeezed his hand with her clammy, over-warm, sausage-shaped fingers and a smile cracked her round face. Bax resisted the urge to wipe his, now wet hand on his pants and said hello. Heather spoke far too quickly as if the words couldn't wait to escape the confines of her mouth and her tiny black eyes twinkled happily. She reminded him of a pig and it was an image that he couldn't get out of his head for their entire conversation.

It was all meaningless chit-chat and Teddy seemed to get the vibe, quickly wrapping things up and telling Heather he would see her later. They headed out the door and he turned to Bax, the scar across his face a livid crimson colour.

"Sorry 'bout that, bud, but once Heather gets's going she like a Pitbull on a Pekingese. See, she ain't got no one to talk to since her ol' man passed last year."

"Don't worry about it," Bax said. "You aren't headed out to the gas station are you?"

Teddy gave him another terrible, one-sided grin. "Sure thing, bud, least I can do!"

They got into the truck and Teddy pulled out onto the road without even looking to see if there were any cars coming. Of course, there never is thought, Bax. As far as he could remember Teddy's truck was the only vehicle he had seen since he had arrived.

Teddy coughed wetly and spat out of his window as the truck fishtailed back onto the road.

"So I hear you been spending some time at the bookstore." He said, his missing teeth made it sound like 'Shpending shome time at the book-shtore' and he rubbed at his scar with the back of his fist.