My. Heart. Stopped.

Just Another Day

     I wolf down my breakfast in an attempt to slip out to go play in the woods, as I slip towards the stairs to get dressed, however, mom asks me if I can run into the market for her, of course, I can't decline. So I dash upstairs and throw on a pair of overalls over Tanner's shirt, really what's the point of taking it off? I toss a ribbon into my hair to tie it into a low ponytail and skip down the stairs, slipping on my boots as I reach the bottom. Mother's disapproving glance at my choice of clothes makes me stick my tongue out at her. Now that I'm sixteen mother thinks I should be growing into a blossoming young woman, as boy crazy as the neighbor girl but with a bit more sense. I've never really liked boys in that way, I figured it would come when I was ready. she huffs at me and I smile, she gives a small smile in return and gives me the money to buy the things at the market and I'm out the door, throwing a leg over my bike as I fly down the lane as fast as I can go.  

    I take a deep breath of the country air I'm so used to, I've lived here my whole life, and yet with just one lungful, my mood soars. The sweet grass smell and pleasant blue sky have me bursting with energy and I fly down the road, the neighbor's chickens clucking in dismay at my hasty approach. My grin is plastered to my face and for A moment I forget what there is to be sad about.

I rolled into town and jumped off my bike, tossing it into the grass beside the ice cream parlor and when and picked up the groceries mother needed. I got the eggs and the wheat and I picked up a sack to carry them in, and with that being all I needed I still had enough change to get some ice cream. I pushed open the door and slowed a little, there was a help wanted sign on the door, and women with jobs always fascinated me. I the door the rest of the way open and called out "hello!" to Lucas, the owner, and a pretty good friend of mine. He smiled in response and before he could ask me what I wanted I inquired about the job position, he agrees instantly with a grin  and says'

"Of course! Though, just so you know we get a variety of people through here, not just the town people and you might get some crap for being a working woman," he stops and looks at me expectantly, 

"okay that's fine!" I respond, I don't even care that much.  "See you at 6 tomorrow?" I ask

"Perfect!" Lucas beams at me, "See you bright and early tomorrow!" 

I get through the door and grab my bike, on the way home my mind is focused on working with Lucas, he always has been a bit of an odd character. He usually is wearing bright and vibrant clothes or sweater vests that stand out like a sore thumb in a country town like this, his curly red hair is longer than most men keep theirs. He seems to always be chipper and bright and acts much more feminine than the average man... the townspeople just chalked it up to be that he had a range of customers and found a happy medium between them all, some people thought that had been in an accident as a kid and had somehow gotten his brain muddled. He never enlisted or got drafted so most people just assumed that he had something mental going on. I have a different theory though. 

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