Nina And Other Stories | ✔

Something's Amiss in Fair Hurst - Part Two - A Long Awaited Getaway

"Look at this place," Riley gushed as they passed row upon row of well manicured lawns and neat row houses.

Amy nodded. In her mind she was sizing up the houses wondering how much toilet paper would fully cover one. She also made a mental note to feed the twenty-something rats in her cage. This would be the first time she would go to her grandmother's without her parents or ever annoying Sara and she planned to utilize every moment.

Her grandmother lived in the highly boring and totally forgotten parts of Philadelphia in a town called Fair Hurst. Amy secretly decided that their idea of fun was taking a nap.

As sleepy and boring as Fair Hurst was, there was something about it that terrified and scared Amy. From the entrance of the town with the sign that was missing the I from Fair spelling out far if only to remind one of the distance to the nearest city, to the dingy little diner whose light bulbs wouldn't light the N and R resulting in only D I E lit, she was scared the moment she entered.

But her grandmother was a sweet old thing that loved Amy more than anything, and if she loved Fair Hurst, Amy would love it too.

"...even listening to what she's staying?"

Amy snapped put of her daydream and looked beside her at Riley.

"What?" she blinked like an idiot.
Riley pursed her lips and folded her dark hands.

"Seriously, what?" Amy asked again.

Riley tipped her head towards the driver's seat and for the first time she found that the driver was staring at them through the rearview mirror. Mrs Jones - she'd introduced herself as - had come to pick them up because her grandma couldn't drive any more.

"I'm sorry," Amy apologized like a well-behaved girl. "What were you saying, Mrs Jones?"

"Well aren't you a proper lady. I was saying how much your grandma would enjoy the company. Poor Julia's been all alone for so long ..."

Mrs Jones prattled on while Riley leaned towards her.

"I hope you're not planning to completely cover people's cars with eggs?"

She gasped, feigning hurt. "How dare you accuse me of such ... such terrible thoughts?"

"So you're not planning on covering people's cars with eggs?" Relief flitted through her chocolate brown eyes.

"No," she paused. "I'm planning on covering their houses with toilet paper."

Riley let out a sound of annoyance in her throat while the car screeched to a halt in front of her grandmother's pristine bungalow.

Amy hopped out with a smug smile and helped remove their bags from the trunk of the car.

The three of them hauled it up to the house and pressed the doorbell.

They waited the next ten minutes before a white-haired woman opened the door. She raised her wrinkly face and surveyed the three people at her porch. Her face erupted into a toothless grin on sighting Amy.

"Amy! Is that you?" her shaky voice asked.

"Yes grandma!" Amy wrapped herself around her grandmother, she stooped and kissed her wrinkled cheeks.

Grandma led them inside, her walk aided by the brown cane she carried.

"Good day, grandma!" Riley greeted before plunking her chubby frame into a kitchen chair.

"Well, since y'all are settled in, I'll be going now," Mrs Jones rose from dropping the last bag in the hallway, stretching.

"Thanks, Mrs Jones," Amy flashed a big smile before showing her out.

Once she crossed the door and stepped down the stairs Amy retreated in.

"You're never going to leave this place." She heard someone say and she whipped around.

Mrs Jones had entered her car. Throwing her a wave, she sped off.

She looked around for the voice but she saw no one.

As she closed the door she couldn't help wonder if she'd imagine the green glow she saw in the eyes of the neighbour watering his plants.