Ring of Fire (Completed) Book 1 Vanelzing Series

Alexis Journal Entry 14

Photo by Sebastian Soerensen from Pexels

I didn't want to go to the Vanelzing house. I dreaded it. They were strangers. I don't do well with new people. To be honest, meeting new people make me anxious so do overcrowded places and small spaces. Plus I was going to have to work. 

When I got to the no longer vacant house, the door was wide open. My feet wouldn't move so I merely stood there until Emily, Cal's wife came strolling out the door. She smiled and hugged me. She welcomed me as she grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. What is wrong with this woman? Is she touched in the head? 

Of course Emily put me to work unpacking several boxes that she had spread out throughout the nice house. They had started cleaning it up. I'm not going to lie most of that mess was mine and Shawn's. So I guess in a way I had to help her clean.

Emily began singing. It was so lovely. I had no idea what she was saying but it sounded nice. Soft and comforting, like a lullaby. It was the first time I had heard her sing and I will never forget it. 

Cal came into the kitchen and began talking about ridiculous things. Like how much he loved the yard. (The yard was an overgrown jungle.) That he loved the space compared to where they were and that he wanted to put a wooden swing up outside for Emily. 

He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Cal kept asking me what did I think about doing things to the house, but I knew it was just Cal's way of getting me to talk. Back then I really didn't talk that much unless I had something to say. I didn't know them so I kept my mouth shut. 

Once everything was unpacked, Emily made sandwiches. Not just two or three mind you she made seven. From listening and observing, I learned that the kitchen had Emily's name on it. It was her domain and Cal did not belong there. Kind of old fashion isn't it?

Emily put the sandwiches on a plate and told me to cut the crust off the bread then put the condiments on. She was still smiling. Why on earth is she so happy? Maybe she has some sort of disorder. She was just making sandwiches and this made her smile?

Emily is an extremely nice person and so is Cal. They would give you the shirt off their backs and bend over backwards to help you. She always greeted me with a smile and a hug. She was always smiling, singing, or laughing. I wanted to know why.

"Why are you smiling all the time?" I asked.

"Hum?" Emily asked turning to look at me.

"Why do you smile so much?"

"Why not?" she laughed shrugging her shoulders. "I'm alive and well. Cal is alive and well. I have been blessed with this beautiful house, a yard. I have a roof over my head and food for me and my husband. There is so much to smile about."

I looked at her. I didn't think of it that way.

"And," she added," I got to meet you. My first neighbor in my home."

I couldn't help but smile. She was such a weirdo but she was right. She was well. Cal was well. Her house was okay. The good Lord had blessed her another day with Cal. I wanted to be like Emily. I wanted to be unselfish, thankful, worry free and happy. I wanted that in my life. I wanted to be different than I was, but was I willing to do what it takes to change.