Raindrop Road

Chapter 1

My eyes open as the first sunlight shines trough them, after a few seconds of adjusting they focus on the soft brown curtains and then on the view behind them.

My eyes follow the lines of the old roofs that form the skyline of Old Blue. The town I grew up in, the town I love more than anything else in the world. The town that was probably the origin of the term 'fisher village'.
From the little frontyards leading the way into the old family houses, to the long outstretched beautiful beach running along the north of the town. I even love the constant smell of fish being cooked and baked. Or how at night the outdoor lights from dozens of little restaurants,bars and fishshacks almost make me feel as if I'm floating along the stars.
Most of all I love the people.

The horrors and sorrows of the rest of the word seem so far away when you live among the people of Old Blue, everyone knows, helps and loves everyone.
People here don't care about race, religion or sexual preference. They care about kindness, helping one another and enjoying life.
Especially the last. The people of Old Blue make a point of enjoying life.

I can even remember me, uncle Ned and his buddies driving to the town sign, marking the border of our old town. It was a dare. His best friend Luke dared him to change the slogan from
'Old Blue: The town where you can enjoy the view,the fish and the people.'
to
'Old Blue: The town where you can enjoy the view and the women.'

Ned emptied a bottle of Whiskey ,and claimed a true Scot like him never backed away from a dare. So he started painting, and then changed his mind, realizing what a poor painter he really was, especially when drunk. He turned to me and gave me a wink.

''Everyone knows you're the real artist of this town, kiddo. Go at it!''

I gladly took the brush from him, and painted the new slogan in graceful white letters on the bord. I was nine at the time, the first of many times I spent a night in jail.

'' Rhodes, you know this is illegal right? You're nine and already you have more balls than I do. '' Luke laughed at me.

I chuckled in response ''Please old man, when I was six I already had more balls than you.''

I may have been nine but I was always a part of the group of ex-military men having a drink at Ned's home every friday.
The group of seven men who grew up here together welcomed me as soon as I tried to steal a tomato from Ned's frontgarden when I was 7. Luke caught me in the act, but instead of trying to punish or scold me, they praised me on my sneaky talents. That afternoon Ned made me his famous Pasta Bolognese with the tomatoes I tried to stel and since then his home was mine.
Altough he never saw himself as my father, more like a bearded, pessimistic and slightly overweight fairy godmother, he adopted me when I was 19.

We're simular in expressing our emotions, which is not at all. So he just came by my room one evening and showed me the papers. He never specifically asked me to sign them. But I did. Ned was and still is my home.

Altoug the police put us in the townjail for the nigh (wich was really more of a cozy waiting room),the people of Old Blue only noticed the change on the board three months after I changed it. The funny thing is, they just laughed about it, and let it be. Even Mayor Danny just chuckled when they passed it and went on with their day.

I crawl out of bed and put on a sweater, work expects me in the afternoon so I have the whole morning to myself. Half of me just wants to turn around and continue my blissful sleep. But the other half wants me to get my ass up and make something of my spare time. Once in a full moon I listen to that aweful half.

Yawing I walk across the room to the small mirror. The mirror is surrounded by hundreds of pictures I took. Some of the nature surrounding Old Blue but most of the people that surround me in my everyday life. There are some of my best friends Jackson, Monty, Abigail and Mel, some of me and Ned, some of me at the Old Blue Fosterhome and some with y