IN THE FULL MOON

chapter 8 penny of your thoughts

After school, Ivy, Abby, and I left the suburbs

for the more rural side of Legend's Run. Farms,

lakes, and vineyards filled the landscape. I always

thought the Westside had more character.

However, Ivy and Abby were only interested in the

strip and indoor malls, restaurants, and fast food

in the burbs. Even the yuppies didn't stop in

Riverside but rather pedaled through it on the

bike trail on weekend outings. As the years

passed, I had no reason to venture there on my

own.

As we came into Riverside, antiques shops,

used car lots, and neighborhoods without

homeowners associations lined the terrain. The

businesses had left for the suburbs, and the

downtown wasn't as viable as it once was.

However, a small town remained, including a

hardware store, bars, flea and farmers' markets, a

biker bar, and Gerald's Garage - where Gerald

still pumped the gas.

"Let's not run out of gas!" Ivy said.

"It's not like we're on the other side of the

earth," I said. "We could walk back."

"Are you crazy? Walk?" Abby asked, horrified.

This comment was coming from the jayvee

champion track star. I guess it just mattered

where she walked.

"Jake said it's dangerous down by Riverside.

So far, it doesn't look that bad to me."

"I think it's beautiful," I said, gazing into a

wooded area. "All these trees and hills."

"But where do people who live here shop?"

Ivy asked. "I haven't seen a mall for miles."

"Yes," Abby said. "And where is a community

pool? There aren't even any health clubs here."

"I guess you don't need a treadmill if you are

plowing a field." Ivy laughed.

"They have cars, just like us," I defended. "If

they want to go to a mall, they drive just like we

do."

We continued on and passed a wooded area

that ran along the road for about half a mile.

Then we came into the small downtown area.

On the tiny main street many shops were

vacant, but the ones that remained - a tattoo

and piercing parlor, a hair salon, and a florist -

seemed to be thriving.

"We could get a tat," Abby said. "I think a