Two Worms For The Birds

II

Aerin and I had decided to drive for two hours before stopping. The home we chose was small. It seemed to only have two, perhaps three people living in it. There were only two cars parked outside, so this helped me decide whether we should enter. "Do you think this will be ok?" Aerin asks me with impatience lacing her tone. I analyze the house quickly once more. Small, brick, two cars, small garden, and no pets outside. "Yes. Let's move." I open my door quickly and lightly close it to limit noise. Aerin also does.

"Wait, what is the plan?"

"Act lost and follow my lead."

Aerin and I step onto the porch of the home. Multiple plants are consisting mainly of daisies and tulips. I am honestly surprised. I did not think any plant could survive out in December. They would have had to grow them inside. They'll just die outside.

I look over at Aerin to my left. "Remember to act lost and a bit frightened. Follow my lead for the rest." Aerin nods her head in response and hugs herself close. I knock on the door frantically, precisely five times. A dog is heard barking, and a woman's voice can be heard yelling. "Damn. She is loud." I comment in a low whisper. Aerin looks at me. "She doesn't have to yell at the dog either!"

"I do not blame her for doing so. I yell at mine for it."

"What! Why?"

"It will not shut the hell up."

Aerin and I go quiet when the door opens. A woman, maybe in her forties, stands before us. I will not say she is fat; however, she is on the bigger side. She wears a low-cut tank top and very tight shorts that I am terrified of if she turned around in. Her hair is a light red color and goes down to her shoulders. She smells of smoke, so I can only assume she smokes daily. "What the hell do you kids want?" She asks rudely in a sick, raspy tone. I just put on my best smile and speak. "We are so sorry to bother you, especially since we are just two strangers on your porch," the woman stares at us with irritation, "but we, my friend and I, are lost, and we do not have our phones with us. Can we please use your phone to call someone?"

The woman continues to stare at us with irritation. "Please, ma'am!" Aerin pleads. The woman looks over to Aerin in pure disgust. "Don't you dare call me 'ma'am,' you little brat! I am not old." Aerin and I are appalled by her behavior. I cannot even imagine if we were actually lost. "Can we please use your phone?" I ask the woman again.

"Who are you gonna call?"

"Pardon me?"

The woman leans in towards me with a smug look on her face. "Who are you gonna call, sweetheart?" She asks again. I cringe internally at the word 'sweetheart.' I despise being called pet names. I managed to keep my composer and continue on. "We are going to call our parents, but if they do not answer, then we will be on our way." I calmly say and gently push her away from me. She chuckles. "Whatever."

The woman keeps the door open but walks away into a hallway and into a room. "So, do we come in or not?" Aerin asks confusingly. I snicker at her question and step inside. I turn to Aerin and say, "We go in." We walk into the woman's home and go into the living area. Her house is a mess. There are soda cans everywhere, pizza boxes, beer bottles, etc. Her couch is occupied with a large man asleep and drooling. "This is gross." Aerin comments and covers her nose with her sleeve. "This is how my room tends to look," I respond in return. She looks at me with wide eyes. "Jay!" She smacks my shoulder. I just shrug. "Depression is a bitch."

Aerin and I jump from a loud bang. "Stupid girls wasting my time." We could hear the woman talking to herself and getting closer. "Aerin, here," I grab a knife from my pocket, "take this and stab it into the fat guys head. Afterward, come find me." I force the blade into Aerin's hand. "When did you put this in your pocket?" Aerin questions me. "I always carry a knife on me," I reply and walk away into the hallway.