Trouble in Tiltown

Don't ask, Don't wonder

Some time has past since we really talked about West. Only just a month to be exact. Spring was giving the town it's warm but not too warm welcome. I brought my bike out from the garage where dust threatened to cover it if I didn't use it anytime soon, so I did. I took it outside into the air that smelled strongly of freshly cut grass and flowers from neighboring gardens, and rode on my bike as I took it to a nearby creek to relax. Riding in silence was therapeutic for me already. It helped me think and figure out plans I had. For example, what am I going to do about West and the weird behavior of everybody in town? I had many worries in my mind, too many to just act like I'm fine.

Once I finally rolled up into the parking lot that was filled with rocks, I parked my bike next to the sign. My eyes did a once over the sign. Lost Creek, is what it read in bold print lettering. It's as if even after all these years the creek has been here, the sign needed itself to stand out to the people who began to ignore it's presence. I felt empathy for the creek that nobody ever visited it anymore. I walked closer to the creek and rest near the water that trickled softly. Taking my shoes and socks off, I laid my feet near the water as my toes were splashed with the cool water. I leaned back onto my elbows and allowed the warm sun shine over my body. This is what life is all about, I thought to myself. Flinching slightly, a bike hitting against the tiny rocks caused me to glance back. Jerrick was pulling up on his bike with straightened lips and furrowed eyebrows as if he were thinking extremely hard about his thoughts. Perhaps, the same as mine. I wouldn't be surprised if thinking so much is what drives us mad. He allowed his bike to fall to the grass before plopping down next to me and watching the fish jump through the water. The sun shines against the water, making it appear as though it was glittering.
"How've you been doing?" I questioned him. My face turned to him as he kept his eyes closely on the water, eyebrows still furrowed.
His lip upturned, "I've been doing decent enough."
"Are you going mad too?" He quickly turned his face to mine as if I had caught him in a lie. He forgot. He forgot that whenever we saw one at the creek, we'd know they weren't doing too well. Well, we found each other both at the creek now.
"Yeah, a little bit." He breathes in deeply. My eyes looked to the water once again. Not very many people would find the scent of grass and fish too pleasant, but it was home. It was the scent of home. Or rather, it was the scent of Tiltown.
"We always have each other," I paused as I waited for him to look at me as well, but he hadn't. "Always remember that."
He slung his arm around me loosely, "In this strange town, we got each other." A few more moments pass as we talk about life and telling dumb jokes to one another until we heard someone walking towards us. We hadn't bothered to look so the voice finally decided to speak up instead.
"Hiya troublemakers." The voice deep and raspy. We glanced up and saw West. He wore a different outfit today. My eyes went from his head, which he had slightly shorter hair, a grey stained shirt with dark jeans and boots.
"What do you want with us? We've stopped bothering you man." Jerrick responded, taking his arm off of me.
He crouched to our level, "You are the only best friends in this town that are smarter than most here. That's why." He answered. His eyes darted to the creek, prompting him to lay down by it. Nearly in the same way we were doing before. He allowed the grass to brush past his tanned face.
"You want something, am I wrong?" I spoke up now. His eye slightly opened and glanced at me before closing again.
"Everybody here wants something. Except, they don't get it. Why is that?" He asks. Jerrick and I look at one another as we both shrugged.
"Because of Tiltown, of course. Tiltown doesn't allow you to have things. The mayor have this town has been brainwashing people for decades." He answered his own question.
Jerrick chuckled lowly, "Is that why you live in a shed?"
West sat up, "Sure is. Everywhere you look, what do you see?"
"Nothing really. Everything seems normal to me." I admitted to him. Suddenly, he snatches something out of his back pocket and unravels it. Jerrick takes it from his hands and shows it to me. It was red, white and blue with bold lettering on it.
"Don't ask. Don't wonder. You're in good hands. Don't ask. Don't wonder. You're in good hands." Filling the whole paper.
"I've never seen these around town." Jerrick responds to West who was now standing.
"That's because I take them all down. I take down the things that make this town strange. Sadly, I don't do a very good job though." His eyes look to the ground, appearing guilty. His hand reaches the back of his neck as he avoids our confused glares.
"Riiiight, and so what do you mean by that?" Jerrick inquired him.
West chuckled, "You ain't believe me. Nah, that's alright. Go ahead, call me crazy," He paused before leaving, "Meet me at my shed tonight. Sunset time. I'll tell you the truth. It's too risky here." Jerrick and I looked at each other as if we were trying to get an answer out of the other. After minutes of confused silenced, Jerrick broke it.
"Wanna swim?" He shrugged his shoulders with pouted lips.
I laughed, "Why not?" As we both undressed to our boxers, we dashed into the deeper end of the creek. I dove myself underneath the surface of the cool water, coming up with wet and even darker hair. We laughed at one another, reminding myself of the past memories we've spent here when we were smaller. It brought a warm sensation to my chest which made me smile wider at my best friend.