Sunshine Valley

Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

Think about retiring 

     Evie got up as the light of morning was peekin’ over the hills. The frost covered ground sparkled like diamonds glittering in the sun. She smiled as she dressed. It was her day to care for Teka. If she finished before Dillon got home, she might even get to surprise him with breakfast. 

     The ground crunched under her feet as she went to start her dad’s truck. Her dad called it, ‘a rabbit trackin’ frost’.  Her heart was light as she bounced up Dillon’s driveway. Until she saw his truck in the ditch. It wasn’t a large ditch. He would have no issue getting out.  

     As she got out to investigate, she realized his truck was running. And notice just how close he was to the fence. It seemed like a life time of knocking and screaming his name before he rolled down the window. He moaned, “almost home?”

     Standing on the running board, she held his face in her hands through the window, “yes.”

     He made it home without anything else happening. She helped him to bed, then headed out to care for Teka. As she brushed Teka, she would brush awhile and cry awhile. She nor Dillon were ‘young’ anymore. Speaking for herself, she did things in her 20’s and 30’s that she couldn’t do now. The first product lunch she did; she got maybe 2 hours of sleep per day for a month. She guessed. That’s what it felt like. There was so much to do and so little time. They (her and Doug) were down to their last $5.00. If they wanted, he could’ve asked his parents for help. She couldn’t. Knowing her parents would give her anything. At the same time, not having it to give. She couldn’t do that now if she tried. Not gettin’ enough sleep made her ‘slangry’. 

     All Dillon ever put on his calendar was work. Okay 99% of it was work. Day 1 bled into day 15 like one great brush stroke. WORK. 

     She didn’t want him to give up doin’ something he loved and was good at. At the same time, she selfishly wanted more future time to spend with him. How were they gonna do this? Did he have to work so much? Or was it just a habit he had gotten into? 

     Her thoughts and tears were interrupted, “hi.” It was Simon. He held up his hands, “I know it’s your turn to care for Teka. I needed out of the house. And,” he turned looking toward Dillon’s house, “didn’t know where to go.”

     Evie sniffed, then smiled. “It’s okay. Honestly, I’ve been meaning to contact you. This is perfect. God puts us where he needs us.” She sniffed again, hugged Teka before leading Simon to the upper barn. As they rounded the corner of the house, Dillon stepped off the back porch, joining them. “Good morning.” She smiled.

     Dillon hugged her up, “good mornin’.”

    It made Simon feel warm inside just to be around them. ‘But why?’ He wondered. 

     As they walked to the barn, Simon started talkin’. “On the way over here, on the radio, Sunshine Sue asked her listenin’ audience, if you could uninvent something, what would it be?”

     Evie and Dillon both looked at each other. She answered, “poverty.”

     Dillon lowered his head, smiling to himself before answering, “guns.”

     “Wouldn’t that put you out of a job?” Simon asked with surprise.

     “No, there has always been crime. I don’t see it goin’ anywhere.”

     Once in the barn, Dillon let Evie do all the talkin’ as she explained what needed to happened before Hillbilly Yoga could start. From time to time, a goat or a chicken would interrupt their conversation. She handed Simon a folder with all the notes from permits to inspections. “Work up your cost including paperwork follow through.” She brushed Dillon’s arm, “we might even need to look at pourin’ gravel if this takes off.” 

     He smiled and nodded. “If it doesn’t take off, those improvements to the barn will be welcomed anyway.”

Sunshine Valley