Sunshine Valley

Eyes play tricks

     Rebecca decided she would give the hippy grocery another try. Simon was working. He had this man Chris helping him. It was good for everyone involved that Chris lived right across the road. She was a little miffed that Simon hadn’t introduced Chris. But she was trying to do better. Now, she was thrilled that he was working. It seemed odd to her that the house was filled so quickly after Evelyn moved out. There was a snake in the grass and she would find it. Without Simon’s help of course. 

     As she drove past, the car that was in the drive looked so much like the one Evelyn had been driving. But now she was drivin’ her dad’s beat up old truck. ‘Why?’ She thought. ‘Did Evelyn take the old man’s truck.’ That was just cruel. 

     That homeless couple was still coming to church. Though, the entire family seemed to be healthier. Happier. Church gossip was Jack Rice got the husband a job at the mill. Why hadn’t Jack done that for Simon? However; if Simon would have gotten a job at the mill, would they have met to marry?

     She didn’t question Simon about D & E Farm, anymore. When summer break started she would do some diggin’ of her own. Find her own answers. ‘D & E Farm’, she scoffed. ‘That just sounded stupid’. Simon rarely talked about work. She couldn’t get two words out of him about what he was doing. “Renovatin’,” was all he would say. 

     When she stopped at the stop sign, a sheriff suv drove past. She bet it was that weasel of a sheriff. Her blood ran hot for a minute. He’ll get his. It shocked her socks off that Sunshine Sue hadn’t made more of a stink over Cattail’s death. She guessed the sheriff finally won her over? Havin’ talked to Sue, she thought Sue had more integrity than that. 

     As she pulled in the parkin’ lot, her mind was a million miles away. ‘Why did she come here again?’ Oh yeah, Simon was workin’ and she was bored. When she walked through the door, it felt like there was a collective gasp. When she was safely behind a shelf, a look around told her she was being paranoid. No one really gave a crap that she was in here. 

     There was a sales rack. It made her laugh to herself. Their sales prices were in line with what you would pay for something in Perkinsville. Her opinion of this place wasn’t changing. 

     She rounded a corner, coming face to face with Evelyn. Rebecca grabbed her chest, faking shock, blushed her best blush. “I’m so sorry.” Evelyn didn’t move. Her basket was in the floor at her feet. Arms straight down by her sides. And she was lookin’ forward. Rebecca waved her hand in front of Evelyn’s face, “hello.” Oh, the mean things she could say. She gave Evelyn an honest look. Her skin was ashen. Her pupils were dilated. And her lips were takin’ on a pale blue color. “Hello.” She called again.