|
Post by Maya Lisette Song on May 1, 2009 23:05:15 GMT -5
As soon as she had gotten home she hobbled into the house, Darcey following close behind and collapsed onto the couch. The sun was setting behind the thick clouds and it looked almost like night time, though it was around 6.
She had woken up that day aching all over from her brush with death the afternoon before. Darcey was still curled up at her feet on the small twin bed snoring loudly. She laid there for an hour or so letting her body wake up. It was Saturday, so no kids to watch and her mom was already at work no doubt. She sat up stiffly and Darcey awoke suddenly, before sinking back down once he was sure she was ok.
She swung her legs over and streched them out before standing up and walking into the bathroom. She showered and used her favorite shampoo, Coconut Lime Verbana on her long wavy locks. Maya towel off and turned her stereo on loudly as she walked around the house brushing her hair in a pair of cut off shorts and an loose ivory tank top.
It was unseasonably warm today, though clouds from yesterday's storm still hung over the reservation and she cursed the fact she would not be able to be out on the water. She COULD, but she no doubt shouldn't. She would have to venture down to the beach to search for her missing board later. As she made mental note to do so, she remembered the man responsible for her increasingly bad weekend and cursed to herself as she ran her brush through her hair and threw some bread in the toaster. She wondered if she had been too hard on him, but assured herself he deserved every bit of guilt she dished out. If she couldn't find her board she would have to spend hundreds of dollars she didn't have on a new board.
The door was open and a breeze blew through the mesh of the storm door. Her music still blasted as she sat down at the table in their kitchen and munched on some toast and preserves while she pouted about her missing board. Darcey sat near and eyeballed her toast. "And to think, YOU liked him." She said out loud to the dog, referring to Duncan, whom Darcey had taken a liking to. The mutts ears went back, almost as if he was ashamed when he was really just reacting to the harsh tone of her voice.
|
|
|
Post by Duncan White on May 1, 2009 23:23:03 GMT -5
Duncan had spent the whole night scrubbing, washing, and then waxing her board to a glossy smooth sheen. He felt horrible about what happened, the guilt of the event sitting over him like a dark storm cloud. His nan demanded to know what happened, and he told her. Everything. Over time she had to know where all his clothes went, why he ate so much, and why he was always so hot. The truth wasnt hard to swallow, in fact she took it better then he thought. She was proud that her blood was still living in him, and that the strength of the 'pack' was still alive. Nan also made certain to shove more food into his mouth, and make him some shorts that were easily crumpled for him to tie to his leg as he went and did what was needed.
The woman was crazy. but he loved her. Duncan was leaning upon Maya's board when he told Nan of what happened, she could only laugh and then retire for the night. It seemed to pass quickly, and he knew he had to sneak the board to her before she woke up.
Within the black of night Duncan tracked her scent to her home, setting the clean surfboard within her jeep with a failed attempt of a pink bow upon it. He tried, that's all that mattered right? No note, seeing he didnt know what to write, and if he got started he wouldnt know how to stop. Staified, the white wolf trotted back to his home, feeling slightly better about what happened before he crashed into his bed, nearly dead to the world.
|
|
|
Post by Maya Lisette Song on May 1, 2009 23:56:17 GMT -5
Maya moped around the house for awhile longer, letting the music play and her hair air dry into thick long locks before she decided it was time to go look for her board. She was dreading it. Either she would find it and be tempted to go out on the water, even though her body still ached and the memory of sinking helplessly into the dark waters was still fresh on her mind OR she would not find it and would drive up to Port Angeles tomorrow to buy a new board. Something that would certainly set her back about $300 of hard earned money. She was just breaking in that board by now too.
She grabbed her brown leather purse and slung it over her shoulder, grabbing her keys and phone for the yellow and brown vintage plate on her nightstand and stuffing them into her purse. She also dug through her laundry and put on her old pink cardigan, while unseasonably warm, it was still not warm enough to go without a sweater or something. She loved that cardigan. It had been well worn and the seams at the shoulder and arm pits were starting to tear, forming little holes. One elbow also had a hole from where it had gotten caught on part of a log or rock and unraveled.
She walked as briskly as she could out the door and down the porch, leaving the door unlocked. Darcey trotted in front of her, knowing they were going for a car ride and hopped in before her. The wind blew through her still slightly damp hair which she wore down today sine she wouldn't be getting in the water. She slid into the front seat and was about to turn the car on when Darcey sniffed the air and started barking. She turned to see what he was responding to to find her board in the back seat. Not only was it her board but it looked brand new again, freshly waxed and pristine. A sad drooping bow hung off it and she nearly laughed out loud, imagining him cursing trying to figure out how to tie the damned thing and eventually giving up.
She leaned back against her seat and sighed. She could still go to the beach or she could go back inside. Something compelled her to put her keys in the ignition though and before she knew it she was driving down her street toward the neighborhood she knew his Grandmother lived in. She had lived on this reservation her whole life and knew it like the back of her hand. She didn't know what house he lived in exactly, but she knew what street. Maybe she would get lucky and he'd be out front or something. She could at least stop and the store and restock their fridge.
She wouldn't apologize. She had nothing to apologize for. But would she thank him? He did bring back her board, and in better condition than it was to begin with. But he had also nearly cost her her life, so that was the least he could do right? She didn't know what was compelling her to continue down that street. All she wanted to do was turn around and go home, never seeing him and his stupid blond hair again. But before she knew it she was driving down his street slowly, looking up and down the sidewalks for some sign of him.
|
|
|
Post by Duncan White on May 2, 2009 9:25:49 GMT -5
Duncan of course wouldnt be up this early. After staying up all night and toiling over the surf board, he would sleep untill at least three in the afternoon. Not that his Nan approved of it, but she couldnt say much about it. Boys needed sleep, and when he woke he would want to eat of course. In the meantime she had a few moments to spare, so she found herself out within the garden infront of the small ranch style home.
She was still in her nightgown, a pair of croc shoes on and pink gardening gloves as she tore weeds from the herb garden that rested beside the front steps to the home.
|
|
|
Post by Maya Lisette Song on May 2, 2009 10:11:52 GMT -5
Maya's black Jeep passed the house where the older woman was working in the yard. Maya did a double take as Darcey sniffed the air. She recognized the old woman as his grandmother, whom her mother had talked to at the grocery store once or twice when she was younger. No sign of him though. She frowned as she passed the house and continued down the street. She figured she'd give up then. She didn't know why she came in the first place. It was a dumb idea.
Darcey whined and jumped in the back seats where he started pacing. He had to go pee. She rolled her eyes "OK bud, hang on." She said as she pulled into a parking lot of a convenient store. They both hopped out of the Jeep and started to walk back down the street in the direction of the Whites house. Darcey sniffing around in front of her, going from tree lawn to tree lawn looking for the perfect tree to relieve himself on. She never need a leash with him. Since the day she found him wandering around alone in the city, he stuck to her side like glue.
Maya looked at each house as she passed. She didn't often come down here and walk and it was a nice change of pace. She felt a pull to keep going as she neared the Whites house and could see the old woman bent over a flowerbed. Why was she doing this? It was ridiculous. But Darcey turned back and smiled before running to a tree in the Whites yard and sniffing around the roots.
|
|
|
Post by Duncan White on May 2, 2009 10:28:28 GMT -5
The large dog didnt escape the old womans eyes as she sat up, placing her hands upon her thighs and grinning. "You wouldnt be the first dog to do your buisness on this lawn.." She smiled, watching as the dog darted and sniffed every little nook and cranny. It was amusing to her, how the creature needed to take everything in, before finding the perfect spot to soil. Part of her wondered if it was the same for her boy, sleeping still in his tiny room. That thought made her chuckle outloud before she stood, spying Maya for the first time.
"Oh, Maya..how are you? Gosh I havent seen you since you were just a little weed. Look at how you've grown.." Nan's smile was warm, familiar. "Can I help you with anything..? Or did you just come to make sure the old lady isnt dead yet..." She teased.
|
|
|
Post by Maya Lisette Song on May 2, 2009 10:44:06 GMT -5
Maya laughed a little at the old woman's comment before answering No, I was just in the neighborhood and well... nature called." She said nodding in Darcey's direction where he was now tucking his butt to poop right next to one of the woman's flower beds. Horrified and embarrassed Maya dashed to his side, her long tan legs carrying here there in just a few strides, but she was still too late. By the time she was there Darcey was done and had trotted off around the back of the house to sniff around. "I'm so sorry." Maya said looking at the 'gift' Darcey had deposited for them next to the house. "If you give me a second, I can run to the car, I know I have a plastic bag in there somewhere. I'll take care of it I promise." She said flustered.
Maya could now get a better look at Nan White and recognized the familiar features. Warm and caring but older that she remembered her. She found herself wondering how such a kind and lovely woman produced Duncan. She wondered if he had told his Grandmother anything about the other day. He probably made himself out to be a hero, leaving out the part where he stole her board and vomited at the sight of her. She found her blood starting to boil at the thought of it and tried to keep her attention on the old woman.
|
|
|
Post by Duncan White on May 2, 2009 10:50:28 GMT -5
The small old woman couldnt help but chuckle at the younger girls reaction to her dog. "Oh dont worry about it, natural fertalizer of course..and well dear he is a dog..he just doing what he knows best.." Nan smiled, missing the times that she and her husband had a dog. It seemed like a long time ago now. It was a mutt of course, unable to afford anything more then that. But Cleo was a good dog, faithful to the end. The only dog she had now was the massive one still sleeping inside of the small home. "I'll have Duncan take care of it...is Darcy one of his customers?" She asked, quirking her brow.
Duncan ran his own pet walking buisness, and was very good at it..for the three days that he did work. Most of the dog owners praised him up and down the board, even the owners of the small Jack Russle who was attacked, saying the pup would have been a snack if it wasnt for Duncan. "If your looking for him he's still asleep, was up all night working on some project or another..you know men. Dont tell you anything unless they need something. He wont be awake till at least the late afternoon.."
|
|
|
Post by Maya Lisette Song on May 2, 2009 10:58:34 GMT -5
At the mention of Duncan she reacted almost physically. "Oh no I wasn't... I mean I'm not here to..." She stopped herself. She always opened her big mouth when she shouldn't. What the hell had gotten into her? She correct herself. "Could you thank him for rescuing..." My life? Saving her? No. "...my board." She finished indicating down the street where her black Jeep was still sitting in the backseat where he left it.
Her knees wobbled a bit. Could she still really be feeling the effects of the day before? She steadied herself by putting a hand on the side of the warm stucco house. She scanned the windows quickly, wondering which one was his. Sleeping at this hour? He was such a guy. And a dog walker? She couldn't think anything negative about his career choice, hers wasn't much better. A babysitter practically.
|
|
|
Post by Duncan White on May 3, 2009 9:19:45 GMT -5
"It wont mean as much coming from his grizzled grandmother..." Nan replied in a soft sing song tone, grinning as the removed her gardening gloves and tossed them into the pile next to her other tools. "Its so rare I have another lady friend to talk too...if your not busy why dont you come inside for some light breakfast? I'm sure Duncan will wake up and you can thank him in person. Besides, I think Darcy rather likes my yard.." The older woman smiled, certainly not taking no for a answer as she moved slowly up the wooden stairs to the tiny home.
|
|
|
Post by Maya Lisette Song on May 3, 2009 16:55:41 GMT -5
Seeing there was no way to refuse the determined old woman (and hear the scolding voice of her mother in the back of her head if she heard Maya had refused) she bit her lip and followed her up the steps. She was hoping to avoid actually facing Duncan after how she had let him have it the day before but it looked she was going to have to make nice for the time being (at least in front of his Nan).
Before she went in the house she turned and gave Darcey the "stay in the yard" look that he would clearly understand. The two of them spent so much time together they had a silent language. He could tell what she was thinking from her body language and the tone of her voice and she could understand his moods and thoughts in a similar way.
|
|
|
Post by Duncan White on May 4, 2009 8:42:53 GMT -5
The home was small, but kept in a neat way. The furinture was well worn and mis matched, the kitchen was straight from the 60's, the garish countertop color and matching linolum. Nan tried to put as much of herself into the home as possible, pictures plastered on the walls, most of them of a little Duncan. From Halloween wheere he was dressed as a super hero, to the summer, and him playing in the front yard with the hose.
"Have a seat," Nan smiled, shuffling into the kitchen and opening the fridge. "Can I interest you in something to drink? Ice tea..? Soda..?" She bent over, looking at the bare contents of her fridge. "That damned boy's going to eat me from house and home..."
|
|
|
Post by Maya Lisette Song on May 4, 2009 9:44:24 GMT -5
Maya followed Nan into the tiny kitchen and smiled at the old decor. It felt like her old grandmother's house who had passed away a couple years ago. Everything had a yellowish or greenish cast to it from age and it smelled warm. As she made her way to the kitchen table she paused for a quick second on a photo of a little blond boy, maybe three years old with his arms wrapped around the neck of a native man, Nan's son, Duncan's father. Maya didn't know details, but she remembered it had been something tragic.
She continued to the table and slid onto a green vinyl chair. She pulled one long leg up onto her lap and rested her hands on her ankle. Nan offered her something to drink. "Some tea sounds wonderful." She said with a smile. She scanned the kitchen and noticed the hallway to one end that had a few small doors. One was closed. Must be Duncan's room. She dreaded that door opening and him to stumble sleepily into the kitchen. Could she still run? No, Nan had already started making her breakfast... she was stuck and she would have to face him whether she liked it or not.
|
|
|
Post by Duncan White on May 5, 2009 17:32:50 GMT -5
Of course tea turned into ice tea, with toast, eggs, and a bit of bacon that she had. She didnt even bother asking Maya if she was hungry, the woman was in the kitchen, so she was cooking. Bringing a plate filled with carbs and fatty goodness, the older woman smiled and set the glass of ice tea down as well. "If your not hungry, just leave it. He'll wake up at the smell of the bacon...two things men love most in life...Sex..and bacon.." She gave a hard laugh, returning to her frying pan.
"So, how is your mother doing? I havent seen her at the store recently, and how is your job going? The day care still right?" Nan liked chatter that was about something other then herself or her grandson. She had enough of that in her life already, so it was nice to hear about someone elses life.
|
|
|
Post by Maya Lisette Song on May 5, 2009 17:41:06 GMT -5
Maya had already had some toast but the smell of a home cooked meal filled her nose and made her stomach grumble. Something about grandma-cooked food made it taste and smell so much better. When Nan mentioned Duncan waking up Maya's heart dropped into her hungry stomach. She glanced at the door to make sure it hadn't opened. She prayed she could get through the meal without him coming out.
When the plate of food was placed in front of her she turned her head from the door to the savory plate. She smiled as Nan asked about her and her mom. She chewed a small bite of bacon and still holding it lightly she said "Mom's good. Working hard though. I'll let her know you said hi." She said before she took a sip of the sweet sun tea. Maya's mom would like to hear she visited Nan. She was always telling Maya to get out and see people instead of escape to the beach or woods on her own. "Yep. Still watching the little ones." She said with a little smile. She loved those kids. They always kept her busy and life was so much more simple when she hung out with them. Eat, nap, play, eat, nap, play. If only things could still be that easy for her.
|
|