A Memory (Short Story)
 

The room comes into focus as you realize that you were daydreaming. The old people are still talking about their children, both how they were growing up and how they turned out now. No one has any new news; in such a small town, an event is known by all almost as soon as it happened, and a letter from those who had left is known almost as quickly. The possibility of news was only part of the reason you linger at the shop every time you get sent there, listening to the gathered old people reminiscing. If you were lucky, one would tell a story of days gone by, or of days to come; Mr. Stevens had told a fascinating one the other week about Martians impersonating people on Earth. In the background, the radio plays softly, announcing the President's plans to open the big dam out west.

Slowly the old people finish their familiar tales and settle back with their glasses of lemonade. Mr. Tim, the storekeeper, offers you a peppermint candy. "On the house," he says, winking. You smile and thank him, letting the cool sweetness melt against your tongue. You watch Mr. Stevens out of the corner of your eye as you pick up a few things your mother requested, smiling inside even more. He won't tell the story until he feels the time is just right.

For now, he's sitting in the corner with a few of his buddies, discussing the latest political happenings. You set the items on the counter, and find an open seat to sit in for a few moments. That signals something to Mr. Stevens, because with a start, he pretends to just notice you. "Why, here's a young lady in need of a story, I reckon. Did I ever tell you about the Martian who became a private detective to fit in here, because he thought it was a common thing to be?"

Shyly you shake your head, and settle down to listen, grinning.

"Well, he was part o' that group I tol' you about last time. Exact same, color changing and everything. That was a problem at first, as you can imagine – nothin' like tryin' to ask a person some questions all interrogative-like and suddenly turnin' blue." He bursts out laughing, which everyone can't help but join in, then starts to spin his tale.

As soon as he finishes the story, you pay for the few items. Mom knew you would stay for a few hours listening, as you do every week, but it wouldn't be good to forget her things completely. The candy on the counter catches your eye, and you buy a nickel's worth for the little ones at home. They'd be looking for it; you smile slightly at the thought – they had so few luxuries, it was good to spoil them a bit from time to time.

Mr. Tim's eyes sparkle more as he adds an extra handful of the candy to the bad. "You know how the kids can be," he says.

"Oh, of course," you agree, knowing that some won't make it home and that he knows that as well.

He hands you the bag, and you call out a goodbye to everyone in the store. The engine on the truck turns over one, two, three times before it finally starts, and you breathe a sigh of relief. Mom won't have to worry about fixing it just yet; she had other things to deal with now, anyway.

The way home takes a while, past fallow fields. Almost everyone in the area was told to not farm crops this year, leading to an expanse of dirt stretching for miles. The government regulations were what drove the people away from the area – young people, working age men, families. All flocked to the city, or wherever work was rumored to be. That's where most of the young people went, the city. Jobs a plenty were rumored to be there, free for any young man (and occasionally young lady, too, but much more rarely) who was fit to do them, so they went. Their sweethearts followed shortly after, as much to take a financial burden off their parents as it was to be close to their beau; the marriages were announced soon after, a quick ceremony performed when things were as settled as they were likely to get. The slightly older men, of whom your father was one, drifted elsewhere, seeking work now that the farms didn't keep them settled.

You turn around a bend in the road, and feel the slight pressure of your father's watch in the pocket of your sundress. At least your mother was good at keeping the family together in times of trouble. You remember how things were before your father went west three and a half years ago, to work on the new dam construction. He told your mother how it would be better, how they needed workers and would be assured to pay well. In any case, he argued, it would pay better than just staying on the farm would. With you, your three much younger siblings, and another little one on the way, your mother couldn't help but agree. At least he was right, while it lasted.

You pull over to the side of the road and stare out over the field to your side, playing absentmindedly with the watch before pulling it out to check the time. It wasn't too late - your mother would understand if you were gone a bit more; to be honest, you weren't too eager to get home, not now. She’s been too silent lately, especially whenever news of the dam was on the radio, and you've caught her more than once just staring at your father's spare pair of shoes near the door, where he last put them before he left. She always meant to send them to him, and lost her chance two years ago.

You open the door and slip out onto the ground. It's still warm from the sun, even though it set a few hours ago. Glancing around and seeing no one, you feel as if you're the only person in the world at the moment. You dance and twirl around, with only yourself and the moon for company, imagining what it would be like if your father was here, if you knew he would be coming home, if you knew someone cared for you and was waiting somewhere, if you had a beau to dance with from time to time. These thoughts and more cross your mind, merging into one perfect image of how the world should be.

Tiring after a while, you crawl into the truck's bed and stare up at the infinite blackness above. The moon shines down gently, filling the area with a quiet light as you trace, line by line, promises and dreams between the stars.


Hi all! :) Emm... I'm new, and not sure if two posts are allowed in here, so I'll stick this commentary at the bottom of this one... :P I posted this on another site, but...didn't get any comments there. I'm hoping you guys will be more helpful! Anything - critiques or the rare compliment - is welcome, as well as things I should change. Thankies for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it! :D

::edit:: I trust y'all, but... please... no taking/using this for any reason without asking, okay? (Even though I'm not sure why you would want to do that anyway....).

Wow, that's really good. Are you going to go on with it?? I give it 2 thumbs up. :) :)