In Plain Sight

Word Count—4,755

I was upstairs in my room getting ready for work since I had just gotten out of school. "EMERSYN GET DOWN HERE!" Ma yelled from somewhere on the first floor.

"COMING MA," I replied quickly putting on my right boot. I felt something stab my foot and only caused me to groan in pain. I grabbed my lunch pail from my desk and limped my way downstairs to find ma.

"EMERSYN," ma yelled again soon as I appeared into the doorway to the kitchen. I put my hand up to me ear because her yelling is real loud.

"Ouch," I exclaimed sitting at the table setting my pail down.

"Oh I'm sorry sweetie I didn't know you were right there," she apologized straightening her apron. "Anyways why I needed you so urgently is because you got a letter to a dance over in Clay county. Isn't that lovely?" I looked up from my foot then up at ma, she was holding an envelope in her hand with a huge smile on her face.

"Trash it," I replied dumping out my boot. A piece of metal fell out onto the floor with a small 'clunk'. Ma looked at the metal and then to me confused on why I said trash the invitation. "Oh ma you know I don't dance, get dressed up, or any of that stuff."

I began to pack my lunch pail which consisted of four peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cut into two triangles thanks to ma. Two apples along with two boiled eggs. I emptied my canteen from yesterday's water and filled it up with fresh water. "Don't think just because you're going to work you're escaping this conversation," ma said looking at me.

I smiled at her as I closed my lunch pail and kissed her on the cheek. "Bye ma I love you. See you when Pa and I get home at like twelve midnight," I said laughing a little and hugging her.

"Please be careful and tell your father to come home with you tonight, we need to have a talk about you," ma said as I walked off the porch. I gulped when she said that needed to have a talk about me that's never a good thing to hear.

"Yes ma'am, love you," I replied as I walked out the small white gate. She waved me on and I just laughed and shook my head at her. Soon as I got out of ma's sight I walked across the street to get to Main Street where all the stores were. I decided to the drug store to see if Tag was in there, he normally was in there trying to get a free drink from Willie.

Soon as I opened the door the bell above the door rang and the smell of food hit me in the face. I walked over to the counter and sure enough Tag was trying to get a free drink. Willie looked over at me and rolled his eyes which caused me to laugh. "Emersyn please tell Willie because I'm the sheriff I get free drinks," Tag said looking at me and smiling.

"Well Tag I don't see a sign in here that says 'Sheriff's get free drinks'," I replied hopping up on the stool next to Tag. I set my pail off to the side on the counter and listened to Tag spill the gossip.

"Last night I got called out to the Larson's household because when Jim got home last night from the mine he caught Sherrie with another guy," Tag explained looking from Willie to I. "and get this, the guy she was caught with is one of those crooked miners from Wyoming county. So they had a huge argument which was followed by a fight in the yard."

"Dang sounds like you had a rough night," I said looking over at him. "I'd love to help you but I have work to go to."

"Alright Tag it'll be ten cents for the pop," Willie said. Tag looked from me and to Willie with a shocked look.

"Oh my it isn't that much, here Willie," I said getting a dime out my front pocket and sliding it across the counter to Willie. "Come on Tag, I need a chauffeur," I grabbed my lunch with one hand and I grabbed Tag's left arm. He grabbed his hat off the counter.

"See ya round Willie," Tag said as we walked outside to his sheriff's car. I hopped in the passenger seat and got situated while Tag got the car started. "So am I bringing you home tonight or are you riding with your Father?"

"Riding with Pa because Ma said she had to talk him about me," I explained as he pulled out onto main street.

He looked over at me with a raised eyebrow. "Oh lord what have you done now?" He asked making me laugh.

"It's most likely about the ball I got invited to and ma wants me to go. So in order for me to go I have to stop working in the mine in a month in advance not to stain up my skin," I explained. He started laughing at what I said as he slowed to a stop because people were crossing the street.

"Man you'd have to not go near or down in those mines for a year for your skin to go back to its natural color," Tag said laughing and pulling off again. I was laughing so hard I had tears rolling down my cheeks. "Wait is it the ball the Mayor is hosting over in Clay county?"

"Yea that's what Ma said," I replied looking at him.

"I got the same letter in the mail but I don't know if I'm going to go or not," he explained pulling up to the main office building at the mine. He parked the car and took the key out the ignition then getting out the car with me. We walked into the office so I could see where Pa was, I have no idea why Tag was walking in with me.

"Philip where's pa?" I asked walking to his desk. He pointed to pa's office door that was closed, hmm he must be in a meeting. "Well tell him that ma wants him leaving here when I leave because ma needs to speak with him about me."

He took his glasses off and kept pointing from Tag and I. "Is there something you two want to tell me?" Philip asked. I Tag and I looked at each other confused.

Pa's door opened and he walked out with a bunch of guys with freshly pressed suits and briefcases. He looked at Tag and I which caused all the people in the group to look at us. "This is my lovely daughter Emersyn, what are you doing here anyways?" He asked looking at me. I gave him a 'really' look.

"I came here to tell you that ma said she wants you home early because she needs to speak with you about me," I explained shifting on my feet.

"Alright I'll call her in a minute," pa said.

"We'll be back next week to discuss more of the renovations in block C," one guy said to pa. He turned to us tipped his hat and they all walked out. I turned to pa to ask him what they were here for when he spoke first.

"Follow me to my office," he said walking to his office. I turned to look at Tag then looked in the office to see Pa looking at a map.

"Well I guess I should be going see you around Em," he said hugging me.

"Alright see you around, also thanks for the ride," I said walking to Pa's office door.

"Bye Em. Bye Mr. McCoy, goodbye Philip," Tag said waving and walking to the door.

"Bye," Pa and Philip said as he left. I walked in the office and pa signaled for me to shut the door so I did. Well this isn't going to be good if I have to close the door. I sat down in the chair opposite if his on the other side of the desk, waiting on him to start speaking.

"How would you describe the conditions in block C?" Pa asked looking at me.

"Well I mean the first eighth of a mile the beams are practically brand new, then the other eighth of a mile the beams are rotting as we speak and there is no telling how much longer the roof back there going to be up," I explained looking at him. "Why?"

"Because the safety people came in and asked about it and they said I needed a statement for it," he said looking at a stack of papers on the corner of his desk. "So you're going to work in Block A until C is fully renovated, just for your safety."

"But Pa I don't wanna work with Block A. I don't know anyone in that group and they're a bunch of weird people who don't speak to each other," I whined as I slumped in the seat.

"I don't wanna hear any whining now get to work," he said sending me out. I grabbed my lunch pail off the floor from beside me and walked out the office. I walked to the lamp house also it's known as the clock in/clock out house.

"Howdy Louie," I said walking over to my number and getting my things. I put on my hard helmet, then I put my belt thing and grabbed my keys. I hooked them to my belt and walked over to the sign in book to sign my name. Every time I sign this I feel like it's the last thing I sign before dying, because you never know what will happen in those mines.

"I just got a message from you father and he told me to make sure you go down with Block A," Louie said making me look up at him.

"I know he told me in the office, the people in block A are weird," I explained. Louie just laughed at me and shook his head.

“Just go ahead and go before you're late," he said laughing. I walked out the door and walked to the shaft to where the rest of my group was. Oh great Braxton, James, and Matt were all in this group.

Braxton whistled at me and I only rolled my eyes in reply. "What's a girl doing in the mines?" He asked making me turn to him.

"Because I want to and like to be down here," I replied walking in the shaft with the rest of the group following.

"Ohhh she's a smart ass," James said looking at his friends. I clicked the button to the Block A level and we started going down.

"What Block are you from?" One guy asked me. He wasn't very muscular or anything, he had hazel eyes with dirty blonde hair.

"Block C," I replied and they all looked at me. "What?"

"How did you get the access to Block C?" Matt asked.

"Because I know what I'm doing and I know everyone here except this group," I replied as the shaft halted to a stop. I opened the gate thing used as a door and we all walked out. "Turn on your lights." I flipped mine on then waited on the others.

"Mine won't turn on," James whined from the back of the group. I sighed and walked back there to see what was wrong with his. After looking at it I figured out that it was the wiring on his. I fixed it in no time and walked back to the front.

"Alright you guys re— Emersyn what are you doing in this group? This is for the unexperienced people?" Tom asked as he walked to the group. His face was covered in black soot all on his face, his hands were stained black from mining, and his light was coated with soot too.

"Pa said since Block C is 'unsafe' he's put me with the amateurs," I replied laughing a little. He began to laugh with me because he knew it was the truth about Block A.

"Alright today we're going to be putting in new beams where we left off yesterday, so let's go to the carts," Tom said as he started off that way. We followed and I got the first cart so I could be the first off. I took this time to try and get some sleep before we had to work nonstop.

"Hey Emersyn what does Block A mean?" Braxton asked from behind me. I turned around to face him and he was closer than I expected.

"First off personal space, secondly it means Block of Amatures," I replied turning around and getting comfy again. I ended up falling asleep because I was being woken up by Tom shaking my shoulder.

"Come show these boys how it's done," he said smiling at me. I smiled back at he and stretched as I got out the cart. I picked up a pickax and started walking to a beam that needed to be removed.

I placed the flat end behind the beam making sure it was in a good tight wedge, then I walked to the side of the pickax and grabbed the handle. I pulled the towards me so head of the axe would roll off the wall and push the beam out. Sure enough the beam fell.

I grabbed that one throwing it over my shoulder and hauling it to a clear area to start a new 'dead' pile. I grabbed a new one and taking it to where the old one was then placing it in. I grabbed the sledge hammer from Tom and hit the beam into the wall so it would stay in place.

"And that boys is how you're supposed to do it. Get to work," Tom said pointing to the group.

"Also when you take a dead one out it would be faster with two people per beam. One with an pickax at the top here (points to top of beam)and one at the bottom here(points to the bottom of the beam) top on left and bottom on right. Then pull at the same time and the beam should come out within a blink of an eye. Then you'll both carry the dead one off to that pile then grabbing a live one from this pile. Each group gets one sledge hammer so you decide who's in charge of that," I explained before we had a catastrophe.

We were on our lunch break well more like dinner break when pa showed up. "Emersyn your mother needs you home," pa said looking at me.

"But Pa we still have a fourth of a mile then we'll be done. Then I'll go home," I told him as I went to back eating.

"Goddamnit Emersyn go home!" Pa yelled. I flinched at his command and closed my lunch pail.

"Fine," I said as I walked past him. I was so confused on why I have to leave early? He never lets anyone, including me leave early unless their extremely sick.

After about a 20 minute walk I finally made it to the mine shaft and clicked the button. As I waited on the shaft I saw a light coming towards me from the way I just came.

"Look Emersyn I'm sorry for yelling at you," pa said as he walked up to me. I opened the shaft doors and walked in with him. "It's just I'm dealing with the safety people all up in our business, your mother keeps calling me saying we need to talk about you, now she needs you home early. Look if she would stop calling me then I'd let you stay down there and show them boys how it's done." I looked up and over at him and he had a small smile on his face.

"It's fine, she most likely wants to talk to me about that stupid ball I got invited to," I replied as we walked out the shaft.

"What stupid ball?" He asked stopping me by grabbing my arm. I turned to look at him holding back my urge to roll my eyes.

"I got an invitation to the ball thing over in Clay county. I don't really wanna go but I think ma wants me to," I replied. "Now if you don't excuse me I need to get home before we both get in trouble." I walked away to the lamp house and put my keys in the hook and hard helmet in my locker. While I signed out I explained to Louie why I was headed home early.

"Good luck," he said as I walked out the lamp house. I was walking out the mine parking lot when Tag pulled up in front of me.

"Have you seen a girl about yay high with dirty blonde hair, one dazzling blue eye with and one emerald green eye, soot from the mine on her face, and dirty clothes?" He asked. I shook my head no and laughed at him.

"Sorry sheriff but I haven't seen her, good luck finding her," I replied walking around the car and down the street. By the time I made it to the Moore's house Tag pulled up next to me again and I stopped to see what he wanted.

"Hey look I found her," he said laughing. "Looks like you need a ride so get in."

I opened the door and got situated in the seat before he drove off again. "So I'll need to be taken to the house because my ma needs me," I explained looking over at him.

"Well first we're going to get drinks from the drug store and then I'll take you home," he said making a left onto Main Street. He parked outside of Willie's drug store and we both got out, he opened the door for me and allowed me to walk in first.

"Why thank you my good sir," I said in a country accent. He started laughing as he took off his hat. We walked to the bar and sat on the stools next to each other waiting on Willie to stop talking to other people.

"So what are you doing off work so early?" He asked looking at me.

"Ma said she needed to talk to me and wouldn't stop begging pa to send me home, so he came to where I was working and sent me home," I replied smiling up at him while spinning from side to side on the stool.

"Here you two love birds go," Willie said giving Tag and I our Coca Cola's with straws.

"Thanks Willie," I called out as he walked back to where he was. "Alright you ready because I need to get home?"

"I guess," he said sighing and grabbing his hat. I took the money for both drinks to Willie and walked out to the car. By the time we got situated there was eyes following us, which kind annoys me. I hate it when people don't mind their own business but they'll jump in yours in a heartbeat.

Tag took the long way home so we could drink our pop before we arrived to my house and just to waste time. I was laying my head on Tag's shoulder when he stopped in front of my house. I grabbed my things and he got out too, I guess to show his manners to walk me up to the door.

Ma was on the porch with some of her friends from the council committee when she noticed me. "There's my sweet girl, and oh she has Tag with her," ma said laughing.

"Well I didn't want her walking home alone ma'am," he replied taking off his hat.

"Well why don't you sit down and join us for tea?" Mrs. Terrie asked. I always had a feeling that she had feelings for Tag, but he never showed interest in her.

"I wish I could but I have to get back to work, I'll see you ladies around town," he said putting his hat back on.

"Well I'll walk you to the car since you know walked me to the door," I told him as we walked off the porch. When we got to the gate he stopped me from going any further.

"Goodbye Em I'll see you tomorrow or later today depends on if you have to go to town," he said hugging me.

"Alright I'll see you around and thanks for the ride both times," I told him tipping the front of his hat.

"No problem," he replied walking to the other side of the gate. He walked to the drivers side of the car and waved goodbye to me before he got in. I walked up to the porch as Tag drove away and ma looked at me.

"So the reason I needed you home early is so we could start getting you prepared for that dance.” she explained I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and forced a smile in my face.

"So what kind of dress do I need?" I asked as I sat down in a chair.

"Well it's a ball so something super fancy, because every year they choose a queen of Clay county ball. So we need you to win that title because it can take you a long way." Candice explained before sipping her tea.

I was helping Ma cook dinner when Pa walked in. “Oh my you’re home early for once,” I joked around laughing.

“Oh hush,” he said laughing and walking over to Ma to kiss her, they were doing their normal routine.

The routine was that he would walk into the kitchen, go straight to Ma and they would kiss. Then he’d set his lunch pail down on the counter and go through the mail, which he was doing right now. After going through the mail, he’d head to the bathroom to shower because he was dirty from the mine. Once he was done with showering we’d all eat dinner together in the dining room.

Afer Pa got finished with his shower he came downstairs as Ma and I were setting the table. “Mhm smells good,” he commented as we all sat down.

“So how was school today?” Ma asked me.

“It was slow and boring, we aren’t learning anything new until next week,” I explained.

“Tom told me how you showed them boys how to work in the mines,” pa said laughing a little bit.

“Pa please move me to a different group, I don’t like working with Group A. It’s literally nothing but children not putting in effort,” I complain looking to him.

“Then that gives me more of a reason to put you with that group only because you can show them how to properly work,” he replied sipping his tea. I looked over to Ma for help but she gave me ‘that’ look.

“I don’t think you should be working in those dirty mines no way, you’re a young lady, and young ladies don’t belong in mines,” Ma explained looking to me then pa.

“Of course you don’t,” I mumbled then eating a spoon full of corn.

“What did you say?” Ma asked looking to me.

“I said of course you don’t,” I replied looking to her. She looked shocked for a moment that I’d say something like that.

“Emersyn what has gotten into you?” she asked.

“Nothing,” I reply getting up from the table.

“Where are you going?” Ma asked as I walked towards the door.

“For a walk, I promise to be back,” I replied walking out the door. I could hear ma go to say something but pa stopped her.

When I arrived to Willie’s store I sat where I normally did and got a milkshake. As I waited on my milkshake someone sat next to me nudging me in the shoulder.

“Em what the hell are you doing here so late?” Tag asked as I turned to look towards him.

“Ma is trying to take away something I enjoy doing,” I explained propping on my hand.

“She trying to get you out the mines again?” He asked. I nodded my head yes and Willie walked over with my milkshake.

“Here you go kid,” he said sliding to me with a smile.

“Thanks,” I reply with a half attempted smile.

“Why is she trying to take you out of the mines?” Tag asked.

“Because I’m a young lady and young ladies don’t work in dirty places such as mines,” I explained sighing and sipping some of my milkshake.

“Is she only trying to take you out the mines because of the dance coming up?” he questioned.

“I don’t really know, but what I do know is that she doesn’t understand how much I enjoy working down there. It’s like she can’t get it through her head and dad doesn't help at times either,” I added.

“Well why don’t you give her a list of reasons of why you enjoy working down in the mines,” he inquired.

“Pft I highly doubt that will work. I feel like she wants me to be prepared for a stay at home wife when I get older, and I’m honestly not ready for that at all,” I say looking over to him.

“You, a stay at home wife? I can’t even see you doing that,” he said laughing a little.

“Finally someone agrees,” I joke back.

After hanging out with Tag for a while it was getting late and I needed to get back home because I had school tomorrow. “Well I’m about to head home because I have school tomorrow,” I say putting my money for the milkshake on the counter.

“Well I’ll drive you home,” Tag implied as he laid his money on the counter too.

“Alright,” I said laughing a little and we headed out the door. He opened my car door for me this time and closed it after I got in. Hmm that was nice, and unusual.

“So do you need a ride to school in the morning?” Tag asked as he turned to take the long way.

“I mean I can walk like a normal person,” I say looking to him and laughing.

“So I take it as you need a ride. I’ll be there a seven and we can go get breakfast from Willie’s,” he explained.

If you’re wondering why everyone calls him Tag it’s because of his initials. His actual name is Tyler Andrew Grey therefore we call him Tag. I’m honestly shocked I still remember his full name because he’s always been called Tag.

Right now since it’s dark out and the only light sources were the headlights and the full moon I could barely see the features of his face. All I really saw was his facial outline.

“What are you looking at?” He asked turning to look at me for a brief second.

“Nothing,” I say then turning to look out the window.

When we arrived to my house Tag escorted me up to the door. “You know you didn’t have to escort me right?” I say in a whisper looking up to him.