Chapter 1
Living in a busy city for most of my life made me realize the world is a crazy place full of crazier people. One of the crazies happened to be my step parents and it’s always so fun to talk about them - note the underlying tone of sarcasm - but I would rather be gorging on something delicious and not trying to make myself throw up the contents of my stomach, you understand. I was a teacher at a public school with enough reasons to give someone a heart attack from the miserly school management plus pay and generally frustrating students and barely uninterested parents and I started working there, straight out of the university in the hopes or guise even, of saving up to be able to publish my book. That was the plan but after five years, the expenses cutting my throat and the fact I didn’t have the energy to write anymore, I decided to cut my losses and move on to something different. Somewhere different. I sold all my furniture , put my china plates in a cardboard box, trashed my teacher—looking clothes that made me look older than my twenty eight years , got in my car—graduation present from my step parents and found myself in a cozy town with a scenery to die for, a peaceful serenity that was just perfect for me to start writing again.
I’d been living in a motel that made me feel like it was free because it was really inexpensive and no matter how tempting it seemed, I knew for a fact I couldn’t live like that forever so I took my car into town to get some little personal things, window shop and look for an apartment and possibly a job —preferably one that wouldn’t kill my inspiration and take all of my time.
The town is built close to the mountains so its a little cold. I pulled my thin sweater shirt tighter around myself, making a mental note like I had done many other times, to get a new one even though I know I wouldn’t because I always forget. I parked my car close to the fountain in the middle of the town and I know it is the centre because there is a sign that literally said so when I came out of my car to peruse the area with my eyes. The surrounding area is full of architecturally mismatched buildings and personable colors that make the place look cosy and feel like a storybook. I walked into an antique shop with a glass door. There was no one at the counter and I was just about to walk out when I hear a voice.
“Hi there”.
She’s tall and a little on the big side, dressed in a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Her hair is a fiery red and her eyes are wide and bluish—green. I’m just standing feeling like a pauper in my 5′3 body and comfy worn out sneakers and my general combination of colors that I shouldn’t wear together. I clear my throat and offer a smile.
“Hi. Sorry I just walked in. I was looking for a place to stay . And a job” I added, I noticed her left brow shifted a bit. Other than that, she had no tell tale expression on her face “Kind of sounds silly looking for the two but I’m new in town ”.
“Ah..OK then. I’m Amelia. Welcome to Georgetown”.
“Thank you. I’m Meredith Lauper” .
“Lauper..” she plays with the name a bit “You’re not from around here are you?”.
“Nope. Looking for a bit of quiet”.
“Big city girl?”.
“You could say that” I chuckle, suddenly feeling hot with her eyes just staring straight at me “Anyway...bye..”. I turn on my heels to begin my awkward filled exit.
“Well I don’t know about a job but I know where you could stay if you’re interested”.
“Oh yes. Please. I would appreciate that a whole lot”.
She asks for my telephone number and give hers to me promising to call by evening.
I spend the rest of my day taking care of my laundry and contemplating on visiting the salon but I was far too lazy for that.
At exactly five p.m my phone rings — I noticed the time because a show I like just came on the TV.
“Hello. This is Meredith”.
“It’s Amelia. If you aren’t busy, you could come see the place”.
I’m shocked at how fast that happened but I wasn’t one to take a gift horse in the mouth.
