CHAPTER EIGHT

ARC

Arc decided to take a trip to the drug store. His limp was getting much worse and he needed his 'special sunscreen'. It annoyed him to go but it was a basic necessity if he wanted to survive while shoveling pig shit. It was a Sunday, the sun was a bit friendlier and Penelope wasn't around to see him in a bad mood when he got back because he always ended up getting riled the few times he went to town. Penelope mostly did the groceries shopping but he didn't want her to see him as a coward. Or a deformed weakling.

He hopped out the door and locked it, not that they had anything valuable that was worth stealing, they didn't even own a Tv. He hid the key under the flower pot that was one of the few things his Momma had left him. The aloe Vera plant was a thriving nuisance that persisted with little water and lack of care. He'd never considered throwing it away, no matter how much he hated seeing it mocking him at his doorstep. He ran his hands through its spikes and the image of the young snob landing on his butt in pig shit flashed through his mind.

His chest warmed and he felt his lips curving. What was happening to him? He frowned. He needed to stop thinking about him but he couldn't get him out his mind. How could anyone dress like that, those pink skinny jeans were a taboo for someone as skinny as he was. And his name was so breezy, Chelsea. It sounded like the typical name of an American blondie. Not that Chelsea wasn't blond and he sounded and looked American. So intrusive, not caring what the other person thought or felt.

He moved away from the plant. He better get going.

"Arc dear! It's been a while!" He became startled at the voice that bellowed behind him and immediately wanted to race it back to the house. He turned and nodded.

"Good morning Miss Sarah."

"Oh cut it out with the Miss. I've told you for the hundredth time now that just Sarah would be fine. Your sister is more adhesive."

Sarah was a petite jovial thing, dipped in sunshine and sparkles and shaken with optimism to create a nice cool being of goodness. Penelope had described her that way and he was a little in agreement but it irked him sometimes. She was relentless when set on something and he could see it in the way she tapped her sandaled feet, and smiled her usual wide smile when she wanted him to do something she knew he would be reluctant about. She succeeded most of the time.

She'd painted her toes a fiery red and her lipstick matched, her dress was a short flowy flower printed gown. Her big silver ear loops shone in the daylight and he sometimes saw his Momma in her. Now wasn't, thankfully, one of those days. His Momma would never be seen wearing a dress.

"You're looking good this beautiful morning."

He nodded. He knew to never answer when she complimented him. It was always an opportunity to ask about everything else.

"How have you been?"

"Fine."

"Where are you taking off to?"

"The drugstore."

Her face turned sympathetic. "It's gotten bad." It wasn't a question so he didn't answer. She fell quiet, she knew to never try to offer help, the one time she'd tried, he'd reacted not so gratefully.

"You'll take my car then. It needs more driving and you know I prefer walking to bingo Sundays." She didn't let him object. He would never have asked to borrow her car, his pride wouldn't allow it. "And speaking of bingo Sundays, I came to give you this. I'd hoped to catch you and today, I happen to be lucky. Here." She stretched out a small black emblazoned card with a pink ribbon on it. He didn't take it.

"It's an invitation to a new book club that just opened in town. I know you love to read." Penelope and her waggling tongue.

"I'm busy." He said.

"You're always busy. You refuse to go with me to bingo, you were too busy to play badminton last month. You're not getting away this time. It'll be good for you. The host happens to be a very dear friend of mine." She twirled her hair. "And he's a hot thing too." She giggled and waved away at him. He couldn't believe she was close to seventy five and she behaved like a six years old. She looked fragile but she frightened everybody in town. She was rumored to be a little loose in the head and he guessed people might be right most of the time.

"I'm an old lady, nobody has the heart to refuse a sinewy and crinkling aged woman but you are quite the exception Arc. And don't forget, you owe me compensation."

He knew he couldn't get out of whatever she had planned now.

"The ball dear, I saw everything." The way she said it sounded creepy in a way, like she knew it all even before it happened. She was starting to live up to the rumours. Arc didn't know her all too well, she'd moved into the next house a few years ago and had been a thorn in his flesh ever since. She changed personalities, most times she was quiet and knowing, sometimes she was like his mother and a few times, she was her bubbly and spirited self. It confused him. He didn't know what to expect from her when she appeared. Which she did all the time, out of no where.

She smiled reassuringly and pointed at him.

"You don't need to feel embarrassed dear, it's the start of a whole new beginning for you. You're nearly there." She also said weird things like that. One time, she'd told him to hold on, that he'd be happy soon. He didn't feel comfortable around her, like he was exposed in ways that he didn't want to be to anybody. "Anyways." She dropped her hand and her face became saddened. "The mask, you lost it. I felt really bad." She held her chest. "I gave you something important and you lost it." Guilt raided him. "So as penance, you'll attend this book club and not miss a single day of it. That's all it'll take to make my son stop rolling in his grave." She handed him the envelope and he was too bothered to refuse. "Maybe you aren't an exception after all. No one can refuse the saddened face of an old wrinkly lady." She winked. She turned to leave but stopped in her tracks.

"Oh, nearly forgot, here are the keys." She brought out a set of keys from her dress's pocket and jingled it in front of him. She took his right hand and dropped them in his palm. "Drive safely fella. Don't mind the folks yapping. You know the people in this town are mostly senile tots with nothing to do but gossip. Don't believe everything you hear. " She winked and waved at him. Arc stood there and watched her skid to her house, and wondered how a senile woman her age could move like she did. He was barely thirty and his leg was already a crappy bother.

He stared at the bunch of keys in his hands, he knew her extra house keys were among the bunch, and who knew, a secret basement that held a captive prince. He refused to have his head in the clouds, no matter how many fantasy books he read. He knew it was all a lie. There were never happy endings for people like him.

He managed to make it to Sarah's driveway and got in the small newly painted red Honda. She repainted it every month with a color that was much worse than the previous one. It barely fit him since he was way taller than it's owner but he could manage. He shouldn't be familiar with it's controversial decor and glittery steering wheel but he'd driven the car more times than he wanted to. She always had a way of making him do things he wouldn't for other people. It was almost hypnotic.

He shoved the envelope in his right jean pocket and put the car into gear. He drove out of the driveway and was on the road.

Thorne Town was a burgeoning town with tourists piling in year by year. Thankfully, it wasn't tourist season yet which meant less stares and lesser whispers and hushed words. Penelope did the errands then, as understanding as she was of how it made him feel, being a spectacle for people to pounce on. The town folks were used to him but they were worse than the new comers. They didn't hide their words in whispers.

Gaby's store was an old derelict building that nearly nobody frequented anymore. And old Gaby never minded him. He was always glued to those crossword puzzles of his and only paid attention when Arc went to the counter to have his items checked.

He parked by the small building and got out, watching his head against the car's door. He tried making it easy for his right leg but the sharp bites of pain didn't make it easy. He tried hiding his discomfort as he it made into the store.

The doorbell dinged, announcing his arrival, the air stiff and humid as he walked in. Gaby was at his usual spot behind the counter and didn't bother to acknowledge him. He walked past him and went to the drug isle. There wasn't much in the store, just drugs that were near their expiration date and candies that cost less than a penny. Things were cheaper here anyways, and it was always crowded at the fancy stores that the folks preferred.

He picked pain relievers and sunscreen. At least, each had a few months to their expiration date. The bell dinged and a couple of old men rushed in, all engaged in rowdy bickering. He quickly went to the counter and dropped the items on it.

"Howdy Gaby? How've you been?" Old Gaby looked up from his puzzle and glared.

"Oi, don't be like that. Can you be kind enough to fetch us the good stuff? Pete here just received another grandbaby." He could hear them behind him. He stayed still.

"Shouldn't Mary Jane stop producing 'em young uns already? God knows we have too many of them rousing trouble in town lately."

"Come on, don't be like that. We have money, God knows you need it to keep this old shack running." Old Gaby huffed.

"I'll be a minute." He shifted his puzzle aside and went through a door that led to the store room. Arc could feel the prickling gazes behind his back and it annoyed him.

"Well well well, haven't seen you in a long time Arc. How've you been?" He paused, not knowing how to answer. He decided to be quiet.

"Still as silent as ever, ain't you? Quite rude too, just like your Momma. Bitch didn't know when to shut her mouth when she was supposed to."

"And she was quite the tramp too. Spreading 'em legs for whoever wanted in. Bet she'd do me if I'd asked too." They all laughed in unison. He was beginning to regret venturing as far as he did. He was about to leave when Old Gaby appeared with a bottle of unlabeled dark rum. He kept it on the counter and shot them all a glare.

"Why don't y'all leave the boy alone? The rum is on me, it's the least I can do to congratulate you Pete." They all cheered and left, taking the rum with them.

Old Gaby started to put Arc's items in a white foil bag and handed it to him.

"These are on me too, it's the least I can do for being bothered at my store." Arc took it and nodded.

"Thanks." Old Gaby grunted and was bent over his crossword puzzle. Arc gripped the bag and left. He felt nothing as he got into the car and was back on the road.