Chapter 10

7 a.m. the next morning easily made the top 10 list of worst mornings in my life. I had managed to get a sunburn on my head and things hurt in my body that would need a copy of Gray’s Anatomy to explain. I did some stretches before dressing and headed into the kitchen. Mom was drinking a cup of coffee when I walked in and she smiled and said “You were dead to the world when I checked on you last night”

“Yea, I fell asleep right after dinner” I responded. Her expression changed to one of motherly concern “Do you think you should be going out again today?” I didn’t answer right away. My mind said yes of course but my body was screaming NO. “My mind won out after a few seconds and I just said, “yea, I think I need to go out again today.”

Mom’s face clearly showed she was taking my body’s side in this argument but she was conflicted by her concerns for my health and her desire to support my decision. “Alright but drink plenty of water and try to stay out of the direct sun as much as you can, ok?” “Now do want some eggs to start the day?” she asked with a smile back on her face but the concern never left her eyes.

“How about fried a fried egg sandwich, oh can you cook two and I’ll take one to go in case I’m too far from the house to head back at lunchtime?” I asked. As she started cooking I went to the cabinet with meds and band-aids and pulled an envelope. I dropped 2 pieces of toast in the toaster before I headed back to my room.

I put the envelope with the $20.00 in it under my bottom drawer. There was an inch and a half or so gap from the bottom of the drawer to the floor and the dresser sat on the floor with no legs so it was a nice cubby. With the $3.50 left from the gas still in my pocket I headed back to eat breakfast.

So, the Second day, same as the First a little bit slower and a little bit worse. Yea, it doesn’t have the same ring as the original but I was feeling very much like a cheap copy this morning. I headed out with the whole Scooby-Doo lunch box riding on the mower. I had a pen and a folded piece of paper in my pocket so I could write down the address of any house I mowed so I could come back in a week or so and see if I could get a repeat job. I walked and knocked for over 5 hours and only got 4 jobs. Three $5.00 front yards and one $7.00 front and back because she insisted on the small strip in the back before her garden started.

I stopped for gas and still made it home just before Mom went out the door to work. “Are you going back out today?” she asked. The concern clearly showed on her face.

“No, I don’t think so.” I want to go to the Library this afternoon if that’s ok.” I asked.

“Sure, just leave Kevin a note if you think you will still be gone when he gets home and be home for dinner.” She was out the door after that taking my brother to my Aunt’s on her way to work. Kevin would pick him up tonight whenever he got home. 4 P.M. was normal but he never said no if they offered 2 extra hours so 6 P.M. was just as likely.

I could see a pot roast in the crock-pot so dinner was no mystery.

I showered and then spent the afternoon in the Library. All 900 square feet of it. It was a 30-foot by 30-foot building made from these oversized bricks and painted in Shit Brown. I don’t know if it was built as a library or just turned into one at some point.