Page 18 of Shattered Echoes

“I'll be damned… Isn't that the younger Amato brother?” she asks.

I wave at her.

“It's Antonio, isn't it?” She grins widely.

“Hello, Mrs. Jenkins,” I give her a faint smile.

She goes around the counter and soon materializes before me.

“It is you,” she says and embraces me. “Goodness boy! How long has it been? Look at you, all grown up!” Dottie's eyes size me up.

Again. Dramatic.

Her daughter almost blows a raspberry, but she just shakes her head and rolls her eyes. The kid is obviously embarrassed by her mother's melodrama. She walks away to another customer, leaving me to deal with Dottie all by myself.

“It's nice to see your diner is still up and running,” I indulge her.

“Oh, what can I say?” She blushes, trying to be modest. “Why didn't you say hello when you came in?”

“You were busy, and I didn't want to disturb you,” I reply.

“Nonsense!” she debunks my excuse. “Dottie always has time for old acquaintances,” she continues. “And I was just telling them about the mysterious street artist in town, you know.” She giggles, and covering one side of her mouth with her hand, she whispers. “The one keeping Sheriff Reed on his toes.”

I laugh lightly.

“For some time now, buildings in the town have been coming alive with street art and believe me, the art is so good.” She pauses as if to think. “It's disturbing and sorrowful sometimes, but it's fantastic.” Dottie cocks her head at me. “Have you seen any of the paintings?”

I chuckle to myself.

“No…unfortunately not.”

She's about to say something when her attention is called upon behind the counter. Dottie excuses herself and pleads with me to let her go attend to what needs her attention.

Relieved that I'm finally free, I tell her it's fine. She thanks me and rushes away.

“Oh, and…welcome back to Shadow's Bend, Antonio,” she calls back.

I smile and find a vacant seat where I sit and order my breakfast.

_________

After having my breakfast at Dottie's, I continue with my shopping in a nearby mall and while at it, I can't help but wonder who this mysterious street artist is, and why the town's talking about their work.

As I walk down the candy aisle, I see a newspaper stand at a corner and head over there. There's a photo of a painting on a wall on the front page of one paper that captivates my attention.

I pick it up and stare at the painting; it's a beautiful woman with hallowed eyes and pale skin. There is something about that painting that gives me the creeps. The woman in the painting is gorgeous but seems sad. The image gives off a horrible aura that reminds me of my life.

Dottie was right. This is sorrowful and disturbing.

“Good art,” a voice speaks beside me.

I turn to face the speaker.

“But it still doesn't change the fact that they're destroying public property.” It's Sheriff Reed.

He's a lot older, and I almost didn't recognize him with the beard, but I can't forget the sound of that voice. He was the Sheriff before I left the town, and apparently he still is. He's standing before me in his uniform that commands respect.

“Hello, young Amato.”

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