Page 17 of Beauty and the Beard

There’s also a small building in front that appears to be the store he used to sell from. Grass and weeds surround it and the only building in recent use appears to be the Sweet Shack.

Snapping photos of it all and changing lenses, I take as many photos as I can before heading back for dinner. There’s a feeling here that’s off. It’s hopeful and sad at once. While Leaf spoke of this place with happiness, I feel like it might also be too much for him to come here.

A motor sounds as I walk down the path and an ATV barrels down the lane towards me, stopping next to me with a dusty skid. Another giant of a man is driving and I wonder if they just grow them big here.

“Are you Sasha?”

“Uh, yes?”

“I’m Perry. I saw you heading this way earlier, and it didn’t look like you were prepared for evening mosquitos. I thought I’d come and offer you a ride back to the lodge.”

“I, ah, don’t have a helmet, though.”

Eyeing the machine he’s driving, I’m not sure how I feel about riding in it. There’re no doors or seatbelts and it’s very, very dusty. I may be here for new experiences, but also, I did my hair.

Perry smirks, pulls a blanket out of a bag at his feet, and lays it across the seat.

“You don’t need a helmet for this. Don’t mess your hair. Although Leaf might like seeing you in a helmet… just sayin’.”

My heart thumps against my chest. Leaf would like me to wear a helmet? Should I?

“Uh, why is that?”

Perry grins and slaps the seat next to him.

“Get in. Because he’s my brother and I know him well.”

I do as he asks, and he holds out a helmet for me. It’s black with orange flames up the side and it’s kind of badass. I think I’dlike to feel like a badass just once. After settling it on my head, I hand Perry my phone.

“Do you mind snapping a pic of me? My friend won’t believe I did something like this.”

He takes the photo, and when he passes the phone back, a laugh bubbles out of me.

“Okay, Perry. Punch it.”

He booms a laugh so loud it almost drowns out the motor of the machine.

“Are you aStar Warsfan? I’m notChewbacca. But I like it. Now hold on to your potatoes. It’s not warp speed, but we’ll go fast.”

Gripping the handle above my head hard enough to turn my knuckles white, I nod. Perry spins the tires before swinging us in a circle and blasting back down the drive to the main road. It’s fast. It’s scary and I’m laughing and screaming like the world will end the entire time.

When he pulls up at the lodge, it’s barely been a few minutes since I sat on the four wheeled machine, but I’m dusty and my cheeks hurt from laughing. Perry kills the engine and helps me unbuckle the helmet.

“There’s a washroom just inside the lodge near the reception desk. You might want to pop in there and wash the dust from your face. Did you like the ride?”

“I’m not a fan of getting so dusty, but it was like an amusement park ride! So yes, I liked it.”

“Great. I’ll see you around. Maybe I’ll take you out again if you want.”

“Yeah! I’d love that, thanks!”

Perry takes off and I enter the lodge with possibly the biggest smile on my face in my life. I see the sign for the washroom and head to it, but stop when I hear Leaf’s voice. He’s in thereception room and it sounds like he’s on the phone since I don’t hear any other voices.

“I’m sorry. I just don’t do the syrup like I used to. It’s just a hobby for me and to supply the lodge. I wish I could help.”

There’s a long silence and I peek around the corner as Leaf turns and finds me in the door way.

“Thank you for the interest.”

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