Page 20 of Patching Over

Me :Because I’m going to need to go to the store soon.

Brick :Add it to your list and we’ll work on it when the weather passes. Me or one of the brothers will take you shopping on Sundays. That work for you?

Me :Yes. Thank you.

Brick :You’re welcome.

Since they’re going to be stubborn about what they pay me, I’ll accept it, but now I need something like a lockbox to secure my money in. Grabbing my ever-present notebook he let me keep, I start a new list of supplies I’ll need to pick up from the store, then go back to my original list and add ‘learn to drive’ at the bottom. Already several things have been crossed off, which makes me smile. “I’m doing it,” I sigh to myself.

With the apartment already spotless and both jobs completed for the day, I decide to walk around town to see the other businesses and window shop. Maybe, if I see some of the items on my list, I can get some of the things I need while intown, who knows? There are a lot of distinctive shops, some are specialty places like the tobacco store, which I don’t need, but I thought I spotted a thrift store. I’d like to get a few things to decorate and personalize my space.

Quickly dressing, I take three hundred dollars of my pay then hide the rest inside my pillowcase until I can get a bank box or something like it. Grabbing my key, I lock the door behind me then head down the stairs. One way will take me into the bar, the other leads to an exit out back. Once outside, I move toward the front where the sidewalks are, then begin walking. It’s a good thing I’m healed because the cooler air has me moving rather quickly. Spying a shop I want to check out, I enter, smiling when a clerk welcomes me.

“Are you looking for anything in particular?” she inquires.

“I just moved into my own apartment so I’m wanting to find some things to brighten it up,” I reply, bouncing excitedly on the balls of my feet.

“I’m Cassandra but most people call me Cassie,” she introduces.

“Rayleigh. I call myself Rae,” I state, grinning at her.

“Let’s go look over here, we just got some new things in from a woman who was renovating her house. Some stuff is modern, and some are antiques, but I bet we can find some stuff you’ll like!”

An hour later, with an overladen cart that has pictures, a canister set for my kitchen, some bowls, a throw for my couch, and a cute basket that I plan to put in my bathroom to hold the towels, I look at her and report, “I think I’ve done some damage here and might have to make two trips to get it all home.”

“Oh! I can take you if you’re not too far,” Cassie offers.

“I live in the apartment over the bar,” I confess.

“Perfect! It’s almost time for me to leave so I can take you then if you’d like?” Her question is somewhat hesitant, but afterall the years living under my parents’ roof, I’ve got an almost sixth sense about people and she isn’t ringing any bells.

“Really? That would be fantastic.”

She starts ringing me up and soon, I’m parting with eighty dollars. “That sounds kind of low to me,” I state suspiciously as I hand the cash over.

“I used my discount. We can do that for friends.”

Friend?

I don’t remember ever having one of those. Even when I was allowed to go to school, I kept to myself because I was ashamed to be there in stained, dirty clothing. I can feel my eyes start to tear up and have to will them not to fall because Cassie won’t understand.

That was then and this is now,I remind myself.

“Thank you. I just started working and moved into my own place. Honestly, all of this is kind of new to me, so I appreciate it more than you know.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad I met someone close to my age because I recently moved into town and haven’t really made any friends.”

“Then I guess we’re like two peas in a pod, huh?” I suggest, giggling. The sound is so foreign yet feels right.

“Yeppers.” Cassie agrees. “Okay, Tish is here so let’s get this loaded into my car and blow this popsicle stand!”

It takes no time at all for us to put it all in the trunk of her car then drive to my place, where she helps me unload the merchandise and carry all of it upstairs. “Oh, this place is so cute!” she enthuses, looking around.

“I like it,” I admit. “Do you want to go get something to eat? My treat.”

“I’ll never turn down food, but you don’t have to do that.”

“Isn’t that what friends do?” I question.

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