Page 21 of Clear Path

“Two years now. Full scholarship to Penn.” Pride warmed Will’s voice. “Jessie’s one heck of smart kid. Getting an engineering degree. Says she’s going to come back and help revitalize places like Clarksville, but ….” He trailed off and focused on his burger.

“But you’re not sure she will,” Bodhi finished.

Will swallowed a bite. “I’m not sure sheshould. This place can’t compete with the opportunities in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. I won’t blame her if she stays away. Most young folks do.”

They finished their meal. While Will prepped for the next day, Bodhi washed and dried the dishes. As Will turned out the lights and rolled down the metal door, a car sped into the lot, spraying gravel in its wake.

They turned to see two men stepping out of a silver sports car, its engine still running. Bodhi couldn’t see their faces because they were backlit by the car’s bright LED headlights.

“Sorry, we’re closed,” Will called, shielding his eyes.

“We’re famished. If you reopen, we’ll make it worth your while,” the driver countered.

From his tone, Bodhi guessed he was no stranger to solving his problems with money.

“Sorry,” Will repeated flatly.

“Come on, pal,” the second man entreated.

Bodhi strained to make out any details about the pair. He thought they might be wearing hiking or biking clothes despite arriving in a car. He hoped they weren’t planning to stay at the bedbug motel before starting on the trail.

“You should head about twenty miles west. You’ll hit a town called Clayton Falls. They have restaurants that stay open late.”

“That’s backtracking,” the driver protested. “We’re hiking toward Cumberland.”

“Looks to me like you’re driving.” Will turned his back, ending the conversation, and started up the driveway.

After a moment, Bodhi followed him. Behind him, the car doors slammed, the engine roared back to life, and the pair departed with a squeal of tires.

Will and Bodhi settled on Will’s back porch with cold drinks from his kitchen—a craft beer for Will, a glass of lemonade for Bodhi. The night was cool but not uncomfortable, filled with the gentle chorus of frogs from the lake and the distant hoot of an owl.

Will took a long pull from his beer and then resumed their conversation about young people leaving the town as if it had never been paused. “When they first converted the old rail line to a trail, folks around here thought it would be our salvation. Tourism dollars, new businesses catering to cyclists and hikers. Some towns saw that happen. This one, not so much.”

“What do you think accounts for the difference?”

“Location, partly. Scenery. Existing infrastructure.” Will gestured with his bottle. “But I think it’s mostly about investment. Money flows toward money, right? Towns like Union Hill had people with capital come in, buy up property, and create that quaint trail town vibe that attracts the wealthy outdoors crowd. Why break ground here and start from scratch when you could go someplace already established?”

“You just need one investor willing to take a leap of faith.”

Will shook his head. “Who, some rich prick like those guys who wanted me to reopen the shack? I’ll pass.”

“No, not outsiders. Surely there’s a community organization that could provide seed money or a grant.”

“That’s a double-edge sword. Look at Clayton Falls. Like I said, they got an economic development grant from the county tourism board and started fixing up the square. But the grant wasn’t renewed, and now despite that little pocket of prosperity, the rest of town is in worse shape than it was in the first place. All they managed to do was create the haves and the have nots.”

Bodhi thought of Joey, out of options and drowning his pain, and nodded. “I get it.”

Will mused, “It’s too late for us. Clarksville’s been left behind. The cyclists and hikers only stop here for water, maybe a quick bite, and then they’re on their way to the nicer towns. I don’t blame them. I’d probably do the same in their shoes.”

He drained his beer bottle, then stretched and yawned. “Anyway, I should turn in. Early start tomorrow.”

Bodhi followed him inside. He brushed his teeth, stretched his tired body, and climbed into the twin bed in Jessie’s room, surrounded by foxes, floppy-eared rabbits, and teddy bears of all sizes. Within minutes, the faint sound of the lake waters lapping against the shore lulled him to sleep.

12

Union Hill

When Rory returned to her studio, her conversation with Professor Jeffries was still buzzing in her mind. Evan had been encouraging but pragmatic: without the backing of an established gallery like Hot Metal, she needed to create something different, something that would generate its own attention.

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