Page 27 of Any Second Now
“Maybe on the other side of the RV so no one can really see it? I’m not sure chicken coops are appreciated in the campsite.”
“I think you’re probably right.” Elizabeth chuckles. “So what’s your story, Raleigh? Why are you in Fort Collins in an RV campsite by yourself?” Elizabeth hands me a stake and I push it into the ground, securing one of the corners.
“Heh. That’s a long one.” I push until the stake slides into the soil. “But basically, I just got divorced—again—and needed some time off from my old life. So I bought an RV, took a sabbatical from my job, and started driving.”
“That’s very adventurous of you.” Elizabeth watches me with her hands on her hips.
“I’ve never once in my life been described as adventurous. Now people are using that word but I think they really mean crazy. Or irresponsible.”
“I think it fits.” Elizabeth looks at me, dead serious. “Wait, I mean adventurous, not crazy or irresponsible.”
“Ha.” I don’t want to talk about myself any more. Luckily, she lets it go. “How about you?”
“Well, we’re both teachers. Our daughter just graduated college and is setting up her life in New York City, so we’re spending the summer driving cross country.”
“Must be nice to do it with someone.” I didn’t mean it to come out self-pitying, but I guess it does.
I’ve learned my lesson by now. Marriage isn’t for me. Two divorces should be a serious red flag for any future relationships.
As in, I shouldn’t have any. At least not for a long while.
I don’t trust myself.
“Divorce is hard. I’m sorry you had to go through that.Twice.” Elizabeth hands me a second stake as I scoot to the next corner.
“I’m fine.” I try to chuckle light-heartedly as I lean onto the stake. “One of my best friends lives here but is out of town at the moment, so I’m just going to hang out for a while. I know a few other people.”
“Fort Collins is lovely.” Elizabeth hands me the third stake. “The people here at the campsite seem nice, but if you need anything, you let us know.”
“And I have my chicken.” The third stake slides in. I rip open the food bag and pour some into a bowl, which I place inside the cage next to a water bowl.
For my chicken.
I’m ridiculous.
“I’ll go grab Megghen.”
I enter the Pink Palace and tentatively push the door open. I’m half afraid Megghen’s going to come flying at me and attempt to frighten me to death like she did this morning.
But the trailer is dead quiet. I leave the door open and step inside.
“Chicken?”
No response. I sweep my gaze around the Pink Palace. There’s a flattened pile of cardboard where her makeshift enclosure used to be.
Shit. Okay, so she’s a bit of an escape artist. I can respect that.
“Megghen?”
There’s a pile of chicken poop in front of my closed bedroom door. Gross.
“Come here, chicken.”
There’s aboc-boc-bocnoise from a little nook underneath my sink, and I squat down. She’s wedged herself in. Megghen tilts her head at me.
“Megghen. Out.” I wave my hand and she flutters all at once and out the door, scaring the shit outof me. “Crap!”
I practically leap out of the RV to grab her, but Elizabeth already has Megghen in her grasp.
