Page 102 of The Auction
JULIETTE
We stoodin the mud that had just yesterday been our carefully planted rows of sugar beets.
The irony of today was that it was fucking beautiful weather. Sun was shining, sky was blue.
But the land looked like it had all melted into the earth.
“This can’t be real,” he said, looking out at the devastation.
Growing up, we’d only lost a crop once but I remember how devastated Herb had been. How angry he’d been at his god that he’d believed in so desperately. Like he couldn’t understand why he’d been betrayed. As if the drought that summer had been some personal attack on him.
We’d eaten leanly that winter. I couldn’t say I’d gone hungry. But there had been zero extra. Herb had taken some work on a nearby farm and I spent my days thinking about the macaroni and cheese I would make us for supper.
“This is farming,” I said.
Creed looked over at me because he heard thetone in my voice.
A tone I hope communicated every ounce of uncertainty I was feeling in that moment.
You were never cut out for this.
This isn’t your future.
You need to leave now.
Don’t sell the farm out from under me.
Can I have Patch?
I won’t miss you when you’re gone.
How dare you for making me care about you?
I don’t need you. I never did.
Not going to lie, that was a lot to fit into one sentence.
We heard a horn honk and our heads simultaneously turned in the direction of the road.
Neither of our trucks had been spared. It wasn’t that the water had gotten that high, but with the ground so hard, it had moved through the valley like a river. It swept both trucks up and dumped them about ten feet away in a hole of wet mud.
Creed had tried with all his power, and my measly strength, to push them out, but the tires were sucked down deep in the mud.
We both figured eventually the mud would dry out and we could try again.
Mr. Talley and Jackson hopped out of their truck, both waving in our direction.
I waved back.
They approached us with somber expressions, as only folks from around these parts knew how to do. It was a mix of regret, sorrow, and sympathy. Mixed with a splash of righteousness. For these were the inherit risks of trying to make a living off the land and we all knew it.
“Creed, I don’t think you know Mr. Talley,” I said, by way of introduction.
“Jake,” Mr. Talley said, offering his hand to Creed, which he shook. “Jackson and I have been driving around to the neighbors checking in. Happy to see you’re both okay.”
Okay was a slight overstatement.
Creed nodded. “Appreciate it.”
