Page 61 of Run Away Home: Tempered

I stop and stare at the aisle in front of me. Wow...Look at all this bread. Just an aisle full of bread. An aisle dedicated solely to bread, all in colorful packaging. There’s way more here than could ever be eaten, I think. I’d imagine a lot of it must go to waste. It’s unfortunate, really.

What if the people back at home could see this? There are so many choices. It’s overwhelming.

No matter how many times I see these stores, they still astound me. It’s incredible. Something like this back at home would have changed all of our lives. Not that anyone there would have wanted that change. They would have forbid that change. That basturt, Glas—

“...and even Hayley said so too!”

“Excuse me, Hayley said what?” I pick up a loaf of bread, returning to the here and now.

“Oh, right. That’s what you care about.” He grabs the cart, pushes it quickly, and lifts himself onto it. He coasts down the aisle.

“Danny!” I chase after him.

He jumps off the cart and turns around to look at me with his hands raised in angry confusion.

“Don’t do that.” I grab the cart firmly. “Just... Go pick a dessert.” I signal to the cakes and pastries up ahead. That will keep him busy for a few minutes, maybe.

“Fine!” He puts his hood up, shoves his hands in his pockets, and walks away from me.

Jesus Christ, Mary, and St. Joseph...

I watch as he picks up the first container he sees. He holds it up high in the air as he walks back toward me.

“Take your hood down, it’s disrespectful.”

He approaches and chucks the package into the cart. “To who? God?”

“Exactly, to God. Take it off because I said so.”

I reach in the cart and pull the package out. Cream buns?Of course...

“Can we afford that? Or are we too poor?” he asks.

I look up at him.

“No, we can get this.” I say quietly.

“Great. Wonderful. Terrific.” He turns around and stomps down the next aisle. His hood is still covering his head. I sigh and follow. Around the corner, there’s an abundance of rainbow-colored produce, delivered from all over the world; suddenly, I’m in awe all over again.

Nobody

IT’S A LONG WALK TOthe nearest markets. There’s also a few bed-and-breakfasts and some new tourist attractions. I actually enjoy when Ma sends me down here to fetch something. I get to see people—anyone other than the ones that live on or near our farm—and some come from all around the world. Mostly, I like going to the markets so that I can learn more English.

When I enter Glas’ bakery, I see a family of three—a ma, a da, and a girl about my age. The girl is wearing ripped blue jeans and pink hiking boots. They’re not ripped from hard work, though. Some tourists think ripped clothing is fashionable. I’ve learned that. She has on a matching pink, lacey blouse. Her rose-gold sunglasses are on top of her perfectly straight, glossy red hair.

God, she’s beautiful. What would a girl like her want with a boy like me? I look down at my muddy boots and my worn-out blue jeans. I’ll keep my distance and admire her from afar.

“This shop is just so charming!” she says to Mr. Glas in Gaelic.

Wow. A tourist who can speak Gaelic. Impressive.

Mr. Glas looks past her and straight at me. “Eh, how are you, lad? It’s good to see you.”

I approach the dusty, wooden counter. “I’m all right. I need a loaf of wheat bread, and whatever those pastries are that my brother likes. Three of them.”

“The cream buns?”

“I don’t know, he says they’re different than normal cream buns.”

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