I packed my stuff and made my way north, stopping at a few In & Suites along the way. I stop for gas only to catch the eye of a really creepy looking guy smirking at me from across the lot, pumping gas into his busted up Chevy, jerking the handle in a very inappropriately implied manner. He winks and I gag, which seems to turn him on more. I personally don't fathom why men are attracted to me so much. It makes no sense whatsoever. I get it, boobs and butt and the stupid thing that became so darn important and apparently there after fourteen. I don't see the big deal. I can make babies, so what?
I finish pumping gas and put the nozzle back on the machine and look up. He's not there... but the truck is. I shiver and look around, but nobody is near.
Suddenly a hand covers over my mouth, sweaty and rough, and tightly curved around my mouth, making my jaw ache. Normally when Dewey was alive and did this when we were playing, I'd lick his hand, but now? With this dirty, literally, filthy hand covered in things possibly unknown to science, covering my face, I don't think I want to; nor do I think it would have any effect at all. I lift up my foot, the big hairy man distracted, and slam my heel down on the top of his foot. He howls and his hands fall to grab his foot, hopping up and down.
I jab my elbow into his stomach and he doubles over, one hand on the first struck part and his other arm around his sides. Taking this opportunity, I get into my car and slam the door, locking it before I start the vehicle, no fucks given to a damn seat belt at the moment and I press hard on the gas, quickly escaping the gas station. I glance in my rear view for the man to double check he is still out of commission, and he is still bent over, panting in pain. My eyes focus back on the road and fly down the empty highway into the deserted wilderness.
Paved road turned to gravel road, and I had slowed down a few miles back after I got a good distance away from the creepy man and his truck. Haven't seen him on the road either, which is either a good sign, or a scary one, all things considered. I hit the county line and arrive in Kenosha, and make my way up to Superior in the top North West part of Wisconsin. Trees everywhere, nothing like back home.
I find my way to the cabin by the Great Lake Superior, and pull into the dirt driveway. My nearest neighbor just above five miles south of me.
There is a decent sized pond just two hundred yards away from the cabin. I'll probably end up spending most of my time there instead of elsewhere. I take my luggage, the few boxes of belongings and a suitcase of clothes I had decided to bring with me, and head towards the house, arms full. After setting everything down in the half empty living room, I look around. Any furniture that is in here, is covered in plastic; a couch, two love seats and a coffee table. Dust everywhere, I sneeze.
I feel like I am being watched, and so I look around me to see if anyone is there. Nothing.
I pick up my stuff, and haul up the stairs, boards creaking underneath me, my footprints left behind in the dust, almost like walking through snow. I reach the next level of the house and find myself in a one way hallway, two bedrooms on my left, one on my right, and then a bathroom after the first bedroom also on the right side with a closet at the end of the hall next to a window; it is a walk-in closet.
I pick the room across from the bathroom and set my things down inside, and leave the door open, then head downstairs. I find my way to the kitchen, dustier somehow than the entire living room, and walk out certain that if there is any food here at all, it's no longer worth a bother. I head back out into the living room.
"I need to go get supplies to clean this place up, sadly it's going to take forever." I grab my purse from my room upstairs where I left it and head back out to my car, still unlocked because of course I live in the middle of nowhere.
I head into town, finding the nearest Walmart, and I park my car; a truck, technically, my black Ford F150 in a space all the way in the back. Once I'm inside, I don't know where to start, so I close my eyes and circle for ten seconds and the head in that direction, looking around for something I might need. I turn the corner and realize I do not have a buggy, but luck is with me and I find an empty, abandoned one on the next aisle.
Cleaners. Perfect. I grab two bottles of all purpose cleaner, one bleach, one Windex, three rolls of paper towels; I have no idea how many windows there are, and some toilet paper and laundry detergent. I hit the next few aisles and find a vacuum cleaner for the carpet, as well as a carpet cleaner. I grab a new shower curtain along with a few bathroom essentials. The last things I get are wood clothes clips, and a huge thing of yarn, with a kiddie pool to do my laundry. I already checked the utility room, and there is no washer or dryer. Not even in the adjoined garage.
I check out at the register, and help the service lady bag my groceries, I had also gotten food. I put it all in my buggy, then take it out to my truck and load it in the backseats, and push the cart to a slot. I drive home and unload everything, then get straight to work, taking off all the plastic, dusting, spraying windows, wiping countertops and basically every surface I see or touch. I haven't even though about the bathroom yet, didn't take the time to notice how filthy it was when I had done inventory of supplies. It wasn't too bad, surprisingly.
Everything was pretty, a nice orange-tinted brown. This is my home for now. Possibly permanent, and I am so ready for the rest of my life to start.