"So... where to next, Am?" Baun said, his trained concentration showing at the helm of his truck.
I sat there in his truck, completely silent and looking into the road ahead. He drove almost aimlessly; I'd lost track of where we'd ended up at, but it didn't matter much since I was hardly present in the space. I was lost in thought, something rubbing me the wrong way. Something stuck to the back of my head, a nagging, motherfucker of a tick, and it irritated me knowing I had no way of reaching back there.
I sighed, leaning against the arm of the door and massaging my forehead in an attempt to force the thought to resurface. The deeper I dug, the farther it was from me, and I silently panicked, knowing for sure this was important.
"Is everything alright over there?" Baun called, trying to keep his attention on the wheel.
"I--" I stuttered. "My head... I know I'm missing something; something important."
"I don't know for sure if it'd work for you, but it normally helps to retrace your steps in situations where you're stumped like that."
"I thought that was more for forgetting something tangible than a thought."
"Just try it, man." He insisted, annoyed. "If it doesn't work, then I'll just take you home."
I submitted and sifted through the most recent things that'd happened. I'd woke up with the python in my bed, went to school, met Tyriq at the pit, and ended up here. The moments were fresh in my mind, so I quickly gave a response.
"We met Tyriq, climbed in the car..." Baun waved me to a pause.
"Not so recent." He urged. "I'm talking days and the most noteworthy events of them."
"I don't think it'd be that far back though..." I thought for a moment. "The most noteworthy thing I can think of is..."
///
Tora, we'd both forgotten about Tora. It was like a seal was etched on the very thought of her existence, and we both sat in the truck, ashamed and heading in the direction of her house. To think, the one person I'd been set on inviting myself was the last person we were ever going to invite to the party.
What friends we'd become...
Thinking back to our conversation on the phone, I was too absorbed in teaching that I'd completely disregarded that part of the reason Baun'd even given me her number; maybe I was even more engrossed in myself and my desire to leave the conversation. No words were shared for the rest of the ride, and the silence held a constant ring in the space, a reminder of our flub.
///
The truck finally came to a halt at the paved driveway of a large ranch, livestock surrounding the home at it's center. We'd entered, passing a sign that read, "Fletchlin Fields," adding a distinct atmosphere to the space. Besides the smell lingering in the air, the place had a sense of familiarity to it, though I'd only been there once before. Even through the truck, I felt more at ease, taking a deep breath in and out.
"I'll take the lead on this one." I said, cracking the door to the truck. "Since you took the full blunt of the last one, I owe you one."
"Whatever you say, man." Baun said disinterested. "This ones ten times easier than the shit you pulled."
I stepped down from the truck, taking a full blast from the orange sun in the sky. I closed the door behind me, took a glance around, and headed toward the wooden door of the large home, markings etched in the door's surface. Wind rustled the tan wheat, a brisk current constantly flowing and churning. The whistle it made was soothing, and I took a second, standing in front of the door while knowing I'd have to leave soon enough.
'I wonder who'll answer the door first.' I thought, raising my hand.
I knocked twice, loud enough to be heard yet soft enough to not raise alarm. I stepped back with butterflies in my stomach, the anticipation killing me slowly. I waited as the sound of footsteps crept toward the door, rapid and disorderly. As if from instinct, I gulped as I sensed the eyes beyond that peep hole, lingering until I felt they'd reached my very soul. The feeling measured my body throughout until stopping at my face, stopping the indirect frisking entirely.
A lock on the door unhinged and, after that, two more. The door creaked open, but by the time I'd laid eyes upon the opening, it was already much too late. Three figures pounced on me, pushing me into the stained grass below. They gripped at my clothing, slamming my torso into the ground repeatedly until my vision became hazy.
They laughed like fools, fumbling around where I lie in some deranged fit. The onslaught sent me into a daze, and in shock, it took me that split moment to process the situation before I took action, the assailants still unidentified. I struggled, pushing them away one by one until I was free, forcing myself back to my feet. I panted, begging for air as I tried to find the composure to focus on the three lunatics lying face-first in the grass, and as my reason returned, I was confused, lowering my guard.
"Big bro!" The three boys shouted in my direction, pulling themselves from the manure-littered grass.
I looked at them, straining to remember who they were. Nate, Dick, and Tommy, Tora's little brothers, had grown so much that I hardly recognized them, especially given that scuffle. I was much more surprised that they remembered me; I'd only been to her house one time, and it was four-plus years ago.
I extended my arms as they ran up to me, doing to same.
"Don't scare me like that, guys." We embraced, rubbing fresh shit along our clothes.
My sweatshirt was likely ruined by that one gesture; I could only imagine how my back looked from that landing. Angry as I would've been, I laughed it off, knowing full well who I was around and how I should carry myself.
"You guys remember me from all those years?" I said, brushing their hair around in good sport.
"Of course, we do, big bro!" They yelled in unison, a reoccurring trend.
I could get used to being called big bro.
I subtly and politely ended the embrace, pushing the three of them in front of me. I knelt down to their size, trying my best to look at all three of them in the eyes.
"All three of you..." I started. "How big you guys have gotten..."
"Why're ya here again, big bro?" Dick asked, yearning for my answer. "Don't you live way close to the city?"
"I wanted to talk to your sister, Tora." I responded. "Is she home?"
"Big sis?" Tommy interjected. "Yeah, she should be in 'er room. We'll show ya around."
They walked into the house, and I followed suit, closing the door behind us. I felt bad dragging dirt into their house, but the three of them were unfazed, confidently leading me through the dim living room right past the door. But as I approached the light, a small "shk" sound halted all movement, and a voice resonated with my being, freezing me solid.
"Hey, boy." A man's voice beckoned, and I turned around slowly.
Before me was a man clad in blue overalls, his body completely covered in muscle and soot. In his hands was a twelve-gauge shotgun, primed with a shell lying on the floor beneath him. My heart sank as he looked me dead in the eyes, a deathly stare that nearly did me off alone.
"I'll be damned to hell and back..." He mumbled with southern twang. "...thinking a punk like you'd have the balls to step foot in my house again..."