“I really wished you would have called me first,” Velda grumbled poking at various parts of Yrsa’s new truck. It was only the second time she had been to the couple’s house yet they treated her like an old friend.
“Why? Is it bad?” Yrsa asked. She was sitting in the same chair from before with Al inside the house getting ice for the sun brewed tea. Yrsa was not quite sure what sun brewed tea was exactly so she tried to get a close look at the little bits of, what she assumed, was fruit at the bottom.
"It's hard to tell without taking anything out yet but judging by this rust some parts need replacing." Velda stepped off the front bumper. "So now you have a choice." The Gremlin leveled Yrsa with a hard look. The sliding door opening interrupted their conversation.
"Uh oh. I know that look." Said Al handing his wife a glass of ice.
"Yeah. I don't think this truck has many trips left in its current condition." Velda walked over to the empty chair across from Yrsa. Tipped back her glass taking one ice cube into her mouth. She milled it in her mouth for a moment before crunching down on it. The sound caused Yrsa's skull to echo it slight sending chills down her spine. She used to make that noise just irritate her brother. Now she can see why he hated it so much.
"I won't be able to take it on my delivery?" Yrsa inquired standing up to walk over to her truck. Out of the corner of her eye holes, she was relieved to see Velda adding tea to her ice. Peering into the dusty engine Yrsa was wondering why she bothered to look, she knew she had no idea what she was looking at.
"For your daily mail drops? Oh no. The terrain is far too rough for this baby right now. However, if you are talking about 'our' delivery a quick trip to the city shouldn't be too hard for him.
"Him?" Yrsa asked looking at the Germlin now sitting where she was just was.
"Yes," She nodded before taking a drink of her tea. "He looks like a Jericho or maybe even a Nightwing."
"Really," Exclaimed Al incredulously. "I was thinking Moondrop." Shaking her head in frustration Yrsa lowered the hood (she knew that much at least) of her truck.
"Whatever its name is, we need to get going. It's bedtime." Yrsa bade goodbye to the couple before heading home.
The unnamed truck gathered dust in front of her RV until the day of the delivery arrived. The Agave was loaded into the back of her truck the day of the delivery.
"Here is a map to the address. And here is a step by step direction guide on how to get there. What else? I think that's it. Alright, drive safe." Al handed the papers haphazardly through the open window. Giving a wave Yrsa back out the driveway and headed towards the interstate.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
There wasn't an official sign stopping her from just merging onto the free from the collective parting the post office shared with the diner. Just gravel that abruptly ended with the black asphalt of the interstate. Still. Yrsa sat with her truck idling on the edge of that gravel parking lot. There wasn't another vehicle for miles still she felt a twinge of fear. Sure her grandfather let her drive the RV but it was only for short stretches of time while him nearby. Now she was utterly alone.
Steeling her nerve she flipped the blinker before turning onto the interstate towards the city.
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Yrsa had been to many cities over the last few years traveling with her grandparents. Many cities embraced the natural resources surrounding them whether it be wind, running water, or even the magic-infused rocks. This city, however, didn't seem to have any of those things. The entire city appeared to be made of clay with glittering black specks embedded in them. As much as she wanted to get out of her truck and investigate she reminded herself she was on a mission.
The map Al gave her was useless since it was from an aerial perspective. Unless she somehow sprung wings there was no way it would be of any real help. In the end, the handwritten instructions that involved both street names, as well as landmarks, got her there without a problem. Following the instructions on the sign in front of the cafe, she drove to the back of the shop to drop off her delivery.
She knocked on the back door to be greeted by the surliest looking fairy she'd ever seen. Her dark eye makeup looked jarring against her glittery ears and wings.
"Nice helmet." Commended the fairy. She sounded as if she had just woken up from a nap.
"I'm not wearing a helmet. This is my head." Yrsa explained not sure how to feel about that comment.
"Oh right on." Nodded the girl still sounding exhausted. There was an awkwardness that stretched between them when the fairy leaned around Yrsa to spot her truck. Yrsa had back up her truck to shorten the distance between the door and the truck bed.
"Is that from Al?" Asked the fairy. Not waiting for an answer she fluttered over to the truck to investigate the jugs.
"Uh, yeah. You see he couldn't make because Velda had a convention and the only have the one vehicle." Yrsa tried to keep the conversation going slipping her hand through two of the large jug's handles. The fairy made a noise in the back her throat. Feeling sheepish Yrsa stopped talking. She knew when someone was listening.
The delivery went quick and Yrsa got her signature stating she indeed delivered the goods on time. Just as quick as she could the fairy went back into the cafe with a click signaling she locked the door. Yrsa got back into her truck to head home.
No longer was she interested in the sparkle of the city. Nor the winged citizens fluttering to and fro various platforms high above her. Ignoring the blatant stares she rested her skull in her hand propped by her elbow in the open window. Let them stare. She didn't care anymore.
She felt numb on the inside. This wasn't how things were supposed to go! Or that's how it felt. Not that she knew what she was expecting. Maybe a life-changing event. A new friend maybe?
Her disappointment carried on until she saw the diner growing larger as she approached. Soon she would be home and then...
Yrsa had no idea what then. She wasn't able to really think upon that idea too long as the truck gave a weird knocking noise before slowing down. Pulling to the side of the road the truck gave a few more jerks forward to then stop entirely. Taking her hands off the wheel she leaned back to ask aloud, "Well now what?"