CHAPTER 1 – Moving Day

Moving day had arrived like it had many times before. It was always the same, a mad rush trying to not forget things which more times than one we had occasionally forgot an odd box here and there, but to be honest my aunty did it on purpose. She would buy things on the whim and would soon forget the stuff from last season. I live with my aunty Carol she has looked after me since I was about 5 years old. She was my mum’s younger sister; she was not quite ready to take on a child at such a young age of 21. I feel sorry for her, she should have been out celebrating and yahooing about seeing as the legal age to drink in the USA was 21, but instead she got lumbered with me. A decision she did not have a choice in but something she had to do. She made a promise to my mum that she would take care of me if anything were to happen to my mum and dad, but Carol never thought it would have become a reality.

Carol told me only the details I needed to know about what happened to my parents. They died in a car accident on a remote highway, said it was a lone truck driver who fell asleep at the wheel and collided with them. When the police arrived on the scene the truck driver had run away never to be seen or heard of again, they don’t even know his name as the company was dodgy and had hired an illegal immigrant with no paperwork.

I try not to think of that day, and Carol and I for the most part have never mentioned what happened that day, I know it hurts her just as much as me. But maybe I think it is for the best for both of us.

I had narrowed my belongings into about 4 boxes, I got so used to moving around because of Carols job, it required her to move about, but she never really settled into where they put her. She had the choice more than once to settle in a location, but she can be fussy at times.

“Don’t forget you start school a week this Monday” hollered Carol up the stairs, in between signing the paperwork for the delivery guys to take our boxes of stuff. Most houses we stayed in had pre furnished furniture, so we only needed to take the necessities.

“yeah, I know” I hollered back from my bedroom back down the stairs, “just like every other time we move, always a week after we arrive” I mumbled to myself. Carol in fairness was good like that, she let me explore the area we stayed in, so I got used to my surroundings. She used to take me around herself when I was younger, but in 6 months’ time I will be 16 so she figured I’m trustworthy enough. But it is kind of embarrassing having Aunt Carol flap when I wanted to go out, she said it is for my own safety. I am sure she is just being overprotective.

I am not a bad kid by any means, I could not be if I tried it was not in me. I mainly kept to myself, never really had time to make friends. As I didn’t live in the area long enough. I think this house was a record of nearly one and a half years. But I put that down to house being so modern with all the nice little gadgets. Carol was like me in many ways, she liked to keep to herself. We both shared the cooking and cleaning, which I did not mind, at least it taught me to feed myself. I did often wonder what it would be like to have a normal family. You know the one where your dad would teach you sports, or your mum would cook your favorite meal. All sit at a table together rather than sitting in your room or at the kitchen counter if the house had one that is. It was rare Carol and I sat together to eat, kind of awkward. She tried to ask how my day was and if I made friends, but it never panned out to a conversation I usually replied glumly with “yeah it was alright”. I tried when I was younger to tell her I made friends, but as I got older, she saw through my lies and knew I didn’t. So that is why she does not ask, probably embarrassed for me. I know she could not talk though either as she hasn’t had a single boyfriend in all the places we go. She is not a horrible looking lady or anything, she is still young and youthful. Her hair though… did give away she was a work acholic along with her bags under her eyes from staring at the computer screen too much, or all the meetings she had to attend to.

“Hey Oslow, let’s get a move on our drive is going to be the longest we have done yet” hollered Carol again.

I lifted my box up and carried it down handing it to the delivery guys, they are going to deliver it a day after we arrive.

Aunt Carol ran her fingers through her long wavy brown hair, her high cheek bones were flared up red and it added to her distressed look, she was juggling the move and work as usual. I never took her mood swings personally as I know she did her best and I was grateful to see different places in the US, but this move was slightly longer… ok it was crazy long. Driving from Dallas Texas to Huntsville Ontario Canada. I already did the research on my old laptop; it said this drive was going to take about 22 hours according to google maps , but realistically if Carol did her usual driving speed and taking in account the two stop over at a motel should make it by late Sunday evening. Carols new car, which is not even a month old, was a new Toyota Rav 4 hybrid, it was a cool color for a change compared to the other cars she drove. Blueprint midnight with a black roof, I must say it looked very flashy and I approved. But I just hope her driving was ok, as she suffers with the memory of what happened with my parents so she drives very cautious always reminding to buckle up and double checking that my buckle is done up properly for me even though the latest cars notify if a seat belt is unfastened, and besides I am nearly 16 I did not need help with it. But she insisted it was like her OCD check before she would start driving.

I marched about moving what was left and giving it to the removal guys. I went back upstairs grabbed my rucksack ready for the trip ahead and took one last look out my window down the street with nice modern houses and neat kept lawns and tidy curbs. I would of not mind living here a little longer I thought to myself. I then checked the rooms upstairs for any belongings but this time round it was empty. I walked down the nice marble stairs and into the hallway. Aunt Carol stood in the doorway and waved bye to the deliver guys and then stepped inside and shut the door behind her. She looked about the empty house and exhaled in relief. Her eyes caught mine, knowing that she knew moving about so much was a pain, but it was something they had to do. “you know the place we are going to will be great I promise. Work has arranged a good house for us” she said placing a hand on my shoulder.

“yeah I know” I lied, this was a pretty good place and I found it hard that something could be better than it.

“And the school looks good” Aunt Carol sheepishly said as I knew she had not looked at it yet. She just signs the forms that I fill out so that I could attend.

“It looks great, I already looked it up a few weeks ago” I lied again, it looked way out of my league, Huntsville High school looked over whelming with sports fanatics. They had NFL, Basketball, Cheerleader teams, just to name a few. And a cross country running team, which I did not mind the look of. Kind of cool running a course through the woods. But all sports and I apart from running did not gel well. It was too competitive for me. I was more of a lone wolf type of sports guy. So that is why cross country interested me, no one to have to pass a ball to, or needed some elite skill just my legs which I could deal with, anything more than one body part and I would struggle.

“So, your looking forward to it? I hear there is a national park, maybe we could spend a day there, or go on a picnic? Aunt Carol expressed with a cheap smile, searching for her keys in her pin lined trouser pockets. She would wear nice clothes all year round even when cleaning the house or when she had the time that was. She was always dressed up in case she had to dash out to a meeting or meet a new client.

I know she didn’t mean it; we rarely did any trips and my life was pretty average but maybe this town would be something better to explore rather than the usual concrete playgrounds that I am usually used to.

I let out a high pitch whistle and Aunt carols keys beeped from under the sofa that belonged to the house. “I got you that so you wouldn’t have to keep losing them Aunt Carol” I cracked a weak smile trying to be cheery about the move. “And yeah that sounds great”.

I bought her a key finder last Christmas, she usually gives me a handful of cash to go buy things, but I was quite happy with my stuff I have had for a few years now. She always insists on getting newer like her, but I was not fussed. Aunt Carol never let me go without and the food she bought was usually the finest, well most of them being takeaway meals…

Come to think of it I would have to think of something for Christmas this year, it was pretty easy in fairness, just buy something that reminded her to do x or y, as she would forget about her everyday life things, as they seemed to take a back burner as opposed to her work which she knew how to organize and do back to front. I got used to Christmas just the two of us, it was the one day a year she did not work, but that is only because work would not permit her to do so.

“Thanks just got to remember how to whistle” she said trying to make a joke which never ended up working as comical talk was not her strong point “Let’s do one more sweep of the house and hit the road kiddo” She replied grabbing her key which dangled next to a small keyring picture frame with a picture of my mum in it. Carol and my mum were close. They had no other family other than each other. Well that they knew of, or that I knew of anyway.

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After my mum and dad died, Carol got her job in a high working-class position being an art dealer and events coordinator and has not looked back.

I waited for Carol to put her last bag in the back of the car and I closed the boot. I hopped in the front seat of the car and made sure Aunt Carol could see I was plugged in and took one last look of the house through the car window seeing my reflection, I could see the sadness in my green eyes staring back at me, as Aunt Carol reversed the car out of the long drive and onto the pristine tarmac road. Goodbye Texas house hope your next renters make full use of the rooms and the backyard I thought which was hardly used by us at all.

The sun was setting low in the sky, trickling the hue of red and orange on the skyline. I liked the weather here in Dallas, it was warm to hot most of the year. I had researched the weather and climate for Huntsville, and it was at least a 10-12-degrees change in temperature for this time of year near the end of October.

I could not help but wonder what my life would have been like if I still had my parents around. I danced about in my head with different scenarios, but the headlights of nearby cars pulled me out of it. Not long now until I arrive at my next boring story at yet another house. Aunt Carol played her usual travelling music play list off her phone. Mainly old pop hits from the 80 and 90s. At that point I realized I have been travelling long enough listening to her music, Aunt Carol rarely socialized while she drove, she said it was a distraction, so I nestled my head against my travel pillow which has had many of hours of use and this trip being the longest would put it to yet another test of durability, I would have to push the beads to one end regularly, so it made a pillow again. I then fumbled about in my pocket and put in my headphones and pulled my brown hair back a little so I could fit the ear bud under it. And put my playlist on repeat, Chill mix was the title with various artist which I knew none of it just sounded good enough and bearable to listen to, if it drowned out Aunt Carols music, I was happy enough.

______

The car quietly rolled in front of the new house under the cover of darkness; the pebbles of the driveway parted as the tires impressed on them. “Wake up sleepy head, we are here” Aunt Carol spoke softly to me, as she exited the car. I must have dozed, a few hours back. I grabbed my things and stuffed them into my bag. I pushed open the car door and stepped onto the crunches of pebbles submitting to weight of my feet, it was colder, like I was ready to chuck another layer of clothing on. The lights were already on in the house, they must be on a timer, I presumed. The lights were dangling from high ceilings behind triangle windows. It looked so warm and inviting. I then kind of just gravitated to Aunt Carol and stood next to her side as we stared at the house in silence just taking in its beauty compared to the concrete jungles that we mainly stayed in. The house was bigger than I imagined. Wooden timber cladded the house and glass as tall as me were on the ground floor. It was in a rather perfect spot to, on top of a small hill surrounded by a thick of trees.

“This will do just fine, what do you think?” Aunt Carol mused to me. “I think you got a winner; I can’t wait to check it out on the inside” I replied eager and itching to jump onto my bed and just relax and get used to the new room. Also, I would not mind exploring the little quaint town, or so that is what it says according to google, it has a population of around 19 thousand people. A little different from the swarms back in Texas, always felt overwhelming when we would go to the mall, especially on a hot day as people would be there in droves just to use the air conditioning.

Aunt Carol pulled her emails up on her phone, she looked for the email that told her the code for the key box that was fixed to the wall behind a large fern that hid it well from the driveway. Aunt Carol walked over to up the few stairs which had well-groomed garden beds either side of them. A few black posted lights dimly illuminated the path way leading to the stairs the stairs were long and made of large stones, I watched on idly while Aunt Carol fiddled with the combination lock, and then it yielded after various attempts “That will be the lucky number” called Aunt Carol who now walked on down the steps towards me. “What do you say kiddo? You can be the first to open the house” she said presenting the key in the palm of her hand. I was very keen to check the inside out, and I could tell Aunt Carol was trying her best to start fresh and make it exciting.

“yeah…sure, thanks” I said gently taking the key and walking up the stone steps. The front door was massive in comparison to me. It was the widest front door I have seen to. A long black iron handle covered the full height of the door. I put in the key and jiggled it about until the door unlocked. I looked over my shoulder at Aunt Carol who was now behind me smiling waiting for me to enter.

I pushed the door inwards. It smoothly opened. I had to stop my draw from dropping. I looked about the area in front of me, it was open planned with so much room. An elegant kitchen was to my right it was mainly polished oak wood with granite black tops. The lounge was a couple of steps below it, taking most of the window views to the lake. A corridor ran off to the left. “This has got to be worth a mint…” I said loud enough for Aunt Carol to hear.

“Your telling me, they have really out done themselves this time” replied Aunt Carol walking ahead of me placing her bag on the long breakfast bar at the kitchen and looking out the kitchen window onto the lake. “well you can choose which room you want, there is some upstairs and downstairs. Up to you kiddo”

I really did not mind which room I got, as I would know it would not be forever and it’s not like I had to argue or fight for it with siblings. I walked to the left of the lounge and down the hallway, there was a smaller room overlooking the drive, which looked to be more suitable for Aunt Carols office. There was a bathroom opposite it. A decent size nice and modern. There was another room next to the now office room I declared. It was a hue of pink and a little older fashioned, it might have been a girl’s room previously I thought. So that is a no for that room. I walked out into the last room on the end. It was large and spacious with a queen size bed. It had its own bathroom and balcony. It was super sleek and had walls of grey and a large wall mounted tv at the end of the bed. It would not be fair of me to take this room; it was so nice, and I know this was more up Aunt Carols alley than mine.

I walked back out into the open area,

“anything you like Oslow? You know you can take which ever one you wanted” said Aunt Carol who was now outside on the deck, the colder breeze swept inside through the bi fold doors.

“not yet I am just going to head upstairs” I said, giving her a smile so she knew I was ok. I went up the winding staircase. Upstairs had a small lounge and one bedroom and one bathroom. I stepped into the bedroom which was behind a dark oak door. The room was smaller than the big one downstairs. But it felt cozier. On the side of the bedroom were angled walls were the roof slanted off on the side of the house. A bed sat underneath a sky light. A small balcony was on the end. It had a single glass door. And large black out blinds on the window and door.

I poked my head outside the doorframe and called down to Aunt Carol, “I’m going to stick with this one up here is that ok?”

“of course. If your happy I’m happy” she replied, her phone cut in ringing its ridiculous melody which Aunt Carol loved “can you get the bags when you’re ready” as she answered her phone.

To be honest I have never really been happy, I just kind of get through day to day, trying to amuse myself. Nothing exciting ever happens.

“no problem I’ll get them” I said walking over to the balcony and opening the door. A small wooden swing chair was on the deck. It had a large green cushion plumped; it did not seem to have seen much use. I gave it a push just to check it moved, it silently swished back and forth. I gave a smile thinking how I could chill on this seat, even though it looked like a love seat meant for two people.

I made my way back downstairs; Aunt Carol was already on the phone deep in conversation with work I’m guessing. I felt bad for her she did not even have time to just enjoy herself. Always something to do. But she seemed happy enough, but I know inside she needed something more, which I know I could not provide. She looked over at me, and mimed bags to me, I mimed back a gesture of a hand holding keys. She just held her arms up, knowing she had already misplaced them. I whistled and heard it beep, on the couch. I grabbed them jingled them above my head at Aunt Carol who gave me a thumbs up.

The car boot opened, and I grabbed the heavy bags and dragged them over the pebbles which was a pain and not like the other house which was all concrete and smooth. After I had sorted the bags, I had a quick look into the fridge, nothing exciting was there, just some milk and a welcome bottle of wine. I gave a dry huff and went upstairs. I was not hungry at this point. So, I just made my way back to the swing chair after putting a hoody on and pulling the hood over my head.

I slumped down onto the swing chair and looked out. It was pretty breathe taking if you compared it to the concrete jungle I just came from, you could see the lake at the end of the yard, behind a few trees. Lights of other houses sparkled against the black motionless lake.

As I sat moving the swing seat with my feet, I sat thinking about what the next day was going to bring. I had no idea but somehow, I knew it would be different, it just had to be as I was sick of the other lives I had to live in other places. If I could just somehow stay here, just to finish school.

About an hour later after I had sat contemplating what teenage kids do around this area, I decided to see where Aunt Carol was, as I had not heard her in a while.

On the couch Aunt Carols legs hung off the edge, I rounded the couch and she was out cold. I closed the doors and put her phone on the glass coffee table, which was probably worth more than we could afford I gathered by the looks, it was very sleek and super modern. I investigated a closet in the hallway and found a blanket. I carefully placed it on Aunt Carol and double checked the house was locked. I left a light on for good measure in case she woke and forgot she was somewhere new.

After the perimeter was secured I laid on my new bed which was super comfortable, the mattress was not too hard and not to soft which was the way I liked my mattress and it was a double bed so I could not really complain. I looked at the window above me, watching a tree branch sway in the wind. Not long after I drifted off to sleep.

By DMWoods 2020