none yet

Boots laced and tied; ignition is turned to where the motor comes to life. Headlamps on, his first stop is across the street from the Cadbury apartments. A cup of coffee close by, pressed between lips is a lit cigarette. Checking his watch, he’s got a handful of minutes left to himself. He thinks about Jane, the good parts anyway. Having another drag, sees Vincent walking across the street towards him. Poking his head out, Benny says, “Morning.” Stopping just short of his longtime friend, Vincent peers at his worn boots and lingering over the cost of new ones, he looks up at Benny and asks, “How are you doing?”

“Smoking a lot if that tells you anything.”

“That’s not good.”

“Yeah, I know. You ready?”

“Pretty much. Did you bring the gear?”

“It’s in the back. Come on, we need to get moving.”

With the Cadbury in the rearview mirror, Benny asks, “How’s work?”

“That f*****g Tom quit in the middle of the shift. Screwed us all. B*****d.”

“Oh, that’s not good. Got anybody lined up?”

“They’re looking at a kid fresh behind the ears. I hope he’s a quick learner. So, how about you?”

“They gave me the next three days off to get over it.”

“That’s it, three days. You should get at least two weeks.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice. As it is, I’m back at it Tuesday morning.”

Hating how the world is, Vincent says, “Looks like we got us a flagger up ahead.”

“Yeah, I see him.”

Waved on to where Benny is steering between fluorescent cones, the road maintenance ends which has Benny asking, “Where are we?”

“Wait. That’s Elm. Go that way.”

Checking the time and thinking they’re cutting it close in making the start time, Benny says to Vincent, “We might miss the meet and greet.”

“They’ll still let us in, won’t they?”

“Should. I don’t see why not.”

“I hope so.” That said, Vincent settles back to watching the outside world slip by.

 

 

 

Driving the rig along the quiet side streets, once to Cranberry, Benny hangs a right. “Fourteen miles to go and we’ll be there. Knowing our luck, we’ll end up parking along the road.”

“I got to tell you; I was surprised that we got the invite.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. I ah, gave Roger Steele a call. Asked him if he had anything going on. He said no, he had nothing lined up. Right away I’m thinking he never got one. So, I didn’t mention it but now I wish I had.”

“That’s the good in you. Listen, think about this. What if you did tell him and Roger got severely pissed off. All I’m saying is you being quiet about it is not a bad thing.”

“I can always count on you to make things right. Appreciate you buddy. It’s been a tough week.”

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Stop by anytime you want. I mean that.”

“Look, the sun is breaking over the ridge.”

Fiery red, the afterglow is burnt orange. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen the sun rise. That’s the grind for you. Steals away your time. What can you do.”

“Enjoy it while you can.”

He starts to, but then something starts crawling up from the recess of his mind. Something Lori said. What was it? As hard as he wants to, he can’t remember. Thinking it must not have been important, looks ahead to the massive silhouette that the locals call Roxi’s mountain. Nobody cares for it rugged terrain, and there are a few who go so far to say the mountain is cursed.

“Ever been out this way?”

Keeping a lookout for ruts in the road, “Benny says, “Never had a reason to.”

“Oh look, there’s a 7-ll.”

“Funny man.”

“You like it, don’t lie.”

“Yeah, at times.” For a split second he had Jane out of his head. Right back to her, she would have wanted to go along. Vincent wouldn’t care, which is cool and thinking how her brain would give that missing perspective, fights down an emotional rush that almost brings tears to his eyes. It is so different now. The house so quiet. Needing out of it and hoping this scavenger hunt will do him some good, the fiery globe is halfway above the ridge by the time the two reach the foothills of Roxi’s mountain.