Perditiones Part 3

I was never a fan of the quiet. I know my mind, and my mind runs with all kinds of bad thoughts when it is too quiet. I remembered something else about myself. If I can’t remember my name, at least I can try to remember things about myself, hopefully. I decide to get up out of bed, feeling stiff. I think I slept the whole night in the same position I collapsed into on the bed. My neck is killing me, but I guess that happens when you don’t use a pillow. I rub my neck trying to massage away the stiffness.

I get up and instantly feel like I need a shower, so I push aside the weird feeling growing inside me, within the quiet. I grab a towel from the closet and head to the bathroom across the hall. It is a decent size for a shared restroom, a couple of shower stalls and toilet stalls. 3 pedestal sinks line one wall with a few mirrors to pair them. Everything is clean, almost obsessively clean. I select the stall closest to the door and have a nice long shower, probably longer than I should have, but I start to hear music playing from the hallway, wafting from the main lobby. This sound, any sound to break the silence, helps to put me at ease.

I quickly make my way back across the hall with just the towel on. Now realizing I didn’t grab a change of clothes before heading to the shower. Luckily, it looks like no one is awake yet besides what sounds like Stella and her quick walk that I can hear from down the hall and the music. The options for clothing are not all that great, but I find a sweater and jeans that fit, maybe a tiny bit large for me, but hey, it is free and very comfortable. Beggars can’t be choosers, right?

I make my way down the hall to the front where I hear the faint sound of music playing on a radio. Stella can be heard buzzing around, slight clattering of pots and dishes. I realize that Stella never did bring the chamomile tea she promised and she never did ask for payment for the room either. Is that what Ed and Rose were talking about with Stella being “absent-minded”?

I hear Ed’s voice first, apparently trying to talk to Stella, but Stella was busy trying to get everything set on the table for breakfast, apparently. I could hear the opening and closing of cupboards and chairs moving against the floor. I pause outside the kitchen door. She was obviously halfheartedly listening to Ed. I decide to listen for a bit, instead of entering. From what I can hear over the banging and clanging of dishes and pots, Ed is trying to get Stella to focus on something serious. I could hear an urgency and pleading in his voice.

“She needs our help Stella, don’t you understand? We need to help her in order to continue our journey; her journey. We all know what it is like to be here for a long time and I wouldn’t want her to have to stay here longer than she has to… Stella, are you paying attention?” Ed says sounding exacerbated.

“Mhmm, yes, yes, I understand Ed. But I can’t help at all if I can’t get breakfast ready on time like I promised. Are you just going to sit there or will you help me set the table?” Stella was obviously moving very quickly around the kitchen trying to get the coffee brewing, eggs scrambled, and bacon cooked before I arrived. I could hear her moving around, bumping into things, and dropping cooking utensils into pans. 

Apparently my leaning in closer to hear made the floor creak. The conversation stopped, so I quickly use that as my queue to enter the kitchen. Ed is sitting there in one of the chairs at the kitchen table, smiling at me warmly. He stands up and motions for me to join them, gesturing to a seat at the table. He turns to grab some plates and silverware to finish setting the table. I nod and take a seat quietly, watching Stella work.

Stella was amazing and crazy at the same time, in her own way. The way she zips around the kitchen, she obviously has an overabundance of energy at all times, but she also moves so gracefully that I was in awe. She swiftly stirred the eggs with one hand and simultaneously turned over the bacon with the other. On the other hand though, she seemed to be a tad clumsy as Ed had to stretch behind her to stop the spatula she was using from tumbling to the ground as she sat it on the edge of the pan and turned to check on the coffee. Ed caught my eye and just shrugged. It made me smile, the way she seems so carefree and excited to have a guest.

“Good morning Amy, I trust you slept well? I apologize, I did forget to get your tea to you, but when I returned and knocked on your door, there was no answer. And I thought best to let you get your rest. This journey can take a lot out of you at first. Completely expected” Stella leans over the table to grab the plate that Ed had placed in front of me. “Do you mind dear?”

I nod to let her know it’s fine to take my plate. Once again I was hungry, but not nearly as starving as I was last night upon my arrival to Perditiones. This town has set me at ease, almost a feeling of being on vacation, but something is still nagging at me. Why are we here? Why am I going to the mountain? Why can’t I remember?

My concern quickly left as Stella places a plate of hot scrambled eggs and perfectly cooked bacon in front of me. It smells amazing. Ed puts a mug of coffee in front of me and I sip it, slightly burning my tongue. I always do that. Do I always burn my tongue?

“Are you ready for today? I will be working on the bus to find out what exactly went wrong and hopefully get us back on the road. Why don’t you take your time to look around town, get to meet everyone? You will not find a more generous group of folks than in Perditiones. Maybe they can help jog your memory a little bit” Ed says, with those warm eyes. Ed is quite handsome, but that same look in his eyes, almost fatherly. His dark, slightly wavy hair, and matching partly grown-in beard. It was unkempt, but handsome all the same.

“That sounds like fun. Oh, Ed, I wanted to tell you. I did remember that I like honey and I absolutely do not like silence or should I say, when it is quite. As for my last name, no luck, but I am not too worried about that. I really want to remember why I am headed to the mountain or how I even got onto that school bus with you, Ed. Are you sure you can’t help me? Maybe just a hint?” I say in a begging voice, pushing out my bottom lip and putting my hands together as if acting like a child will force Ed to cave to my whim.

“I am sorry Amy, this is something you need to figure out on your own” He says with a deep reverberating chuckle in response to my begging, “I don’t have the answers to those questions. I am sure it will come back to you soon. Just try to enjoy yourself here. I told Stella to keep an eye out for you, but you are a grown woman, I am sure you can take care of yourself” Ed says with a wink. The people here like to wink a lot, is there something I am not quite picking up on?

I decide to just accept what Ed is saying and relax a little for a day or so. I have never really been one to relax. I am always so busy working, taking classes, paying bills, you know, the day-to-day life in order to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads. Our heads? I obviously have a family. Where are they?

“Let’s see, we have the tailor shoppe called Brixworth Shoppe, the general store, the library, and of course there is the lake down the way. No one really uses it too much. It doesn’t have any fish, but it can be nice to help get through some of our warmer days. You are more than welcome to explore and visit with everyone, make yourself at home even” Stella says as she sits down in the chair next to me at the table. She has gorgeous blue eyes and a small smile. It fits with her slim frame and loosely braided, red hair. Ed winces at Stella’s last remark, which I catch out of the corner of my eye.

“So how long have you been here in Perditiones, Stella? I noticed the Inn is in wonderful care, everything is so clean and tidy” I say as I take another sip of coffee.

“Oh, thank you for noticing. I do work hard to keep everything pristine, just in case we have a guest. I am glad to have you here, you stay as long as you need, darlin’. Of course, it is your decision how long you want to stay”, she says as Ed shoots her a look of disapproval.

“No, Stella, Amy is not staying here any longer than she has to, she is going all the way to the mountain”, Ed says sternly. It actually catches me a little off guard. Up until now, Ed has shown nothing but patience and kindness. Maybe he just needs some more coffee, or maybe Stella gets under his skin. I know I have had many people who could get to me like that. Including my brother, Harrison. I have a brother! Yes, I remember him. I hope he is okay, it has been a while since I spoke to Harrison. I really should give him a call.

“Is there a phone around that I could use? I want to make a quick phone call to my brother”, I ask, glancing back and forth between Ed and Stella.

With my comment, you would think I had uttered a horrible curse word of some kind. Both Ed and Stella stop eating and look at each other. Then Ed lets out a sigh, leaning into the back of his chair and putting down his fork.

“Sorry Amy, there are no phones here. We are far from anywhere with a phone. If you want to check on your brother, I suggest you stop by the library. Albert can be of assistance”, Ed says very quickly, but still gives me that warm smile, although it appears a little bit forced this time.

No phones? How could they not have any phones here? Maybe internet access? I decide to leave the subject alone since Ed and Stella are now eating silently next to me and it is making me quite uncomfortable. The awkward tension building in the room.

“Oh, Stella, before I forget, Ed gave me some of these interesting coins to use toward my stay. How much do I owe you?” I smile at Stella, hoping the change of subject will ease the tension.

“Oh darlin’, it is only 2 Kipps a night. Not much, but it helps with the cleaning supplies I need to keep this place in shape”, Stella beamed. She really does take pride in her Inn, and that is definitely not something I can hold against her.

So these weird wooden/metallic coins are called Kipps? I go to grab 2 out of my pocket and Stella puts her hand on my arm. “No need to pay now dear, finish your breakfast while it is still warm. You can pay when you check out.”

We finish our breakfast with light banter about the day and a story of how Ed had slipped on the ice in the road and landed on his back. Stella seemed to be quite entertained by this story. Ed himself was having quite a laugh as well. Especially since it apparently happened this morning. This morning?

That is when I notice that it is, in fact, snowing outside. How? Yesterday it was warm as if it was the end of spring. I get up to look out the window, everything, even the snow still has that tint of yellow to it. Obviously, it is not toxic though, everyone in this town is still doing just fine. Although, it does appear to be a bit of a nuisance when it comes to cleaning.

“You can find extra coats in the lobby by the desk. I keep them just in case, you never know what the weather will be like here”, she gestures to the lobby. As if she can read my excitement without even having to say anything. I rush to the lobby, grab a warm coat, throwing it on as I head for the front door. I burst out the door, down the stairs, and into the road. I immediately lay down and start to make a snow angel. It has been more years than I can count since I visited the snow as a child. It was so light and refreshing. I close my eyes and feel the cold flakes fall on my face and the cold pulsating underneath me. As if it were slowly seeping through the thick coat. I open my eyes again to look up.

That’s when I notice it, the sky… it is like nothing I have ever seen before.

(To be continued)