Vera Bianchi

So this is freedom

That day was a day of goodbyes and was both sad and happy. I insisted Stefan be the one who took me to my destination. I ‘last minute' picked Arcata. In a jiffy, Stefan and I were on the plane headed to Eureka. I laid my head on his shoulder, and he put his arm around me. Now that we were out of Papa's sight, we were free to be ourselves. We got lucky and didn't have to wait for our rental car.

 I felt so alive! I knew this was the right thing for me to do, colors were more vibrant, texture was more pronounced, and a cobweb seemed to come off my brain physically. I was safe. Leaving was hard, but it was a smokescreen, and once I passed through it I was in a whole other world!

While in the car I was going on and on about how lushly green it was, and how much wildlife we could spot just from the road. Stefan couldn't help but be happy with me; my enthusiasm was overflowing and contagious. We reached Matt's house in 20 minutes. I got out quickly and raced around to help Stefan with my luggage… I had a lot of baggage. I could feel the energy in my every movement. I loved the quaint dark blue house with beautifully groomed shrubs that were to be my home for the next school year.

After grabbing all the luggage, we went up to the door. I had called Matt at the airport, so he was expecting us today. I was wearing a short red travel dress that was cap-sleeved; it showed off my body's curvatures. My hair was in an elegant up-do. We walked up to the door, and I gave the doorbell a ring. When Matt came to the door he stared for a second wide-eyed, perhaps it was the size of my luggage, or maybe Stefan's stature, but most likely it's that I didn't look anything like he imagined… At all. I reached my hand out to shake his.

"Hello, you must be Matt! I'm Vera, and this is Stefan. He's helping me with my bags." I looked more than happy to see Matt. He was a handsome guy, brown hair, clean-shaven, mid-forties, and a slightly protruding stomach; a handsome man. His wife, Sarah, met us at the door with outstretched arms, she was clearly more outgoing than Matt. She had strawberry blond hair, blue eyes, and she was quite round. I loved her maternal look and feel.

After her warm embrace, Matt wasn't so nervous looking. "Oh er, yes, I'm, uh, Matt." He reached his hand out to greet mine. "Uh, won't you come in?"

"Thank you." The doorway creaked underneath us as we stepped in. It was a small, homey place. Matt led the way to my new bedroom, Stefan and I filed behind him and dropped the bags. I could hear Sarah in the living room watching something on T.V.

"I guess I'll just leave you to unpack then," Matt said, eyeing Stefan on his way out.

"Thanks, Stefan, I've got it from here."

Stefan looked at me for a long minute, grabbed my face gently, and kissed me one last time. "Come home soon to visit, okay?" He stared straight into my eyes as he said this. He was no longer sad, but happy for me, and hopeful to see me soon.

"I'll try," I smiled. He took one more long look at me, then clenched his jaw. He sidestepped my luggage and left. I could overhear Stefan paying Matt the amount of rent for a full year in advance. No doubt my Papa already had the check prepared.

I finally took a real look around. There was a dark hardwood floor, a queen bed with a white quilt, a small desk in one corner, and my dresser in the other.  I had previously decided I wouldn't change anything about the place I was moving into, but, I wasn't entirely confident I could do that. I had my own bathroom which I was thankful for. It was small, but I wasn't complaining. After I put my clothes into the dresser and put away all my toiletries, I walked downstairs to get acquainted with Matt and Sarah. They were sitting in their living room watching the sports channel. The living room had three chairs and a love seat. It seemed like an odd configuration. Matt heard me coming down, and he got up, wiping his hands on his jeans.

"Oh uh, do you like sports?" His eyes crinkled in a cute way when he said this, almost like a little boy who hoped his Mom would approve of whatever he was doing. I could already tell that he was a very kind and generous man.

"I do, I played futbol, ran long distances, and danced back home. Besides I want to see what it's like here in the U.S. You know, to be a part of your culture."

Sarah piped in with a, "Oh dear me child, you need more balance in your life." She was someone who seemed to enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle.

Talking with Matt and Sarah, I never realized I had a slight French accent. I thought I had my American accent down pat.

Matt smiled and said, "Well this is Football, not to be confused with futbol mind you. This sport is way better." He sat himself down in the chair and chuckled to himself.

"I think I'll be the judge of that," I teased as I plopped myself down on their couch. I crossed my legs and sat perfectly straight; this was something I'd never thought about anymore. My Mama put Baye and me into many classes to make us proper.

"Dinner is almost ready," Sarah said as Matt leaned in close to the T.V. apparently something important was happening in the game.

"What is it, I smell bacon?"

"Fried eggs, bacon, and toast," Sarah announced as Matt leaned back again in disappointment about something that happened in the game. They got up and went to the kitchen; I followed them in to see the fattiest food I'd ever seen.

"Do you eat this every day?" My eyebrows furrowed as I looked at Matt's slight gut.

Sarah answered with an apologetic tone, "Yes ma'am, it's all I really know how to cook."

"I wasn't a cook in France either, but I think it might be a fair bet to say that I probably know how to cook more dishes than you. Mind if I take charge of the kitchen?" I was wishful she'd say yes because I was afraid if I ate like this all the time that my belly would grow to be Matt's size in no time. I wasn't meaning to be rude by any means.

"Oh yes, you can!" She was fervent about that. Perhaps she too was sick of her cooking. We moved back into the living room even though there was a table in the kitchen. They resumed watching the game. I was okay with the silence, though it wasn't something I was used to.

"I saw the pictures of your daughter on the wall by the door. Do you mind if I ask what happened to her?" I asked taking a bite of toast.

"Not at all, we were in a car accident, she passed away," Matt said this like it still pained him, though I could tell this happened a long time ago.

"How long ago did she die?"

"15 years ago," Matt said more distracted. He kept eating while we talked and somehow managed to watch the game at the same time. I think it's a bunch of baloney when men claim they can't multi-task. I didn't care though. I grasped the culture of this household very quickly, it was very laissez-faire, and Matt wasn't one to get into the business that wasn't his. And Sarah was quieter than I thought she'd be upon meeting her.

"So there are two days till school starts, can you show me how to get to the school sometime? And if you know anyone who wants to sell their vehicle, I'm in the market." I grabbed Both their dishes as I said this. I walked into the kitchen and quickly put the dishes in the dishwasher.

Sarah was pleased by my kind manners, "Oh my, I feel like a queen, thank you!"

Matt said, "Of course I can, I'd be happy to. And I think I might know someone you can buy an old car from if that's okay with you?" He yelled so I could hear.

I walked through the doorway "Oh yes, of course. Old cars are pretty small town, and that's what I'm all about this year."

He chuckled and looked at me. "Well it's an olllld car, but those are the kind that lasts."

"The older, the better," I said smiling. I was leaning on the doorway with my arms folded and my legs lightly crossed.

"Vera, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" Matt said looking a little uncomfortable.

"Haha, the first of many, of course, you can Matt." I smiled too at his awkwardness; it was adorable.

"Are you really 17?" His face was scrunched like he'd just said a bad word.

"Hahaha, I can't tell you how many times I get asked that kind of question. Yes, I am 17 though I know I don't look like it." Matt amused me, so I continued, "Don’t let my height fool you… Or my womanly… Parts.”

"Gah, ugh, I didn't need to hear that Vera," he cover his ears. I laughed so hard; I hadn't laughed harder in what felt like years. Making Matt uncomfortable was as easy as saying body parts like butt. This was going to be a fun joking point with him.

Sarah also laughed at her husband's naivety.

I sat back down on the couch.

He looked over at me briefly, "Why are you sitting so straight?"

"Who, Me? Uhh, I never noticed." I tried to slouch, but it was a poor attempt. This made Matt laugh.

"I'm just teasing kiddo."

"Matt, I think we're going to be great friends."

He smiled and lightly chuckled. After the game I was pretty wiped out, I got ready for bed and fell asleep relatively quickly. Even though there's a nine-hour time difference between Paris and Arcata, the time was eaten up by staying up late and sleeping longer than I usually do.

5:00 am wake-up call was new to Matt. After my alarm went off, I jumped out of bed and threw on my workout clothes. I walked out of my room to see Matt half-asleep running out of his room in his sweats with a gun in his hands. Since he was a police officer, he had a few of them stashed around the house for safety purposes.

"Huh-wha- who's there?!"

"Matt it's just me, I get up at this hour every day." I was holding my hands up, and I crouched down a little.

"Oh, ya itz juz you." He sauntered off to his bedroom slouched over like it would take no time for him to be in sleepy land again.

I always started my workouts stretching and listening to music. Today was Saturday, so it was Pilates, 7-mile run, and then stretching again to end the workout. It usually took an hour and a half. I went outside which was freezing cold even though it was August; this weather was something I was going to have to get used to.

The surroundings were gorgeous, Matt and Sarah lived in the community forest part of this college town. It was foggy and green, and the sun wasn't up just yet so it was somewhat spooky being right next to the forest. The trees were large and thick, it was a part of the national redwood forest. I had no idea what kind of animals could be in there, so after I did Pilates on the wet lawn, I ran on the road. No one was awake from what I could tell, but I knew I had to be careful because visibility was low and it was dark. I made a mental note to buy a reflector. After my runners watch alerted me I had gone 3.5 miles, I turned back and stretched when I finished. It was around 6:30, I rummaged through the kitchen trying to find something with nutritional value ‘I'm buying the food from now on' I thought to myself. I grabbed the eggs and cooked up some hard-boiled eggs.

"Morning," came a groggy voice behind me.

"Well good morning sunshine, sorry I scared you this morning."

"No, no it's all good. Do you exercise every day?"

"Mm-hmm."

"I think you're going to be a bad influence on me," he teased. "I don't mind my beautiful gut thank you very much."

I laughed and snapped my fingers. "And here I came to change the world," I sighed, "You shouldn't dash my dreams my second day here." I gave him a plate of dry toast and hard-boiled eggs. He looked a little disappointed.

"No butter, where's the jelly?" He picked up the toast with his index finger and thumb like he was picking up something toxic.

"Haha, in the fridge."

"No wonder you're so skinny, I think you need to eat a cheeseburger or something."

I shook my head, "You're going to be a bad influence on me; I don't mind my washboard abs thank you very much."

We both laughed together.

"Where's Sarah?"

"Oh she's at work already, she works for the university as a biology professor, so in truth, you'll rarely see her. She stays at the university most nights grading homework or teaching evening classes."

"Oh, I see, well that's okay!" I went upstairs to take a shower and get ready for the day. That routine usually took 45 minutes to an hour. It was 8:00 am when I finished, and I decided I'd kick my wake-up schedule back 15-30 minutes to make sure I'd get to school on time. After I was ready, I went back downstairs.

"Hey kiddo, I have to go into work today. I usually work most Saturdays; I hope you don't mind."

"No problem." If there was anything I was used to it was an overworking Papa figure.

"But first my friend Kit Multnomah will be here to have his son help you find a car. Remember the dealership I was talking about yesterday with the old car?"

"Oh that is great," I clapped my hands together once, "This place needs more vegetables. I'll grocery shop today." I winked.

He laughed. "They'll be here soon I think." Matt turned on some rerun of a game, and I decided I'd make myself a to-do list. I wanted to buy groceries, a reflector, meal prep for the week, and if I had time; explore the town a little. I wasn't too worried about getting it all done before school because I also had Sunday to do everything. It didn't take any time at all before we heard a loud rumble from a truck. I was almost finished with my grocery list when Matt jumped up and walked out; I thought it was a little odd he didn't wait for them to come to the door. It only took a few more minutes to finish my list. When I walked out, I saw an old beater truck, and I smiled at just how perfectly simple it was.

"I'd beat you in an arm wrestle any day." I heard a man's voice I didn't recognize. I then saw a man who must've been Matt's friend, and a boy in his early 20's. I was astounded at their exotic look. They were Native Americans, they had big brown eyes, black hair, and both had very handsome faces.

"Hey, kiddo!" Kit and his son looked up from their teasing. They both stared at me, practically with jaws to the floor.

"Oh excuse my poor manners," Matt said jokingly, "This is Kit, and his son Owen Multnomah." Owen nodded, and Kit tilted his black cowboy hat. Owen was 6'5" and very bulky.

"I'm very pleased to meet you guys." I walked up and shook both their hands.

"Kit here has been my good friend since, well, before I can remember."

"We sure have! We're still on for the game tonight right?" Kit asked looking at Matt.

"Of course, I should get off right around five. We'll make it a welcome Vera party s***h game night." Matt looked at me happily because his friend was here. "Tonight it's a sport called basketball, ever heard of it?"

"Ha, well I certainly hope it's better than your football. Or at least maybe you can explain the rules to me this time, so it makes sense."

"I've got you covered there," Owen said enthusiastically.

"Thank goodness," I said.

Matt and Kit gave a knowing look at each other as though they were so hoping they could accomplish our matrimony. I was a little shocked Matt was so… Dad-like.

Kit and Matt went inside to watch more T.V. before Matt had to leave for work and Owen took me in his truck to the dealership.

The owner was a kind, old looking man. "Hello, valued customers! What are you in the market for?"

"A car," I said matching his tone. Looking around the lot the only kinds of cars I saw were old, I had to chuckle at Matt's vagueness.

 "Well let me show you what I've got, do you know how to drive a stick shift?"

"I do." I wasn't about to tell him I learned on a Lamborghini. Owen and I jumped in, and I revved the loud engine.