The stranger

Day one

She woke up at six AM as usual and found him with the chickens. He had rearranged the shed to be a perfect house for his seven little friends. She couldn’t help but tell him how dinosaurs evolved to become birds. He seemed interested but remained silent. Then, he gave her the bucket he had in his hand and showed her how to feed the chickens. Afterwards, she helped him clean the shed and collect the eggs. Suddenly, she gasped so loudly that he jumped and backed out. She had so much fun that she almost forgot to go to school.

Lauri: Oh no! The bus!

The stranger looked at her with a puzzled expression on his face as he signed something to her; what?

Lauri: I’m gonna miss the bus for school, I got to go and I don’t have my bag for school! What if I’m suspended? I’m already not looking forward to summer break with my brother but if I get suspended I’ll be stuck with him forever! What do I do? What do I do?

She tried not to panic, but the stranger’s face was not helpful; He closed his eyes to think for a minute, taking it a deep breath, then signed her to follow him, leading her to an old well maintained green pick up. Once they got in, he signed to something outside while opening the door to the back. Billy jumped in and tried to lick Lauri’s face. She petted him but remained anxious that she would miss school. He started the engine and drove off to her trailer with her telling him where to go. The wheel cart was still there, but all the clothes were scattered around and the books she had from the library were destroyed, but she ignored it. Luckily, the car was not there, which meant that he was not home. Probably sleeping with his pusher again. She ran to get her old worn out and dirty bag and ran to the pick up.

For a small instant, the stranger gave her a disdain look before lighting a join between his lips and drove her to school.

Lauri didn’t dare to call him out on his expressions. Even though her pride was damaged, she decided to be angry in silence since he was letting her live with him and now driving her to school. “Why am I such a dependent sh*t…” she wondered. Knowing herself, she couldn’t grasp the idea of trusting a stranger that much, and she felt like she was asking too much of him already. Anxiety and guilt drowned her, and it was different than when she was with Frank. At least, the man tried to reassure her, but this one remained silent and focused on the ride while smoking his skunk. She couldn't dare to talk with all of his silence.

Then, a light bulb lit up in her mind right before she got out of the car.

Lauri: Hey, what’s your name?

Stranger: John.

Lauri: I’m Lauri. Thanks for the ride.

She jumped out of the truck and after a few steps, she heard his soothing voice.

John: Do I need to come back later?

Lauri: No, it’s okay. I wont miss the bus again, promise!

He drove off without any more words. She was baffled, yet she was all fixed and happy to be going back where she felt like home after school.

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Lauri: Leave me alone!

As she promised not to miss the bus again, she hopped in when class was over, but Kim and her crew decided to pick on her again by throwing soccer balls at her. The bus driver got mad at them for their unsafe behavior but didn't address the bullying, so they kept calling her names and purposely hurt her until Kim watched her closely, making her uncomfortable.

Kim: Hey where did you put your broken nose, b*tch?

She kept silent and angry, but Kim got annoyed by it and slapped her across the face.

Lauri: YOU B*TCH!

Driver: Language! And you, back off her! That’s enough.

She tried to hit Kim, but one of her minions pushed her back into her seat. The bus drove close to the trailer, once it stopped, she ran out as fast as she could toward the forest with tears in her eyes. “Pull yourself together Lauri, you’re almost home.”

Once she arrived, she was greeted by Billy who tried to welcome her back. It was strange to know that this place once so lonely became weirdly animated. The dog looked inside the house, barking only once in that direction before laying down on the porch.

She entered the house to find John drawing in the kitchen. The whole table was used by drawings, pensils, charcoal, watercolor and pastels.

Without startling him, she went through them. One of the drawings really resonated with her; It was a beautiful landscaping with island in the sky, a purple and orange sunset with a destroyed cathedral stained in graffiti. It was colorful, beautiful. She smiled upon it.

She met his eyes for a second before he stood fast on his feet to clean his mess. She doesn’t know how, but he did it surprisingly fast without even moving from the kitchen. She looked behind him but…

John: There’s my old bag in your room. That one is disgusting. Throw it out. Now, I guess you need some stuff if you want to be here a while, so come. I will drive you to the Wallmart or something.

Lauri: I have what I need home.

John: So, it’s good with your brother?

Lauri: No… Usually, I stay hidden for a week when he gets mad… Just enough so he forget about me.

John sighed and pointed the car. Once she hopped in with him she kept feeling guilty.

Lauri: Why did you say yes to keep me here?

John: Should I have not?

Lauri: No… I just wonder why.

John: You are not the first stray animal I picked up since I got back.

He said it while glancing at the dog sleeping on his porch. She was not happy that he called her a “stray animal”, but she understood what he meant. Still, one question lingered in her head, like so many others before that.

Lauri: Got back from where?

He remained silent, driving to the closest city with his CD of classical baroque music. She wanted to ask more questions, but she thought he wouldn’t answer any of it, especially with this music going on. Although, she liked it and enjoyed the ride with his strange but reassuring energy. Eventually, she had to tell him to go to target, but he kept driving past the store again and again.

Lauri: It’s right there! The red circle there!

John: Ah.

She was baffled by him again. “Does he ever go out?” When he stopped the car he handed her 100$ in twenties.

Lauri: I can’t take that!

John: I don’t care, go get yourself some stuff.

Lauri: Like what?

John: What do you mean “like what”? Don’t you brush you teeth? Clothes, underwear, tampons…

Lauri: I don’t have my period yet!

He signed something to her with a worried face.

John: You pregnant?

Lauri: No! I haven’t have my period yet! I’m too young!

He shook his head.

John: Never mind, get off the car, get yourself some stuff, I don’t care what you do with the money as long as you get yourself the necessaries.

Lauri: No… but I don’t deserve the money!

John: Would you just shut up and go already? You said you can cook, then get something to eat too, and some detergent, I’m almost out.

He gave her more twenties and waited in silence until she rolled her eyes and left. Once she was done, she pushed the cart filled with food she could cook, detergent, toilet paper and all her necessities. Once she put them all in the car, they went back home and John disappeared not long after. She used the that time to make some dinner for both of them. She put what she had made in the fridge for him. She decided to finish the night by doing her homework. The last one of this school year. After that, it was two weeks of exams and the festival, then summer break.

She felt apprehensive at the idea of going back with her brother. She went to sleep, anxious, but a little less than usual.