CHAPTER 29-1
343 Words
CHAPTER 29Downtown Oregon City appeared deserted as Diana’s new Ford Edge stopped at the red light at the intersection of Main and Seventh Street in Oregon City. Sunday mornings were usually quiet down here, particularly during the fall and winter months when the air was chilly and the skies were gray. Diana leaned forward over the steering wheel and looked left to the Oregon City Municipal Elevator and then to the right to the on-ramp of the Oregon City Bridge that crossed the Willamette River and connected to West Linn.
“You know, every time we come down here, something follows us home,” Sam said from the passenger seat. “Mara is going to get bent out of shape if she has to use the Chronicle to send some beastie back to its realm again.”
“Well, what Mara doesn’t know won’t hurt her, will it?” Diana said, flipping on her turn signal. “We’ll take the big interstate bridge home, how’s that?”
“That’s a good idea. Hey, is it weird that I like shopping with you?”
“No, why do you ask?”
“One of the guys I play basketball with made a crack about it when I said I like to go grocery shopping.”
“I think it’s fair to say that most fourteen-year-old boys would rather do something else. But you’re not most fourteen-year-olds, are you?”
“I like to see all that food in one place. It’s amazing.”
“I imagine that you’ll find other things to amaze you once you get used to grocery stores.”
The light turned green, and Diana made the turn and ascended the road toward the small bridge that swept over the narrow roadway.
As they approached the opening of the latticed gray arch, Sam craned his neck to look out over the murky green currents passing below. “Considering everything that happened here, I’m surprised that you don’t take the other bridge all the time. Doesn’t it freak you out to come here?” Sam asked.
“I’ve always liked this little bridge. It’s a bit narrow, but it makes me feel like I’m still living in simpler times. Besides, this bridge is where I found you. How could I not love coming down here?”
Sam blushed. “I guess that’s one way of looking at it. Mara still hates it. I don’t think she’ll ever come down here again.”
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- Writer
