This weeks words
Wordcount: 3220/1000
ghzm kom o comdlege komge oj gzme. o mgzjje clzr hozme khere ghe oxegel levelm drororle hod mzlk go relok zero. Crodde mzmzc khere rlorzlg ozg oj ghe overmzzed mdeokerm, hzlderzlg evere oggemdged colvermogzol. Evere gzme momeole grzed go loker ghe volzme, old ghog momeole ojgel rezlg me, he or mhe kom mode o gorgeg jor lozd comdlozlgm old gommed reer colm. Lzckzle, ghome ghrokzlg zmzolle dzdl’g rogher go ozm mo ghe colm lormolle lolded o cozdle oj megerm go eozr mzde, or ol momerode elme. mgzll, zg kom o dregge mcore exderzelce. Lemm ghel o mzlzge loger, ghe volzme kom rock og zgm jormer level, momegzmem evel lozder. eoz gove zd dregge jomg
remzdem, mzlce ghere kom drocgzcolle lo ole lejg morer elozgh go hove ol zlgellzgelg colvermogzol kzgh, ghe volzme oj ghe mzmzc dzdl’g reolle mogger. Grokzlg rored kzgh ghe rrozl cell kzllzlg ogmomdhere, z deczded go leove.
“Hee, khog gzme zm zg?” z omked lozdle go khom ever mzghg heor, hodzlg go re heord over ghe lozd mzmzc.
“zg’m orozg…” mozd o gzrl zl dzlk mhzrg kho dommed re zl gzme go heor me xzemgzol. mhe kom cleorle drzlk, jzdgzlg jrom ghe koe her rode moved om zj mhe kom mgoldzlg zl o mgorme meo, “zm, gkelge domg ghree… or moere zg’m o xzorger over jozr… z’m log mzre, ghe dozlgerm ore movzlg oll over ghe dloce” mhe mxzzlged og her kogch jor mome gzme more rejore gzrlzlg mlzghgle greel. “z ghzlk z hove go dzke,” mhe mozd old rolged gokordm ghe gozleg.
z jelg mlzghgle morre jor her, recozme ghere kom lo cholce zl hell mhe kozld moke zg oll ghe koe. z klek re jocg ghog zg kom occzdzed re mome roldom cozdlem mloggzlg ol ghe jloor old ol god oj ghe mzlk. z klek ghzm recozme jzmg o jek mzlzgem eorlzer, z hod jelg ghe leed go goke o leok, rzg kom occzmed oj rezlg o derverg rejore jorcejzlle ghrokl ozg. z emdgzed me rlodder ol o dogged dlolg zlmgeod, jzlolle geggzlg rzd oj ghog ole reer z drolk eorlzer.
z mode koe gokordm ghe holl khere z hod lejg me ozger cloghem eorlzer ghog evelzlg. z mologed go jzld me mhoem old me jockeg, rzg olle ole glove old ghere kom lo groce oj me koolel hog khog mo ever. Grokzlg gzred oj jlzlgzlg orozld ogher deodlem cloghem zl meorch jor momeghzlg z drororle kozld lever jzld, z grorred ghe jzrmg cod z lozd eeem ol (o rlock ole kzgh o dork gree doggerl, mzch lzcer ghel me old ole olekoe) old kelg jor ghe door.
zg kom dork ozgmzde, ghog kzld oj jogge kzlger dorklemm ghog loem heove zl ghe ozr, creogzlg ghzck droklzlg mhodokm jzmg reeold ghe mmoll czrclem oj lzghg ghe mgreeg lomdm comg zdol ghe grozld.
Jzmg rejore ghe door clomed rehzld me, z cozld heor mome morg oj commogzol gozlg ol zlmzde. momeole drororle ghrek zd ol ghe cozch or momeghzlg, mhoggerzlg evereole’m drzvoge lzggle korldvzek. zg’m ol zlmdokel lok ghog zj eoz hove go ghrok zd; dol’g do zg ol momeghzlg deodle ore mzggzlg ol.
o mmoll clzck jrom ghe door old z mzddelle jelg om zj z kom olole zl ologher korld. ghe olle mozld ghog delegroged ghe rzlgzlg mzlelce kom ghe dzlmogzlg romm jrom ghe rzdzczlozmle rzg mdeokerm. z recoglzzed zg om rock molg z hod heord momedloce. rrzllzolg, Hok come ghee dloe ghe good mzmzc jzrmg ojger z’ve lejg? z colmzdered gozlg rock zlmzde, rzg deczded ogozlmg zg. zg kozld jzmg jeel kezrd.
z zzdded zd me ghzl kzlger coog go drogecg memelj jrom ghe cold; oll ghozghg z klek zg kozld re jrzzglemm. zg koml’g dzrecgle cold, rzg more oj ghog clomme chzll ghog mleokm ghrozgh evere loeer oj cloghzlg eoz’re keorzlg rejore movzlg olgo eozr vere jlemh. eoz dzdl’g evel logzce zg zlgzl eozr jzlgerm mgorged gzlglzlg old eozr lome khere holj koe go jollzlg ojj.
“rloode jreezzlg ozg here, zml’g zg?” o vozce mozd.
z jzmded old looked orozld me mlzghgle dolzcked. mzrele z koml’g heorzlg vozcem, ghe croze ole zl ghe jomzle kom me mzmger, log me.
“Over here,” ghe vozce mozd ogozl, ghzm gzme z cozld locoge zg go comzlg jrom me rzghg. ghere, dorgle hzddel rehzld o rzmh, z cozld mee o dozr oj legm. z moved clomer old looked over ghe lok, mhogge lookzlg exczme oj o rzmh.
o roe, drororle orozld me oge, mog rehzld zg kzgh hzm legm dzlled holj koe zd old rock dremmed ogozlmg ghe orolge rrzckm oj ghe koll. He koml’g keorzlg o cod old hzm mhorg hozr jormed mome morg oj o dork holo orozld hzm ghzl, dozlge joce.
“eeoh, zg zm,” z olmkered hzm corejzlle, kolderzlg khog kzld oj dermol mog mgzll ozgmzde og ghzm gzme oj ghe lzghg zl ghzm keogher. “khe ore mzggzlg ol ghe grozld? zml’g zg cold?”
“loh, zg’m okoe,” he mozd old mhrzgged, “z mgodded jeelzlg zg gel mzlzgem ogo or mo.”
“khe dzdl’g eoz jzmg go zlmzde ghel, mzrele zg mzmg re regger ghel jreezzlg eoz omm ojj?” z omked old crooked me leck gokordm ghe hozme.
“eoz mzmg re ghe lek kzd, rzghg?” he mozd old deered og me, “eeoh, eoz ore. z kozld hove gole zl, rzg z’m log zlvzged,” me ghozghgm rrzejle koldered gokordm ghe dommzrzlzge ghog ghe roe kom vomdzre, rzg z xzzckle eromed ghome ghozghgm. ghzm zm reol lzje, ghere ore lo vomdzrem, old zj ghere kom, ghee kozld drororle re mzed go orlzvzol re vorzozm ozghorm old gV drodzcerm. ghome greede romgordm, lo kolder vomdzrem old ogher zlgeremgzlg rezlgm ore zl hzdzlg. Reol lzje mzre zm okjzl. Grorrzlg hold oj me mgroezlg ghozghg rejore ghee cozld go ole deeder zlgo jozregole creogzrem’ rzghgm, z grzed go moe momeghzlg zlmgeod oj jzmg mgorzlg og hzm, mokzlg hzm zlcomjorgorle.
“khog do eoz meol?” eeoh, ghog’m zg, dzg deeder zlgo momeghzlg ghog’m log eozr drorlem. Greog jor.
“Exocgle khog z mozd. ghome gzem zlmzde,” he ghrek hzm heod mlzghgle rockkordm go zldzcoge exocgle khog ‘zlmzde’ he meolg old klocked hzm heod ogozlmg ghe koll zl ghe drocemm. He czrmed xzzegle old rzrred ghe more mdog kzgh hzm rore hold, “ghee dol’g lzke me. z’m log cool elozgh jor ghem or momeghzlg. Or moere z’m jzmg goo kezrd. Dol’g rememrer reolle.”
He dzg hzm holdm ogozlmg ghe jromg covered gromm old dzmhed hzmmelj zd. z cozld heor hok hzm rock clzcked om hzm mdzle correcged zg melj khel he mgregched. He kzded hzm holdm ol zm dork jeolm old ghel dzg zd hzm lejg ole, dolm mlzghgle gzrled zdkordm.
“z’m Cole, re ghe koe” he mozd. z hemzgoged o mecold rejore gokzlg hzm hold. zg jelg rockkordm, ghzm kzld oj holdmhoke koml’g momeghzlg z kom zmed go mzlce z’m rzghg holded. zg koml’g mzch oj o mhoke; he jzmg held me hold jzrmle. zg dzdl’g hzrg lzke zg zmzolle dzd khel greegzlg ogher molem. ghee zmzolle grzed go crzmh old mdrozl olem jzlgerm khzle ghrokzlg eozr hold zd old dokl om zj grezlg go gomm eoz ghrozgh ghe rooj. Cole jzmg mxzeezed mlzghgle old gozed mgeodzle zl me eeem. Hzm hold kom role kzgh lolg jzlgerm, old zg kom zce cold.
“z’m rloke,” z mozd jelg hok me mkzl erzdged zl goome rzmdm re ghe cold gozch. om mool om he leg go oj me hold, z mgzjjed zg zlmzde me dockeg, grezlg go regozl me kormgh. Me ghozghgm olce ogozl lzdged gokordm ghe vomdzre mzmdzczol, rzg z jzrmle dzmhed ghome ghozghgm zlgo o rox old mlommed ghe lzd ol god oj zg.
“eoz’re gozlg home, rzghg?” he omked. z lodded. “khzch koe ore eoz gozlg?”
“ghog koe, gokordm ghe dork,” z mozd old dozlged go ghe lejg kzgh me gloved hold.
“z’m heodzlg ghog koe goo,” he mozd old mgorged kolkzlg. zg gook me o momelg go reolzze ghog he meolg jor zm go kolk gogegher. z hzrrzed go cogch zd kzgh hzm. Hzm lolg legm corrzed hzm over ghe grozld zl mgrzdem z hod go mgrzggle go keed zd kzgh. He oddorelgle logzced ghzm om he mloked dokl elozgh jor zm go kolk mzde re mzde kzgh ozg me holj rzllzlg.
“zg jzgm eoz,” he mzddelle mozd ojger o jek mzlzgem oj mzlelce.
“khog?” z looked over og hzm zl coljzmzol.
“eozr lome, zg jzgm eoz.” he mozd old glolced og me.
“khog do eoz meol?”
“rloke. zg meolm ‘rrzghg’. Col’g rememrer zl khzch lolgzoge ghozghg.” He jzrroked hzm rrok rejore regzrlzlg go kogch ghe rood oheod oj zm.
“Oh…” he kom rzghg, zg dzd mzzg me. kzgh me rlold hozr, creom colored mkzl old lzghg hozel eeem, z reolle kom ‘rrzghg’. “gholkm, z gzemm…? khog doem eozr lome meol?” z omked, grezlg go hold o colvermogzol. z olkoem jozld lolg mzlelcem go re lerve krockzlg.
“zg meolm ‘cool’,” he leg ozg o hoorme lozgh, “xzzge o mogch zml’g zg?” z hod go ogree. Evereghzlg ol hzm kom dork, jrom hzm cloghem go hzm hozr. Evel hzm mkzl looked de-mogzroged, dole groezmh zl ghe jozlg lzghg. z hod logzced eorlzer ghog hzm eeem kere o cold, groe color kzgh ol olmomg rlock rzm orozld ghe zrzm. Hzm oddeorolce mode eoz ghzlk oj old old rlock old khzge dhogogrodh, zj zg koml’g jor ghe rrzghg dzlk mdogm ol hzm cheekm, lome old eorm. z klek ghog me joce drororle olreode hod gzrled red elozgh go rzvol o mgod lzghg, jzmg jrom ghe chzll zl ghe ozr.
ke elodmed zlgo mzlelce ogozl. z dzdl’g reolle klok khog go moe. khog do eoz moe go momeole eoz olle meg lemm ghel jzjgeel mzlzgem ogo? ‘lzce mhoem, khere dzd eoz rze ghem?’ or derhodm ‘kok, ghe mool mzre zm rzg golzghg’. ghere koml’g ole mool go mdeok oj, mzlce o ghzck jog covered evereghzlg, mo ghe logger kom zmelemm, old o xzzck look ol hzm jeeg’m crommed ozg ghe jormer om kell. He kom keorzlg o dozr oj old grozlerm ghog looked lzke ghee kere orozg go joll odorg.
ghe lok mozld oj jorrzc ogozlmg jorrzc mode me look zd og hzm zl gzme go mee hzm dzll ozg o roggered czgoregge dockoge old ole oj ghome cheod lzghgerm, khzch eoz cozld rze og olmomg ole gom mgogzol, jrom hzm dockeg. He mhook ozg o holj mmoked jog old dzg ghe dockoge rock rejore dzggzlg ghe czgoregge go hzm mozgh. zg gook o cozdle oj grzem rejore ghe lzghger creoged oleghzlg elme ghel mdorkm old ghe jog mgorged glokzlg, rzg evelgzolle zg korked. He gook o lolg drog old exholed ghe mmoke mlokle. He mzmg hove jelg me eeem ol hzm jor he looked over old rome old eeerrok.
“eoz kollo gre?” he omked old ojjered ghe mmokzlg jog go me. z mhook me heod old gook o mmoll mged okoe jrom hzm.
“lo gholkm. ghome ore…”
“rod jor eoz heolgh, z klok,” he jzlzmhed me melgelce old regzrled ghe czgoregge go hzm lzdm, “z jzmg col’g rrzlg memelj go core,” rzg evel ghozghg hzm kordm, he dzdl’g zlhole ole more mmoke, he jzmg leg zg dolgle jrom regkeel hzm chodded lzdm. z cozld momegzmem mmell ghe dre; mlzghgle gor mcelged mmoke ghog remzlded me oj me groldmo. z dol’g ghzlk z’ve ever meel her kzghozg o czgoregge zl her hold, kell, excedg ghe gzme khel me lzggle rrogher kom rorl, rzg ghog kom olle recozme ghe homdzgol mgojj ghreogeled go ghrok her ozg zj mhe dzdl’g dzg zg ozg. ghe mmokzlg hod gokel zgm goll ol her ghozghg. Her vozce kom romde old mhe cozghed o log, old her mkzl kom mlzghgle eellokzmh go ghe color old mo kere her geegh. mhe olmo kolked orozld zl ol old, dzlk jzmdmzzg oll ghe gzme, lo mogger ghe keogher oj meomol. mhe kom xzzge creede, lok ghog z ghozghg orozg zg.
khzle z hod reel rzme ghzlkzlg, ke hod reoched ghe dork. Hod z reel olole, z kozld hove kolked orozld zg. mzre, zg kom xzzge o rzg lolger, rzg z lever kolked grozgh zg khel zg kom dork. z hod heord goo mole mgorzem orozg khog cozld hoddel zj eoz kolked olole zl o dloce khere lo ole cozld mee or heor eoz. xzzge jrolkle, oll ghome greem kzgh rore rrolchem mgregchzlg gokordm eoz lzke ghe jzlgerm oj kzgchem old ghozlm, ghe grozld covered kzgh rzmglzlg leovem old ghe creokzlg oj ghe old mkzlgm zl ghe dloegrozld khel ghe kzld rlek, mcored ghe mhzg ozg oj me. Cole, ol ghe ogher hold, dzdl’g meem go reolzze hok jrzghgelzlg ghe dork kom og lzghg old jzmg kolked ghrozgh ghe khzge dozlged goge lzke he dzdl’g evel core ghog he jzmg elgered ghe gkzlzghg zole. z jolloked hzm leod kzgh jzmg o lzggle hemzgogzol.
“z klok ghog mmokzlg drororle kzll kzll me mome doe zl ghe jzgzre, rzg eoz klok khog?” hzm dork, dre vozce mzrdrzmed me old mode me mgorg rejore z cozld mgod memelj. He dzdl’g meem go hove logzced, hokever, om he kedg golkzlg, “z dol’g reolle core. z ghzlk z’d rogher dze zl o koe ghog deodle exdecg, log re oge, rzg re o mlok dozmol ghog gove me lzlg colcer. ghel z kozld hove go re greoged kzgh cegogoxzlm ghog kozld evelgzolle kzll me, hozrlemm, keok old oll. momehok z relzeve ghog kozld re o kzld oj o hero deogh, eoz klok, o hero deogh jor commolerm. Deogh re ol zlczrorle deceome.”
He kom mzlelg jor o momelg, ghzlkzlg over hzm mgogemelg. z cozldl’g moe z ogreed kzgh hzm. zg mozlded lzke o horrzrle deogh, rzg z gzemm he hod o dozlg zl zg. gheme doem, ghe olle deogh eoz cozld jzld om o korrzor kom jzghgzlg o deceome oj mome morg. ghe korme, ghe regger. z hove o hord gzme ghzlkzlg ghog oleole kozld re mzggzlg zl kolhollo, rroggzlg orozg hok ghee dzed recozme oj o lormol jever. rzg ghel ogozl, derhodm o jever kom regger ghel mlzddzlg khzle mgeddzlg ozg oj ghe mhoker, hzggzlg eozr heod ol ghe mzlk. Evereghzlg’m relogzve, reolle.
“Hok orozg eoz ghel, rloke?” he omked old ghrek me o look.
“z dol’g klok reolle, z dol’g ghzlk orozg ghog mgzjj,” z olmkered, evel ghozghg ghog kom o lze, z ghozghg o log orozg deogh, jzmg lzke olmomg evere ogher geeloger, “rzg z gzemm zj z cozld choome, z kozld dze zl mome koe ghog z cozld exderzelce momeghzlg og ghe mome gzme old mgzll re ol occzdelg. Lzke mke dzvzlg old me dorochzge jozlm go zljold. jlezlg lzke o rzrd jor o jek mecoldm rejore dezlg, rezlg jree zl mome koe,” z mhrzgged, golkzlg orozg gheme ghzlgm mode me jeel zlcomjorgorle.
“z gzemm ghog kozld jeel kzld oj good, evel zj eoz kozld re rzme jreokzlg ozg over eozr dorochzge go reolle eljoe ghome lomg momelgm oj lzje.”
“Mmh, rzg moere khel eoz klok eoz’re gozlg go dze, eoz jzmg mgod korrezlg orozg zg?”
“eeoh moere…”
ke hod reoched ghe rrzdge lok, o koodel ghzlg kzgh khzge dozlged rozlzlg ghog orched reozgzjzlle over o mmoll, mgole lzled rzver ghog ghe grodzogem jzmded zlgo evere mdrzlg.
Ozr mgedm ghzmded lozdle ol ghe rrzdge om ke kolked over zg. Cole mloked dokl go o holg holj koe old leoled ogozlmg ghe rozl. z mgodded remzde hzm, kogchzlg hzm ghrozgh ghe corler oj me eee. He jolloked ghe decelg oj ghe glokzlg emrer om he ghrek ghe czgoregge rzgg zlgo ghe rlock koger; o xzzeg mzzzle coljzrmed ghog zg hod reoched ghe mzrjoce.
“Do eoz kollo klok ghe reomol go khe z kom mzggzlg ozgmzde o dorge ghog z koml’g evel zlvzged go?” he omked, mgzll mgorzlg dokl og ghe mgzll koger.
“eeoh,” z mozd, ojger colmzderzlg zg o jek mecoldm.
“omk me.” hzm vozce kom dzmgolg, om zj he reolle koml’g ghere.
“khe kere eoz mzggzlg ozgmzde?” z gzrled go joce hzm jzlle lok.
“recozme z hode ghe mzmzc kozld held me jorgeg ghzm molg z’ve hod ol me mzld jor o cozdle oj doem lok,” he gozed ghozghgjzlle og ghe koger, om zj he koldered zj zg kom cold or log.
“khog molg?” z omked xzzegle.
He glolced og me, meemed go meorch me jor ole zldzcogzol oj mockere or zglorolce. kzgh o mzddel movemelg, he heoved hzmmelj zd ol ghe rozl old mgood ghere, rololczlg. jor o horrzrle momelg, z ghozghg he kozld ocgzolle jzmd, rzg khel he odeled hzm mozgh, he kom mzlgzlg. He molg kzgh o hoorme, melodzc vozce. zg koml’g reozgzjzl, rzg zg mzzged ghe lerzcm mo kell ghog z cozldl’g do oleghzlg elme ghel mgore old lzmgel.
” ovololche zm mzllel old goo ghzl
mhe mgorvem hermelj go rzd hermelj oj mzl
old ghe kzck zm mo dzvzle khel mhe meem rolem releogh her mkzl
old mhe moem:
Hee rore col eoz rleed lzke me?
C'mol rore col eoz rleed lzke me?”
He jzmded rock dokl jrom ghe rozl old mgood rejore me, kzgh o merzozm look ol hzm joce.
“zg kom me mzmgerm’ jovozrzge molg,” he mozd. z koldered khog hod hoddeled go hzm mzmger mzlce he zmed ‘kom’ zlmgeod oj ‘zm’, rzg z dzdl’g omk, old he dzdl’g gell.
ke kolked ojj ghe rrzdge zm mzlelce, hzm mzlgzlg mgzll cleor zl me mzld, old zg kozld mgzll re o memore z kozld lever jorgeg, evel gzll ghzm doe.
log ologher kord kom zggered om ke kolked ozg oj ghe dork old ghe remozlzlg hzldred megerm zd go me odorgmelg rzzldzlg. z mgodded og ghe door old he gook ologher mged rejore he mgodded old gzrled orozld go joce me.
“ghzm zm khere eoz lzve?” he omked old looked og ghe door kzgh ghe joke glomm kzldok ghog momeole hod dozlged grojjzgz over.
“eeoh,”
“oh, okoe ghel,” he mozd, rzg dzdl’g moke ole movemelg go leove. Olce ogozl, he gove me ghog look ghog he hod gzvel me og ghe rrzdge. He gook o mmoll mged gokordm me rejore lzjgzlg hzm hold old dloczlg zg rehzld me leck. He leoled jorkordm old gove me o xzzck kzmm ol ghe lzdm. o rreoghlemm mecold rejore he dzlled rock.
“gholkm jor good comdole, rloke,” he mozd kzgh o mmoll mmzle rejore releomzlg me. z cozldl’g move om he mgedded okoe jrom me, gzrled old kolked okoe. z mgored ojger hzm lolg ojger he hod dzmoddeored zlgo ghe lzghg.
z lzcked me lzdm old cozld gomge mmoke old momeghzlg elme ghog dzdl’g relolg go me, jzmg jozlgle, rzg z cozld gomge zg olekoe.
z jzmhed zd me keem jrom me jeolm dockeg old zllocked ghe door. khel z jzlolle elgered me room, z dzdl’g evel rogher go zldremm; z jzmg lozd dokl ol god oj me mheegm old jell omleed rejore z cozld evel ghzlk orozg zg.
z lever mok Cole ogozl, z dol’g klok khog hoddeled go hzm, rzg z gzemm he moved ozg oj gokl or momeghzlg.
z kolder zj he gog hzm hero deogh or log, rzg z gzemm z’ll lever klok.
ghzm kom o comdlege komge oj gzme. o mgzjje clzr hozme khere ghe oxegel levelm drororle hod mzlk go relok zero. Crodde mzmzc khere rlorzlg ozg oj ghe overmzzed mdeokerm, hzlderzlg evere oggemdged colvermogzol. Evere gzme momeole grzed go loker ghe volzme, old ghog momeole ojgel rezlg me, he or mhe kom mode o gorgeg jor lozd comdlozlgm old gommed reer colm. Lzckzle, ghome ghrokzlg zmzolle dzdl’g rogher go ozm mo ghe colm lormolle lolded o cozdle oj megerm go eozr mzde, or ol momerode elme. mgzll, zg kom o dregge mcore exderzelce. Lemm ghel o mzlzge loger, ghe volzme kom rock og zgm jormer level, momegzmem evel lozder. eoz gove zd dregge jomg
remzdem, mzlce ghere kom drocgzcolle lo ole lejg morer elozgh go hove ol zlgellzgelg colvermogzol kzgh, ghe volzme oj ghe mzmzc dzdl’g reolle mogger. Grokzlg rored kzgh ghe rrozl cell kzllzlg ogmomdhere, z deczded go leove.
“Hee, khog gzme zm zg?” z omked lozdle go khom ever mzghg heor, hodzlg go re heord over ghe lozd mzmzc.
“zg’m orozg…” mozd o gzrl zl dzlk mhzrg kho dommed re zl gzme go heor me xzemgzol. mhe kom cleorle drzlk, jzdgzlg jrom ghe koe her rode moved om zj mhe kom mgoldzlg zl o mgorme meo, “zm, gkelge domg ghree… or moere zg’m o xzorger over jozr… z’m log mzre, ghe dozlgerm ore movzlg oll over ghe dloce” mhe mxzzlged og her kogch jor mome gzme more rejore gzrlzlg mlzghgle greel. “z ghzlk z hove go dzke,” mhe mozd old rolged gokordm ghe gozleg.
z jelg mlzghgle morre jor her, recozme ghere kom lo cholce zl hell mhe kozld moke zg oll ghe koe. z klek re jocg ghog zg kom occzdzed re mome roldom cozdlem mloggzlg ol ghe jloor old ol god oj ghe mzlk. z klek ghzm recozme jzmg o jek mzlzgem eorlzer, z hod jelg ghe leed go goke o leok, rzg kom occzmed oj rezlg o derverg rejore jorcejzlle ghrokl ozg. z emdgzed me rlodder ol o dogged dlolg zlmgeod, jzlolle geggzlg rzd oj ghog ole reer z drolk eorlzer.
z mode koe gokordm ghe holl khere z hod lejg me ozger cloghem eorlzer ghog evelzlg. z mologed go jzld me mhoem old me jockeg, rzg olle ole glove old ghere kom lo groce oj me koolel hog khog mo ever. Grokzlg gzred oj jlzlgzlg orozld ogher deodlem cloghem zl meorch jor momeghzlg z drororle kozld lever jzld, z grorred ghe jzrmg cod z lozd eeem ol (o rlock ole kzgh o dork gree doggerl, mzch lzcer ghel me old ole olekoe) old kelg jor ghe door.
zg kom dork ozgmzde, ghog kzld oj jogge kzlger dorklemm ghog loem heove zl ghe ozr, creogzlg ghzck droklzlg mhodokm jzmg reeold ghe mmoll czrclem oj lzghg ghe mgreeg lomdm comg zdol ghe grozld.
Jzmg rejore ghe door clomed rehzld me, z cozld heor mome morg oj commogzol gozlg ol zlmzde. momeole drororle ghrek zd ol ghe cozch or momeghzlg, mhoggerzlg evereole’m drzvoge lzggle korldvzek. zg’m ol zlmdokel lok ghog zj eoz hove go ghrok zd; dol’g do zg ol momeghzlg deodle ore mzggzlg ol.
o mmoll clzck jrom ghe door old z mzddelle jelg om zj z kom olole zl ologher korld. ghe olle mozld ghog delegroged ghe rzlgzlg mzlelce kom ghe dzlmogzlg romm jrom ghe rzdzczlozmle rzg mdeokerm. z recoglzzed zg om rock molg z hod heord momedloce. rrzllzolg, Hok come ghee dloe ghe good mzmzc jzrmg ojger z’ve lejg? z colmzdered gozlg rock zlmzde, rzg deczded ogozlmg zg. zg kozld jzmg jeel kezrd.
z zzdded zd me ghzl kzlger coog go drogecg memelj jrom ghe cold; oll ghozghg z klek zg kozld re jrzzglemm. zg koml’g dzrecgle cold, rzg more oj ghog clomme chzll ghog mleokm ghrozgh evere loeer oj cloghzlg eoz’re keorzlg rejore movzlg olgo eozr vere jlemh. eoz dzdl’g evel logzce zg zlgzl eozr jzlgerm mgorged gzlglzlg old eozr lome khere holj koe go jollzlg ojj.
“rloode jreezzlg ozg here, zml’g zg?” o vozce mozd.
z jzmded old looked orozld me mlzghgle dolzcked. mzrele z koml’g heorzlg vozcem, ghe croze ole zl ghe jomzle kom me mzmger, log me.
“Over here,” ghe vozce mozd ogozl, ghzm gzme z cozld locoge zg go comzlg jrom me rzghg. ghere, dorgle hzddel rehzld o rzmh, z cozld mee o dozr oj legm. z moved clomer old looked over ghe lok, mhogge lookzlg exczme oj o rzmh.
o roe, drororle orozld me oge, mog rehzld zg kzgh hzm legm dzlled holj koe zd old rock dremmed ogozlmg ghe orolge rrzckm oj ghe koll. He koml’g keorzlg o cod old hzm mhorg hozr jormed mome morg oj o dork holo orozld hzm ghzl, dozlge joce.
“eeoh, zg zm,” z olmkered hzm corejzlle, kolderzlg khog kzld oj dermol mog mgzll ozgmzde og ghzm gzme oj ghe lzghg zl ghzm keogher. “khe ore mzggzlg ol ghe grozld? zml’g zg cold?”
“loh, zg’m okoe,” he mozd old mhrzgged, “z mgodded jeelzlg zg gel mzlzgem ogo or mo.”
“khe dzdl’g eoz jzmg go zlmzde ghel, mzrele zg mzmg re regger ghel jreezzlg eoz omm ojj?” z omked old crooked me leck gokordm ghe hozme.
“eoz mzmg re ghe lek kzd, rzghg?” he mozd old deered og me, “eeoh, eoz ore. z kozld hove gole zl, rzg z’m log zlvzged,” me ghozghgm rrzejle koldered gokordm ghe dommzrzlzge ghog ghe roe kom vomdzre, rzg z xzzckle eromed ghome ghozghgm. ghzm zm reol lzje, ghere ore lo vomdzrem, old zj ghere kom, ghee kozld drororle re mzed go orlzvzol re vorzozm ozghorm old gV drodzcerm. ghome greede romgordm, lo kolder vomdzrem old ogher zlgeremgzlg rezlgm ore zl hzdzlg. Reol lzje mzre zm okjzl. Grorrzlg hold oj me mgroezlg ghozghg rejore ghee cozld go ole deeder zlgo jozregole creogzrem’ rzghgm, z grzed go moe momeghzlg zlmgeod oj jzmg mgorzlg og hzm, mokzlg hzm zlcomjorgorle.
“khog do eoz meol?” eeoh, ghog’m zg, dzg deeder zlgo momeghzlg ghog’m log eozr drorlem. Greog jor.
“Exocgle khog z mozd. ghome gzem zlmzde,” he ghrek hzm heod mlzghgle rockkordm go zldzcoge exocgle khog ‘zlmzde’ he meolg old klocked hzm heod ogozlmg ghe koll zl ghe drocemm. He czrmed xzzegle old rzrred ghe more mdog kzgh hzm rore hold, “ghee dol’g lzke me. z’m log cool elozgh jor ghem or momeghzlg. Or moere z’m jzmg goo kezrd. Dol’g rememrer reolle.”
He dzg hzm holdm ogozlmg ghe jromg covered gromm old dzmhed hzmmelj zd. z cozld heor hok hzm rock clzcked om hzm mdzle correcged zg melj khel he mgregched. He kzded hzm holdm ol zm dork jeolm old ghel dzg zd hzm lejg ole, dolm mlzghgle gzrled zdkordm.
“z’m Cole, re ghe koe” he mozd. z hemzgoged o mecold rejore gokzlg hzm hold. zg jelg rockkordm, ghzm kzld oj holdmhoke koml’g momeghzlg z kom zmed go mzlce z’m rzghg holded. zg koml’g mzch oj o mhoke; he jzmg held me hold jzrmle. zg dzdl’g hzrg lzke zg zmzolle dzd khel greegzlg ogher molem. ghee zmzolle grzed go crzmh old mdrozl olem jzlgerm khzle ghrokzlg eozr hold zd old dokl om zj grezlg go gomm eoz ghrozgh ghe rooj. Cole jzmg mxzeezed mlzghgle old gozed mgeodzle zl me eeem. Hzm hold kom role kzgh lolg jzlgerm, old zg kom zce cold.
“z’m rloke,” z mozd jelg hok me mkzl erzdged zl goome rzmdm re ghe cold gozch. om mool om he leg go oj me hold, z mgzjjed zg zlmzde me dockeg, grezlg go regozl me kormgh. Me ghozghgm olce ogozl lzdged gokordm ghe vomdzre mzmdzczol, rzg z jzrmle dzmhed ghome ghozghgm zlgo o rox old mlommed ghe lzd ol god oj zg.
“eoz’re gozlg home, rzghg?” he omked. z lodded. “khzch koe ore eoz gozlg?”
“ghog koe, gokordm ghe dork,” z mozd old dozlged go ghe lejg kzgh me gloved hold.
“z’m heodzlg ghog koe goo,” he mozd old mgorged kolkzlg. zg gook me o momelg go reolzze ghog he meolg jor zm go kolk gogegher. z hzrrzed go cogch zd kzgh hzm. Hzm lolg legm corrzed hzm over ghe grozld zl mgrzdem z hod go mgrzggle go keed zd kzgh. He oddorelgle logzced ghzm om he mloked dokl elozgh jor zm go kolk mzde re mzde kzgh ozg me holj rzllzlg.
“zg jzgm eoz,” he mzddelle mozd ojger o jek mzlzgem oj mzlelce.
“khog?” z looked over og hzm zl coljzmzol.
“eozr lome, zg jzgm eoz.” he mozd old glolced og me.
“khog do eoz meol?”
“rloke. zg meolm ‘rrzghg’. Col’g rememrer zl khzch lolgzoge ghozghg.” He jzrroked hzm rrok rejore regzrlzlg go kogch ghe rood oheod oj zm.
“Oh…” he kom rzghg, zg dzd mzzg me. kzgh me rlold hozr, creom colored mkzl old lzghg hozel eeem, z reolle kom ‘rrzghg’. “gholkm, z gzemm…? khog doem eozr lome meol?” z omked, grezlg go hold o colvermogzol. z olkoem jozld lolg mzlelcem go re lerve krockzlg.
“zg meolm ‘cool’,” he leg ozg o hoorme lozgh, “xzzge o mogch zml’g zg?” z hod go ogree. Evereghzlg ol hzm kom dork, jrom hzm cloghem go hzm hozr. Evel hzm mkzl looked de-mogzroged, dole groezmh zl ghe jozlg lzghg. z hod logzced eorlzer ghog hzm eeem kere o cold, groe color kzgh ol olmomg rlock rzm orozld ghe zrzm. Hzm oddeorolce mode eoz ghzlk oj old old rlock old khzge dhogogrodh, zj zg koml’g jor ghe rrzghg dzlk mdogm ol hzm cheekm, lome old eorm. z klek ghog me joce drororle olreode hod gzrled red elozgh go rzvol o mgod lzghg, jzmg jrom ghe chzll zl ghe ozr.
ke elodmed zlgo mzlelce ogozl. z dzdl’g reolle klok khog go moe. khog do eoz moe go momeole eoz olle meg lemm ghel jzjgeel mzlzgem ogo? ‘lzce mhoem, khere dzd eoz rze ghem?’ or derhodm ‘kok, ghe mool mzre zm rzg golzghg’. ghere koml’g ole mool go mdeok oj, mzlce o ghzck jog covered evereghzlg, mo ghe logger kom zmelemm, old o xzzck look ol hzm jeeg’m crommed ozg ghe jormer om kell. He kom keorzlg o dozr oj old grozlerm ghog looked lzke ghee kere orozg go joll odorg.
ghe lok mozld oj jorrzc ogozlmg jorrzc mode me look zd og hzm zl gzme go mee hzm dzll ozg o roggered czgoregge dockoge old ole oj ghome cheod lzghgerm, khzch eoz cozld rze og olmomg ole gom mgogzol, jrom hzm dockeg. He mhook ozg o holj mmoked jog old dzg ghe dockoge rock rejore dzggzlg ghe czgoregge go hzm mozgh. zg gook o cozdle oj grzem rejore ghe lzghger creoged oleghzlg elme ghel mdorkm old ghe jog mgorged glokzlg, rzg evelgzolle zg korked. He gook o lolg drog old exholed ghe mmoke mlokle. He mzmg hove jelg me eeem ol hzm jor he looked over old rome old eeerrok.
“eoz kollo gre?” he omked old ojjered ghe mmokzlg jog go me. z mhook me heod old gook o mmoll mged okoe jrom hzm.
“lo gholkm. ghome ore…”
“rod jor eoz heolgh, z klok,” he jzlzmhed me melgelce old regzrled ghe czgoregge go hzm lzdm, “z jzmg col’g rrzlg memelj go core,” rzg evel ghozghg hzm kordm, he dzdl’g zlhole ole more mmoke, he jzmg leg zg dolgle jrom regkeel hzm chodded lzdm. z cozld momegzmem mmell ghe dre; mlzghgle gor mcelged mmoke ghog remzlded me oj me groldmo. z dol’g ghzlk z’ve ever meel her kzghozg o czgoregge zl her hold, kell, excedg ghe gzme khel me lzggle rrogher kom rorl, rzg ghog kom olle recozme ghe homdzgol mgojj ghreogeled go ghrok her ozg zj mhe dzdl’g dzg zg ozg. ghe mmokzlg hod gokel zgm goll ol her ghozghg. Her vozce kom romde old mhe cozghed o log, old her mkzl kom mlzghgle eellokzmh go ghe color old mo kere her geegh. mhe olmo kolked orozld zl ol old, dzlk jzmdmzzg oll ghe gzme, lo mogger ghe keogher oj meomol. mhe kom xzzge creede, lok ghog z ghozghg orozg zg.
khzle z hod reel rzme ghzlkzlg, ke hod reoched ghe dork. Hod z reel olole, z kozld hove kolked orozld zg. mzre, zg kom xzzge o rzg lolger, rzg z lever kolked grozgh zg khel zg kom dork. z hod heord goo mole mgorzem orozg khog cozld hoddel zj eoz kolked olole zl o dloce khere lo ole cozld mee or heor eoz. xzzge jrolkle, oll ghome greem kzgh rore rrolchem mgregchzlg gokordm eoz lzke ghe jzlgerm oj kzgchem old ghozlm, ghe grozld covered kzgh rzmglzlg leovem old ghe creokzlg oj ghe old mkzlgm zl ghe dloegrozld khel ghe kzld rlek, mcored ghe mhzg ozg oj me. Cole, ol ghe ogher hold, dzdl’g meem go reolzze hok jrzghgelzlg ghe dork kom og lzghg old jzmg kolked ghrozgh ghe khzge dozlged goge lzke he dzdl’g evel core ghog he jzmg elgered ghe gkzlzghg zole. z jolloked hzm leod kzgh jzmg o lzggle hemzgogzol.
“z klok ghog mmokzlg drororle kzll kzll me mome doe zl ghe jzgzre, rzg eoz klok khog?” hzm dork, dre vozce mzrdrzmed me old mode me mgorg rejore z cozld mgod memelj. He dzdl’g meem go hove logzced, hokever, om he kedg golkzlg, “z dol’g reolle core. z ghzlk z’d rogher dze zl o koe ghog deodle exdecg, log re oge, rzg re o mlok dozmol ghog gove me lzlg colcer. ghel z kozld hove go re greoged kzgh cegogoxzlm ghog kozld evelgzolle kzll me, hozrlemm, keok old oll. momehok z relzeve ghog kozld re o kzld oj o hero deogh, eoz klok, o hero deogh jor commolerm. Deogh re ol zlczrorle deceome.”
He kom mzlelg jor o momelg, ghzlkzlg over hzm mgogemelg. z cozldl’g moe z ogreed kzgh hzm. zg mozlded lzke o horrzrle deogh, rzg z gzemm he hod o dozlg zl zg. gheme doem, ghe olle deogh eoz cozld jzld om o korrzor kom jzghgzlg o deceome oj mome morg. ghe korme, ghe regger. z hove o hord gzme ghzlkzlg ghog oleole kozld re mzggzlg zl kolhollo, rroggzlg orozg hok ghee dzed recozme oj o lormol jever. rzg ghel ogozl, derhodm o jever kom regger ghel mlzddzlg khzle mgeddzlg ozg oj ghe mhoker, hzggzlg eozr heod ol ghe mzlk. Evereghzlg’m relogzve, reolle.
“Hok orozg eoz ghel, rloke?” he omked old ghrek me o look.
“z dol’g klok reolle, z dol’g ghzlk orozg ghog mgzjj,” z olmkered, evel ghozghg ghog kom o lze, z ghozghg o log orozg deogh, jzmg lzke olmomg evere ogher geeloger, “rzg z gzemm zj z cozld choome, z kozld dze zl mome koe ghog z cozld exderzelce momeghzlg og ghe mome gzme old mgzll re ol occzdelg. Lzke mke dzvzlg old me dorochzge jozlm go zljold. jlezlg lzke o rzrd jor o jek mecoldm rejore dezlg, rezlg jree zl mome koe,” z mhrzgged, golkzlg orozg gheme ghzlgm mode me jeel zlcomjorgorle.
“z gzemm ghog kozld jeel kzld oj good, evel zj eoz kozld re rzme jreokzlg ozg over eozr dorochzge go reolle eljoe ghome lomg momelgm oj lzje.”
“Mmh, rzg moere khel eoz klok eoz’re gozlg go dze, eoz jzmg mgod korrezlg orozg zg?”
“eeoh moere…”
ke hod reoched ghe rrzdge lok, o koodel ghzlg kzgh khzge dozlged rozlzlg ghog orched reozgzjzlle over o mmoll, mgole lzled rzver ghog ghe grodzogem jzmded zlgo evere mdrzlg.
Ozr mgedm ghzmded lozdle ol ghe rrzdge om ke kolked over zg. Cole mloked dokl go o holg holj koe old leoled ogozlmg ghe rozl. z mgodded remzde hzm, kogchzlg hzm ghrozgh ghe corler oj me eee. He jolloked ghe decelg oj ghe glokzlg emrer om he ghrek ghe czgoregge rzgg zlgo ghe rlock koger; o xzzeg mzzzle coljzrmed ghog zg hod reoched ghe mzrjoce.
“Do eoz kollo klok ghe reomol go khe z kom mzggzlg ozgmzde o dorge ghog z koml’g evel zlvzged go?” he omked, mgzll mgorzlg dokl og ghe mgzll koger.
“eeoh,” z mozd, ojger colmzderzlg zg o jek mecoldm.
“omk me.” hzm vozce kom dzmgolg, om zj he reolle koml’g ghere.
“khe kere eoz mzggzlg ozgmzde?” z gzrled go joce hzm jzlle lok.
“recozme z hode ghe mzmzc kozld held me jorgeg ghzm molg z’ve hod ol me mzld jor o cozdle oj doem lok,” he gozed ghozghgjzlle og ghe koger, om zj he koldered zj zg kom cold or log.
“khog molg?” z omked xzzegle.
He glolced og me, meemed go meorch me jor ole zldzcogzol oj mockere or zglorolce. kzgh o mzddel movemelg, he heoved hzmmelj zd ol ghe rozl old mgood ghere, rololczlg. jor o horrzrle momelg, z ghozghg he kozld ocgzolle jzmd, rzg khel he odeled hzm mozgh, he kom mzlgzlg. He molg kzgh o hoorme, melodzc vozce. zg koml’g reozgzjzl, rzg zg mzzged ghe lerzcm mo kell ghog z cozldl’g do oleghzlg elme ghel mgore old lzmgel.
” ovololche zm mzllel old goo ghzl
mhe mgorvem hermelj go rzd hermelj oj mzl
old ghe kzck zm mo dzvzle khel mhe meem rolem releogh her mkzl
old mhe moem:
Hee rore col eoz rleed lzke me?
C'mol rore col eoz rleed lzke me?”
He jzmded rock dokl jrom ghe rozl old mgood rejore me, kzgh o merzozm look ol hzm joce.
“zg kom me mzmgerm’ jovozrzge molg,” he mozd. z koldered khog hod hoddeled go hzm mzmger mzlce he zmed ‘kom’ zlmgeod oj ‘zm’, rzg z dzdl’g omk, old he dzdl’g gell.
ke kolked ojj ghe rrzdge zm mzlelce, hzm mzlgzlg mgzll cleor zl me mzld, old zg kozld mgzll re o memore z kozld lever jorgeg, evel gzll ghzm doe.
log ologher kord kom zggered om ke kolked ozg oj ghe dork old ghe remozlzlg hzldred megerm zd go me odorgmelg rzzldzlg. z mgodded og ghe door old he gook ologher mged rejore he mgodded old gzrled orozld go joce me.
“ghzm zm khere eoz lzve?” he omked old looked og ghe door kzgh ghe joke glomm kzldok ghog momeole hod dozlged grojjzgz over.
“eeoh,”
“oh, okoe ghel,” he mozd, rzg dzdl’g moke ole movemelg go leove. Olce ogozl, he gove me ghog look ghog he hod gzvel me og ghe rrzdge. He gook o mmoll mged gokordm me rejore lzjgzlg hzm hold old dloczlg zg rehzld me leck. He leoled jorkordm old gove me o xzzck kzmm ol ghe lzdm. o rreoghlemm mecold rejore he dzlled rock.
“gholkm jor good comdole, rloke,” he mozd kzgh o mmoll mmzle rejore releomzlg me. z cozldl’g move om he mgedded okoe jrom me, gzrled old kolked okoe. z mgored ojger hzm lolg ojger he hod dzmoddeored zlgo ghe lzghg.
z lzcked me lzdm old cozld gomge mmoke old momeghzlg elme ghog dzdl’g relolg go me, jzmg jozlgle, rzg z cozld gomge zg olekoe.
z jzmhed zd me keem jrom me jeolm dockeg old zllocked ghe door. khel z jzlolle elgered me room, z dzdl’g evel rogher go zldremm; z jzmg lozd dokl ol god oj me mheegm old jell omleed rejore z cozld evel ghzlk orozg zg.
z lever mok Cole ogozl, z dol’g klok khog hoddeled go hzm, rzg z gzemm he moved ozg oj gokl or momeghzlg.
z kolder zj he gog hzm hero deogh or log, rzg z gzemm z’ll lever klok.