Back To Nature...

I'll let you in on a little secret: when your home consists of a bed sitting in an open patch of grass, you don't tend to sit at home for long. Ten minutes of pondering just what I was going to do about this mess, and I came upon an answer.

The park. 

If I go to the park, surely I will meet someone who can help me sort this all out. At the very least, I might be able to make some new friends and--gasp!--find some (free) lunch. I'm gonna keep my cash close, at least for now. There's no telling when I'll have to spend it, or what for. 

Can they kick someone off a big chunk of grass?

The park looks lovely, as things in nature tend to do. 

It's different than what I'm use to. Sure, there are trees and flowers and shrubs. But mixed in with that, there are tables and boards with little pieces (some kind of game?) and a great big stone thing with benches in it. Nothing like home at all. 

A flash of shiny golden hair catches my eye. Looking over I see a handsome man sitting at one of those board things. Maybe he can help me. If not, at least he'll be nice to look at. 

Is he waiting for someone to play with? Only one way to find out, I guess. 

I'll haul my butt over there and find out! 

Hmm... Not so hot from the front.

That shirt is just...no. Plus, he's looking at me like he's thinking "Who are you and why were you born?". 

This might have been a mistake.

I watch him fiddle with the pieces for a few minutes, trying to figure things out. After a few minutes watching, I offer to join him and we begin to play. 

As we get into the game, I introduce myself to him and learn that his name is Malcolm Landgraab. (There's a funny name if ever I heard one!) All is going well, and I'm even starting to think that maybe, just maybe, I misread his earlier expression.

But then I tell him about what has happened to me, and get...

"What do you want me to do about it?"

Exactly what you sound willing to do, Malcolm. Nothing. 

Couldn't he have at least listened? Let me vent?

Gah. I'm forgetting I'm not at home anymore. I guess I can't just walk up to random people and expect them to immediately like me here.

That's kinda annoying. 

The park has totally lost its appeal (for now). And I was so hoping to have hot dogs or hamburgers!

Making sure I didn't do something silly, like leaving my wallet behind, I head out of the park and make my way downtown. 

I've got no clue what "Blue Velvet" is, but I guess I'm going to find out. 

I'm getting kind of hungry. If I'm lucky, maybe this place is famous for some fancy cake that involves blueberries and chocolate. Nana use to make Red Velvet cake, after all...

Unfortunately, the place of blueberry chocolate goodness is currently closed. Since the gym is next door, I decide to go there instead.

Hey, if I'm going to be sleeping under the stars with nothing to my name but a bit of money and a twin bed, I'd better make sure I'm in good shape at least. 

Right?

Wrong. Whoever invened this machine I'm sitting on must have really hated a fat relative or something. (Sorry, cousin. No blueberry chocolate cake for you. See? That person must have been evil.)

Time to try something else...

Yeah, this is definitely more like it. I'm use to hoofing it on foot anyway, so the treadmill, as the lady visiting with me calls it, is a much better fit.

After taking a steamy shower and using the bathroom, I leave the gym behind and go back to the Blue Velvet.

On the downside, they don't serve chocolate cake with blueberries. On the upside, the bartender gave me an order of chips for free. 

Seems a nice enough guy, but that beard... Yikes! Sorry doll, but you're not what I'm looking for. 

Plus, what this place lacks in appealing men, it makes up for several times over in fiercely pretty competition. If a good looking man walked through the door, he'd likely get pounced by the crowd before I could even say hello to him.

I have heard a few whispers about the Landgraabs while I've sat here eating. It seems that if I got involved with any of them I'd be as whole as a Cowplant's dinner by the end of it. Plus, it seems Malcolm is still a student anyway.

I guess that explains at least part of his reaction this morning. Not much a kid could do about my current situation, after all.

No matter how you slice it, I was lucky to sidestep the whole mess. 

But then...

A guy I saw at the gym comes in and takes a seat at the bar.

I won't lie: blondes have always been my thing. But this guy isn't too shabby with his dark hair and wide shoulders.

As predicted, I can't get anywhere near him. But we do talk a little. 

Turns out his name is J Huntington II and he's really into sports. (Well I did meet him at the gym...) He didn't seem to mind all the attention he was getting, either. (Not sure what I think of that.) 

Oh well. It's only my first day in Willow Creek. I think I've done pretty good getting around as much as I have. 

Returning to my new "home", I pull back the covers and climb into my ill-fated bed.

Who am I to complain? If every star in the sky is a wish, and I'm sleeping among them, I must be the luckiest woman alive.