Night rider
Night riderI stood in the woods behind my house looking for something that I knew I would never find. So many questions remained unanswered to me. But I'm starting at the probable end of the story. I should begin at the beginning.
It was a normal autumn evening at the Smith house. All of my family was sitting around the TV watching “Home Along” for the thirth time. My wife was in her normal position on the couch wearing her sweatshirt. She always wears sweat shirts to big for her too. She says its cause if makes her feel skinny. I have given trying to understand this.
My daughter was half watching the TV and painting her nails. I was in my favorite recliner thinking of whether or not to turn off the stupid movie. I had the movie memorized five showings ago but still sat there hoping I might see something cool. Who would have thought that a weird sound from a simple machine would change all of our lives.
Life in Smallstown, Maine, was said to be everyone's dream. Living just a few miles away from one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. I love living out in the country. I never had to worry about my daughter walking herself to the bus stop. I even got into the habit of forgetting to lock my car and house.
A favorite time of year was upon my life. The time just after all the summer people went home and gave the beach back to me. It was the end of the excitement of summer and began the preparation for the holidays and the cold of winter. It is a very quiet time of year especially on the beaches.
After years of working in three different summer businesses my wife decided to be the rural housewife. She would meet her girl friends at least once a week. They would go to either Bob's Cafe or to John’s Restaurant to talk about subjects girl friends talk about. They loved to laugh at the natives, eventhough she was evolving into one of them. Not a true native of course. A true native is defined as a person who was born and died in this town. You could never be considered a native, by a native, unless you were born here.
My wife would also meet in one of her friends basement to build up a sweat doing aerobics. This form of exercise is great for your heart and muscle tone. But it is destructive to your shins, legs, and neck. She always said that she would be the cripple with the best body in the chiropractic ward at York Hospital.
My daughter knows York Beach as her only home. We moved into our house when she was only two months old. Of course this meant that she was not a native of York Beach. She is a remarkably bright kid with...
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