Member-only story
“Ohh, sick.”
My first conscious thought of the day as I lift my head from the uncovered, yellowed mattress, blanketed with black and gray splotches. Looking down, I see that my head had been resting on a particularly dark, black circle. I pray it is just a water spot. My noises of disgust wake Rick and he sits up, blinking the sleep from his eyes. I glance over and see the look of horror appear on his face as he looks down, realizing that his face had also been resting on the disgusting mattress.
I had made sure to fall asleep with my head inside the sleeping bag but, to my regret, I had wiggled out in the night. I had not slept very well, and despite my drowsiness, I climb out of the sleeping bag to ensure I’m ready when Jeff leaves for work. I wander in the back door and find Jeff sitting at the kitchen table eating his breakfast of cold garlic bread from the night before.
“I’m taking off right now. If you two want to stay and sleep the shop is only a few blocks away.”
“No, I think that we’re ready to go,” I reply. He shrugs and I go to grab my bag and hurry Rick along.
We put our things into Jeff’s trunk and drive the mile to the shop. It’s interesting that everyone I meet in the town keep giving distances in terms of “blocks” but I have yet to see anything…
