Born Again from a Strike of Lightning

  Chapter 6: Old Boots Trek Through Still Puddles and Gravel Paths

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  The two beasts were easy enough to manage. It wouldn’t be guessed, but my arms held plenty enough strength to reign the dogs in. I hadn’t thought to ask Mariana the names of her pets before I took them out, but they were luckily tagged with metal pieces and their names were displayed on them. Duster and Jumper were their callings. I had my assumptions for the name Jumper, but I couldn’t think of any explanation for the name Duster. It didn’t matter why they were called those things though, as long as I knew what to call them if I needed to call them back to my side.

  “Good dogs.” I whispered as they tugged on my arms.

  My fingers remained clenched around their leashes. They wouldn’t be getting away. I split my mind a little and allowed myself to focus partially on the task of controlling them as the rest of my processing power went to thinking for myself again. One reality wasn’t true and one was, or maybe neither were and it was all just another dream.

  I thought to myself. “None of the people around me here will be able to tell me what I need to know and none of the people in the other place will talk to me at all. There are no answers for me to find that I can find on my own. What an annoying way I find myself in, what an annoying way indeed.”

  The part of myself that was paying attention noticed that one of the dogs was relieving himself on a bit of foliage beside the path that we were walking. I had nothing with which to pick up the waste left behind. I looked around to see if anyone had seen. At least nobody had.

  “Shit.” I whispered as I rushed the dogs away, back towards where we had come from.

  “And I suppose it gets a little worse.” I muttered.

  Still, even in that instance, I knew which world I preferred to be the real one. It wasn’t so bad, the place I had in this strange, possibly imagined future. I would have to make something new of myself, but that wasn’t seeming so bad anymore. I no longer had to listen to the people I’d once called friends. I didn’t have to care what they thought. I supposed I didn’t owe them anything in the end. Did I even owe them the burials I’d wanted to give them?

  “It’s only courtesy. As bad as they were, they still deserve to be treated as people.” I said to myself inside my head.

  I was right, but a part of myself didn’t want to believe it. I had to though. I would still go along with the original plan. They would be put into the ground and I would be free of them. I would be free to see the worlds on my own, if that’s what I still wanted to do. I’d figure that out in time. Until then, I had to walk dogs and help a pregnant woman instead. It was honest work, I guessed.

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  The dogs ran back into the house in quite a rush as soon as I’d opened the front door. Both ran quickly to their water bowls in order to cool off and hydrate. The commotion woke up the sleeping mother that was housing me. I heard her groan and then I watched as she pulled herself back to her feet.

  “How’d it go? Were they any trouble?”

  “None at all.” I lied, not wanting to bring up my foolish mistake of not bringing any bags to clean up their waste with.

  Mariana nodded and started walking away from me.

  “Well, let me get ready. We can go do some stuff now, if you still want to.”

  “Only if you feel alright to drive, ma’am… Mariana.”

  “I feel fine. Let me put a coat on.”

  I nodded and blinked my eyes. The woman wrapped herself in a long stretching coat, the kind that would blow in heavy winds. She did not have the ability to zip it around herself, so she left it open.

  “You know what, Victoria?”

  “What?”

  “I want to take you shopping for clothes. You’re essentially starting from nothing, so let’s get you something. Every girl needs a few good outfits, so we’ll start with that.”

  “I would not ask that of you. I have no way of paying you back at this time. There’s so much I need to do before I can even hope to repay such a debt.”

  “Such a debt? It would only be a few hundred dasos. It’ll be fine. I won’t call back the debt, mother’s honor. I’m just feeling very charitable today, and I want to make you feel welcome.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely, and the first thing we’re replacing is those old clunkers on your feet. They’re holey, and they need replacement. We’ll get you some beautiful new boots. Any kind you want.”

  I smiled at her faintly, though I knew it was likely a motherly instinct that was causing her to want to be so nice to me. Could I take advantage of that? Would it be right to?

  “I’ll try not to ask for anything too expensive. Whatever is cheapest I will take.”

  “Nonsense. It’ll be whatever you want.”

  “Ma’am…”

  “No ma’aming me. We’re doing this. Let’s go, Victoria.” She said as she stormed past me and grabbed my hand. I guess we were going to go through with it all.

  “Well if we’re going to go through with this all, can I request something of you?”

  “Sure.”

  “Can you take me to get my identification papers in order? I think that is also quite important.”

  “I agree. We’ll do that after we get you some fresh outfits.”

  “But…”

  “First things first, Victoria. We’ll get it all done today. The day is still very young. Let’s enjoy it, shall we?”

  “Alright, Mariana. We can do that.”

  “Good girl.”

  I blushed at her words and looked at her with confusion as she only smiled in response. Something odd was going through her head.

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  Mariana parked the van we were driving in. We were back on the mainstreet of whatever town I’d come from the night before. The street connected to nearly a dozen smaller back streets, all lined with shops of various sizes and purposes. She opened her door and I followed her lead, closing mine as she did hers. I followed her walk down the road and then I had to ask where we were going.

  “What store are we looking for?”

  “Gordo’s Clothesline. It’s a nice little store. They offer new things made by Gordo’s family and old things refurbished by them.”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “So it’s a thrift store?”

  “Half and half.”

  “Alright. Will they have boots?”

  “Absolutely. Gordo himself is a… um… what’s the word for it? He’s a shoe repairman, if you understand what I mean. The store stays open for only 6 hours a day. The rest of his day is spent working on producing stuff to sell. We’ll find you a fine pair of boots remade by him.”

  “I’ll take it he’s a family friend then?”

  “He’s close to one.”

  “I’ll trust him then if you trust him.”

  “I do. Don’t worry, he won’t put any nails in your boots unless they belong there.”

  “I would hope not.”

  We kept walking for a little while until we reached a rather large store built of concrete and glass. I read the name and it was the one she’d talked about. The door rang a bell as we walked inside and a large old man greeted us.

  “How do you do, my friends?” Gordo bellowed.

  “We’re doing fine, Gordo. We’re here to get this lady a few new things to start her off in the world.”

  “What do you mean by that?” he asked.

  “It’s a very long story.”

  “Oh, well you shall have to tell it to me sometime. What are we looking for today?”

  “Boots, to start. Her’s are a little worn.”

  He looked down at my ankles and nodded.

  “Yes, it would seem that they are.”

  “They replaced the rest of her clothes at the repair hospital, but not her boots. Silly fools.”

  “Indeed. We shall find her a great new pair. Would you like me to show you to them?”

  “I know my own way around here, Gordo, but thank you. Maybe you can show us to the dresses when we’re done looking for shoes.”

  “Of course. My wife would be more than happy to as well, if I am not around.”

  “Thank you and thank her for us, please.”

  “I shall.” Gordo declared.

  We left him to where he was and I followed as Mariana led.

  “This way.” she said as she led me to a few shelves of wares meant to protect what one walked on.

  “That’s a lot of shoes.”

  “Yes, yes it is. Take your time looking. I’m in no rush.”

  “Do you have any advice?”

  “Not really. Choose for yourself, Victoria.”

  I blinked a few times and then went back to looking at the available options. What did I really want? I didn’t know. I didn’t even really want anything, but I knew Mariana was right that I needed to replace my boots. Did I really want to get all those new clothes too though? I thought about it as I looked. Maybe a few things. Maybe I did want to look different. As I pondered the subject, my eyes fell on a cleaned pair of boots made from black leather, rubber, and brass colored metal. They looked utilitarian, and they matched what I imagined myself wanting.

  “These ones.”

  “Work boots?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “We’ll get those then. Let’s go find some outfits to match with them. Do you have anything in mind? I know you’ve been thinking about it.”

  “How could you tell?”

  “You stopped blinking for a while, and it looked like you zoned out.”

  “Oh…” I muttered.

  “Yeah. I was a little worried for a second. So what do you think?”

  “I’m not sure. I’ve never gotten a choice in my clothes. I was always given basic uniforms on my ship. Essentially just mechanical jumpsuits. I suppose I’d partially want to recreate that style. I’m a utilitarian person. What would have the most utility?”

  “You tell me.” she said, waving her arm out to the selections of shirts and pants.

  “I guess cargo pants to start and some t-shirts. Those are rather basic, and fitting for me. Things with which to hold other things.”

  “We’ll find those things then. Take your pick, Vic.”

  I nodded to her and then started looking again. I was much more swift that time around as I found what I wanted in quick order. Cargo pants in black and gray as well as in my size. Several basic light gray t-shirts. I was satisfied at first, but then I found something that left me more than satisfied. It wasn’t something I had been looking for, but as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted it. At the same time though, I was afraid of wearing it. It being a pocketed black vest of denim and metal. It was something very similar to what Hector had worn in his time aboard the ship with the rest of us. It was something I had always wanted to have for myself, but they’d never listened to me when I’d said such things.

  “This. I think I want this. I’m not sure though.” I blurted to Mariana.

  “A biker vest?”

  “Yes… I mean…”

  “Oh, I’m not saying it looks bad. It’d look great on you. I just wouldn’t think it would be something you’d wear.”

  “I knew someone who used to wear something like this. I was always a little envious of it. That person was called Hector. He was one of my fri… crewmates. Well, I don’t even know I want this. I want to wear it for myself, but I don’t want to look like I’m pretending to be him.”

  “You’re not. You’re being yourself. You are exploring being a unique individual of your own creation.”

  “Is that how you see it?”

  “Yes.”

  “So you think I’ll be myself if I wear this?”

  “You already are being yourself. We’ll get it, if it fits, and it’ll be a part of you. If it does fit, I bet you’ll look great in it.”

  “Thank you.” I said with a faintly smiling face. “Is it alright if I go try it on?”

  “Well, yeah. Go try it all on. I don’t want to buy anything that won’t fit you.”

  “Okay… I will. Thank you, Mariana.”

  “You’re welcome, Victoria. Take your time, and have fun.”

  “I will. I’ll make sure it’s all worth buying.” I said as I walked towards the changing rooms.

  I closed the door quietly behind me and dropped my chosen things onto the bench inside. There was one thing I had to try first, and I immediately put it on and closed my eyes. I felt slightly ashamed to wear it, but I wanted it all the same.

  I aimed my head towards where I had seen the mirror to be and opened them. I moved from left to right and looked over my body where the vest was wrapped. It did look alright, in fact it looked great. I wanted it for myself. I thought for a second, but I knew I couldn’t have it. I didn’t want to be them, or to take from them. I couldn’t have it.

  I put it back on the hanger and tried the rest of the clothes on. Everything else fit perfectly, as I knew it would. I put everything else back on the left side of the bench, separate from the right side where I laid down the vest. I put my original clothes back on as well as my holey boots, and then I walked back out and put the vest on the bar for it to be put back by someone else.

  “It didn’t fit?” Mariana asked.

  “No.”

  “Want to look for another one?”

  “No. These are fine.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “Absolutely. Let’s check out. I still need to get my papers in order.”

  “So be it. Let’s get moving.” Mariana said with a smile.

  I was glad she hadn’t caught onto my lies. I didn’t want to have to explain them to her. We checked out and then we left. Gordo waved us out and gave us a last greeting before we were gone. He was a nice man indeed. I’d even consider him to be a friend. I would have to come back to him if I ever needed anything else new or renewed. Maybe I wouldn’t end up leaving the town forever, I was starting to put down roots. I could feel them growing down.

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  “So how far will we have to travel?” I asked Mariana as we got back into the van.

  “Not very far. Just a town over. It shouldn’t take very long, and since it’s early in the day on a weekday, we probably won’t need an appointment.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Mostly. I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”

  “Yes.”

  “So how come you didn’t get the vest? Also, why’d you lie about it not fitting? It’s kind of rude to lie, you know? Especially when I’m letting you live off of my couch.”

  I looked at Mariana with a blank stare of shame.

  “Fuck…”

  “I’m not an idiot, Victoria. You could have just said you didn’t want it. So what is the story behind it?”

  “It’s one that I’d really rather not tell.”

  “Alright then. Can I at least get an apology?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lied. I just didn’t want to explain everything to you.”

  “We all have our secrets. If you wish to keep some, I won’t push you.”

  “Thank you, Mariana.”

  “No problem. Now buckle up. It’ll be about twenty minutes.”

  I did as she asked and buckled in, although it seemed somewhat pointless to. I would likely survive any crash we could get into. Still, the belt would protect me from the worst of the damage. Maybe it wasn’t so pointless. No, it did have a purpose. For such reasons I listened to her. We drove out of the town and onto the open road. Sunrays shone through the passing pines and left a beautiful sight to see.

  “That’s something I never would have seen up there.” I mumbled.

  Mariana didn’t hear me, and I was okay with that. I let her keep driving and I kept enjoying the passing woods as the world moved on around us. The dreamcatcher hung from the rearview mirror jumped around and around. We passed a lake and a bridge going over it. Such things I had never seen, and things I knew I didn’t want to leave behind forever. Maybe I would stay after all. Avoid the crash site and live in the open world where the woods were cut into by civilization. That didn’t sound so bad.

  “With flowers I grow, the moss flows on my flesh.” I muttered to myself.

  “Dust buries my bones and I find my way home.”