Human Blend (4 page)

“Good morning,” Austin greeted, brightly.

“Good morning to you, too,” Julie replied.
Austin's accompanying smile was returned with one of her own.

“Are you ready for a kick-ass breakfast?”
Austin asked.

“You are really building my anticipation,”
Julie laughed. “I am definitely ready,” she added.

Julie locked the hotel room door and the two
began the trek to eat.

They only walked a few blocks up and one
block over before coming to a tiny little place, tucked sweetly in
between two other businesses. During the short walk, Julie did not
miss the opportunity to find out more about her tour guide.

“You never told me your last name,” Julie
stated.

“Ah, the questions begin again,” Austin said,
with a teasing grin. “It's Dorsett,” he answered.

Julie was about to fire off another question
but Austin stopped her. “My turn. Did you go exploring yesterday?”
he asked.

At least he started with an easy one
.
“Yes, actually, I did,” Julie said.

Austin laughed out loud at her short answer,
“You are really gonna make me work for every little crumb aren't
you?”

“Probably,” Julie answered, laughing along
with him.

“Good thing we are here. I am gonna need some
sustenance to keep my strength up.” Julie entered the restaurant
when Austin held the door for her.

“Thank you,” Julie said, stepping inside.

The small breakfast place was a perfect
example of what small town eateries should look like. It had a row
of booths running along the window side, and a counter with swivel
seats directly in front of the kitchen area. The two waitresses on
duty looked like they had been working there forever, wearing the
same type of old-fashioned blue and white uniforms. Julie laughed
to herself.
No wonder Kathy was unable to convince the board to
ditch the candy striper uniforms. Seems this town enjoys its old
history.

“What did I miss?” Austin asked, as they
waited to be seated.

“It's nothing,” Julie said, “I just love the
town's charm,” she added.

“Morning, Austin,” the elderly waitress
called out to him. “Who's the new young lady?” the woman, whose
name tag read, 'Fannie', asked, approaching them.

“Fannie, this is Julie,” Austin
introduced.

“Well aren't you the beauty?” Fannie said,
appraising her. Julie smiled as Fannie continued. “Go get your
usual spot, and I'll be right over,” Fannie then shuffled away
behind the counter.

Julie looked at Austin, “Usual, huh?”

“Yep. I'm a regular. You'll see why once you
taste the food,” Austin said, explaining.

Austin led Julie over to the last booth down.
Julie paused and asked, “Wait, which is your usual side?” Julie
knew if he had a usual table there would be a usual side he
preferred to sit down on.

“I usually sit on this side,” Austin
indicated the side that looked back onto the rest of the
restaurant.

“Then I'll sit on this side,” Julie said,
sitting down on the other side.

Austin pursed his lips as he sat down. “Are
you making fun of me?”

Julie laughed at his comment. “No, silly, I
just find it interesting how we are all creatures of habit,” Julie
answered, honestly. Austin accepted that answer with a nod of his
head.

The menus were tucked away behind the napkin
dispenser on the table. Austin reached for one and handed it to
Julie. She took it and placed it back in its spot. “I wanna hear
what you recommend,” she stated, then asked, “What's your
usual?”

“My usual is...” Austin started to say, but
Fannie had came over and interrupted him.

“Baked apple pancakes with lemon sauce,” she
finished for him.

Austin smiled. “It's out of this world.”

“Sounds wonderful. I'm in,” Julie said.

Fannie set down two glasses of ice water.
“Anything to drink?”she asked.

Julie tilted her head towards Austin, who
answered, “Two large orange juices, freshly squeezed please.”

“Coming right up,” Fannie said and then left
the two alone.

“So, tell me, where did your explorations
take you yesterday?” Austin began the questions again.

Julie was going to give Austin an honest
answer this time. “I actually wound up at the hospital,” Julie
said.

Austin's eyes widened. “Wh... what
happened?”

“Oh, no, not like that. I walked there to
check out employment opportunities,” Julie clarified.

Austin's face immediately registered relief.
“So, did you find any? Work?” Austin asked.

“Hey, no fair, my turn,” Julie said.

Austin rolled his eyes and Julie laughed. “Do
you have any brothers or sisters?” she asked.

“Nope, just me.” Austin kept his answer short
to get back to his question. “Same question as before.”

Julie got a few extra moments to think about
how to word her answer, as Fannie bought their orange juice to the
table. When Fannie had walked away Julie answered, “Maybe. I'll
know more tomorrow.”

Austin took the wrapper off the straw that
had come with the orange juice and rolled it between his
fingertips.

“Do you... not want me to ask you questions?”
he asked.

“No, not really,” Julie replied. The look on
Austin's face told Julie she needed a better answer. “Austin, I
have a really hard time opening up to people. I don't trust easily.
I've been through... a lot, and I'm not comfortable sharing that
part of me, so please don't be offended. It's me, not you,” Julie
explained. Julie toyed with the edge of her napkin, averting her
eyes from him.

Austin reached across the table and took her
hand. Julie raised her eyes to meet his. “You can trust me,” he
said, softly. His hand felt nice in hers.

“How about, if there is something I feel you
need to know, I'll share it with you,” Julie spoke quietly.

Austin smiled. “Deal,” he replied.

It was at that point in time that Fannie
returned to their table carrying two plates of baked apple
pancakes. “Enjoy, you two,” she said. The aroma of the pancakes was
the only thing that brought Julie out of Austin's gaze. She
reluctantly pulled her hand away.

“Oh, my God. If this tastes as good as it
smells...” Julie started to exclaim.

“It does,” Austin assured her with a
grin.

Julie cut a piece of the pancake with her
fork and dipped it in the lemon sauce. The moment it entered her
mouth, she moaned. “Mmm.” Not only were the pancakes the best she
had ever tasted, but combined with the lemon sauce, it was just an
amazing collation of flavors. She took another taste, and savored
every chew. “Wow,” Julie said, readying another piece.

Austin's smile beamed brightly. Julie could
tell he was holding the 'I told ya so' on the tip of his tongue.
She handed the thought to him, “You were absolutely right. This is
one kick-ass breakfast,” she said, using his words.

The rest of the meal passed with little
conversation, as each delighted in the fantastic food. Julie looked
down at her now empty plate. “I can't believe I ate the whole
plateful,” she said, shaking her head. “I so need to walk this
off.”

“Funny you should say that, I have the
perfect plan,” Austin responded. Julie had been hoping he would say
that. Austin insisted on paying for Julie's share of the meal. “I
invited you, it's my treat,” Austin argued.

“I'm leaving the tip, then,” Julie
persisted.

“Okay, fine,” Austin relented.

Once again, outside on the beautiful Sunday
morning, Julie breathed in the freshness of the air. “So, Mr.
Dorsett, let's hear about this plan of yours,” Julie inquired.

“I think it's better if I show you,” Austin
replied and started walking up the street. This time it was Julie's
turn to smile and shake her head as she followed along side of
him.

After about a five minute walk, Austin
stopped and gestured to the sign at the beginning of a path. The
sign read, 'Hungry Mother Park.' Julie could barely contain
herself.

“Oh wow, this is the park you mentioned!” she
exclaimed.

“I figured, what a better way to work off a
big breakfast than on the trails at Hungry Mother Park,” Austin
explained.

“I am dying of curiosity. Why is it called
'Hungry Mother'?” Julie asked.

Austin walked over to a nearby sign that
read, 'The Legend'. “It's all right here,” he said.

Julie walked over and stood with her back
against the sign. “I don't want to hear the tourist version. I want
to hear the way you would tell it to a classroom full of students,”
Julie requested, arms folded across her chest.

“Well, if I were teaching the history of it,
I would start with the most common legend,” Austin stated.

Julie perched herself on the top rung of a
nearby wooden fence. “Okay, lets hear it, Teach,” she said. Austin
leaned against the fence and spun the tale.

“The story dates back to the 1800's when most
of the land here was inhabited by Native Americans. When others
began making settlements on what the Natives deemed their land,
they attacked and killed people. Molly Marley was in one of the
settlements with her husband and child. They killed her husband and
took Molly and the child captive. She managed to escape with her
child, but got lost in the woods for weeks. She survived by eating
berries until, one day, she collapsed. Her child kept wandering and
was eventually found by another settlement. The only words the
child would say was 'hungry mother'. A search party was sent out to
find her, but it was too late. She hadn't survived. Hence the name,
'Hungry Mother',” Austin finished.

Julie was quiet at first. “That's really
sad,” she said, finally. She was intrigued. “So, what are the other
versions of the legend?” she asked.

Austin turned to face her as she sat on the
fence. He placed his hands on either side of her. With a
mischievous twinkle in his eye, he said, “That's your homework
assignment,” he teased.

“You're a mean teacher,” Julie tried to look
mad, but her smile gave her away.

Austin grabbed her hands and pulled her down
off the fence. “Come on, we're on a field trip, remember?” he
teased. Julie laughed as her pulled her along the trail.

Austin was extremely knowledgeable about the
park. He even pointed out different trees along the trail. Julie
was familiar with most of the nature lesson, but enjoyed hearing
Austin's enthusiasm in describing it to her. She enjoyed his hand
in hers even more.

Austin deviated from the main trail. “Over
this way, there is a special spot I want to show you,” he said. The
brush was thicker here as Austin pushed through, holding bigger
pieces out of the way for her. Julie still picked up some scrapes
here and there, but these quickly healed leaving no evidence
behind.

“What is so special that you are dragging me
through the thicket of the forest to see?” Julie asked,
curiously.

“You'll see,” Austin replied.

They came to a small stream. “Be careful, the
rocks are slippery,” Austin cautioned.

“Wait, what? You mean we are crossing it?”
Julie asked for clarification.

Austin jumped carefully onto first one
slightly protruding rock, then another. “Take my hand,” Austin
instructed, balancing himself.

“You're crazy. Austin, this is not a safe
thing to be doing,” Julie chided, looking at the rushing water.

“Julie, Come on, the water is not that deep,
trust me,” Austin said.

Trust. That word was like nails on a
chalkboard to her. Life with them had taught her to trust no one,
ever. Yet, here was this boy she had just met yesterday, asking her
to do just that. Trust.

Julie reached for his hand, unable to deny
the sincerity she saw in his eyes. “If I fall, I am taking you with
me,” Julie said.

Austin laughed as Julie hopped to the first
rock and gripped his hand tightly. “You won't fall,” he said,
surely.

True to his word, Austin negotiated the two
of them safely to the other side of the stream. “Oh ye of little
faith,” he recited.

“Faith had nothing to do with it,“ Julie
huffed. “Water, moss, slippery rocks, means a trip down stream.
Simple science,” she added.

“Science is about taking risks and exploring
all possibilities,” he argued. He raised his hand to her face, “You
know I wouldn't let anything happen to you,” he said, with a
serious tone in his voice.

Julie could feel the attachment that Austin
was developing for her. She silently cursed herself for letting it
get this far. Yet, she found herself unable to pull away as he
stepped closer to her. She was breaking a promise she had made to
herself.
This is different though, isn't it
? Her thoughts
were silenced the minute his lips touched hers. It was different,
Julie realized. This was the first time she wanted someone to kiss
her. Previously, it had been forced upon her. Once that connection
was made, Julie let go. She slipped her arms up his chest and
deepened the kiss. Austin responded in kind. His hands finding her
waist pulling her closer. Their kiss was broken only when the need
to breathe became an issue.

Austin rested his forehead on hers, his
breathing uneven. Julie's breaths were deep and panting. “I'm
sorry,” Julie sputtered out. She felt bad for losing control. She
should have been more responsible.

Austin chuckled. “Don't you dare apologize
for kissing me like that,” he said. Julie laughed, and felt her
face turn red.

“Hey, what are you two kids doing down
there?” a voice shouted from above the small hill. Both Austin and
Julie jumped. “Austin, is that you?” asked the older gentleman,
peering down from above.

“Oh, hey Mr. Crane, yeah it's me,” Austin
shouted back.

“Who's that with you?” the shouting
continued.

“Just my friend, Julie. We were just cutting
through to the lake,” Austin answered.