STRANGE BEINGS

Chapter 1

Selena Stone was a middle of the road kind of girl…middle of the road looks, middle of the road brains, just plain old middle of the road. Nothing memorable about Selena. And that's the way she liked it. I guess it's true what her middle school math teacher had once said,

'The good thing about you Selena is your lack of intelligence will serve you well; having no ambition you'll not get bored easily in life!'

She had taken that as some sort of compliment at the time, however, she was only 10 when it was said. She was almost 25 and kind of understood that comment now. Not sure that it bothered her anymore today, to be honest, as she recalled it sitting on her mom's front porch swinging methodically back and forth on the creaky old porch swing that had been in place as far back as Selena could remember. Nah, she was fine, no worries. Her Mom broke her train of thought as she brought out a large glass jug full of iced tea slamming the screen door behind her. She plonked herself down next to Selena turning her train of thought into how strong the old porch swing could possibly be; I mean momma was no longer the slim beauty queen from her stolen youth!

'What you thinking 'bout?' She said in her mid western drawl,

'Ah nothing much. This and that.'

' I bin thinking, you should quit your job over in Mel's diner and move to the city where there's so many more opportunities for a girl like you….don't you have any ambition to do better Selena?'

How ironic, could her mother read her mind? Maybe so, she had always seemed to know when she was lying or not! Selena just smiled.

' I'm happy here, why would I wanna move? I got a routine here, I know people here and everyone knows me.'

Her mom sighed in defeat

'Well, all I'm saying is you're still young and need to do something with yourself 'fore it's too late.'

She knew her momma meant well but couldn't understand sometimes why she was so unhappy with her life when she was just fine with hers.

'Maybe one day, but not yet. I'm not ready, that's all.'

She said this to appease her mom not thinking she meant a word of it, but maybe she did, who knows.

She loved this time of year. The heat of the Summer was fading daily and the leaves were showing signs of starting to fall. The air smelt different. Unbeknownst to Selena, the air wreaked of change.

It was nearly time for her shift and so she finished her tea and stood up leaving her mom to swing defencelessly just for a second before she held her hand out to hoist her up. She smiled at her mom and she leant in to give her a big squeeze of a hug,

'I just love ya Selena, that's all!'

'I know momma, you too. Now I gotta get ready for work.'

Her Mom held on just that bit longer. The kind of hug you give someone when you're going away for some time. Selena pulled back and straightened her skirt,

'I'm ok honest, now don't go getting all hormonal on me now!'

With that she picked up the jug of iced tea and went into the house to get ready.

Her hair brushed and face freshly washed she waved bye to her mom as she took the short walk across town to the diner. True, she had worked there since she left school while all her other 'friends' had gone off to the big city colleges all over the country. She couldn't afford to go anywhere. Momma was a single parent and Selena had never known her father. She had never gone without love, food or anything else and to be honest she had no desire to go…..what on earth would she study? She had no real brains nor ambition. I guess there's that word again for the third time today. Ah, no sense thinking about what could have been or what could be different. Only leads to unhappiness.

Bridgeton was a small town in the mid west; nothing really happened here and everyone kind of knew everyone. It was like an extension of home. Nothing ever really changed although she had heard whisperings of some new developments coming their way. Bridgeton's next closest town was 10 miles away called Plainsfield. Now that was a bad place, fair from 'plain'. Loads of stuff going on there. Killings, muggings, families torn apart by gangs and drugs. Selena shuddered. Nah, she was happy here. She crossed Main Street and looked up at the typical red neon sign flashing Mel's Diner and thought, yes, this is predictable, but it's safe. Change scared her. She didn't need change. No matter what Momma said, she didn't need it. The familiar jingle of the bell on the door told her she was 'home' and she walked round the back of the counter to get her apron on with her name artistically embroidered on. Most new comers got a badge as no one ever seemed to stay as long as Selena.

'Hey cutie, how ya doing today?' Ray her boss yelled over the partition separating the kitchen from the counter.

'Just fine Ray, you?'

'Yeah, you know me, if I ain't flipping eggs or burgers I ain't living!' He chuckled to himself.

She smiled and went to check the coffee before putting some more on. As she did she heard the rattle of the bell behind telling her some one had just walked in looking forward to her smile and coffee! She turned round expecting to see a familiar face. She recoiled a bit as a slim middle aged man wearing a dark suit she didn't recognise stared back at her.

'Afternoon sir, can I get you a coffee?' Selena asked whilst clearing her throat.

'Yeah…please. What can you recommend to eat?' Came the reply.

'Well, people say you haven't lived until you've had Ray's house burger with all the trimmings!' Selena said enthusiastically, trying to stifle a blush and slight giggle. What the hell was wrong with her? Now catch yourself Selena, just cos you don't see many strange faces don't mean you have to act like some kind of bumbling idiot when one does arrive, she scolded herself.

'Sounds great!' He picked up his coffee and walked over to the booth tucked away in the corner. She couldn't take her eyes off him. Stop staring and take that stupid grin off your face! She thought to herself. He's gonna think you're some kind of backward simpleton! She busied herself wiping clean tables down and moving unruly chairs in until Ray shouted over the counter that his speciality was ready.

He looked at the huge plate that was 'The Special' as it arrived and gave a wry smile,

'Thank you errr Selena', as he leaned his head to read her name. She almost curtseyed; God knows why. She felt her cheeks starting to burn bright again and so walked away briskly before embarrassing herself any further.

As she arrived home that evening she caught sight of Mr Johnson's car pulling out of the driveway. This was not unusual, she'd seen it happen many times over the years. He and her mom were very good friends, so she had been told, and besides, that's all it could be as Mr Johnson was not only the town mayor but a respectable married man. Although, Selena had noticed the stares and whispers that followed her mom when out in town. Maybe that's why momma had Selena do the grocery shopping as 'it was easier as she was out already'. She had thought about it as odd occasionally but always dismissed any negative thought for fear of being disloyal to her mom.

'Hey, I'm home!' she yelled as the screen door slammed her in the behind as usual. She needed to get those damn springs loosened or something. Maybe Momma should get old Mr. Johnson next time he's over to have a look. She'd mention it.

'I'm upstairs!' came her reply. 'Lock up Selena would you, I got a bad head so I'm gonna lay down. Night night sweedie'.

'Okay, night.' Selena wanted to tell her about the man in the dark suit but I guess it could wait til morning. Her mind was racing and she knew sleep would not come to her yet so she took herself back out past the ass slamming door and went and sat on the old porch swing to stare up at the stars. The night was beautiful and the sky so clear. The breeze gently stroked her cheeks as if to comfort them from their burning today. As she sat there breathing in the warm sweet night air she couldn't help noticing that she felt different. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she definitely felt different. What the hell had happened to her today? She walked out of this house feeling one way and came back feeling another…..just what she felt she didn't know. And as the crickets tried to out sing the dune bugs a shooting star whizzed brightly across the sky.

Just for Selena….