The dark canvas that loomed overhead, far above trees and the reach of human sight, was blotted with many white blobs that glistened infrequently. Surrounding the full moon that loomed over the vast thickets of trees that densely populated the rural countryside of Maine. Hugging the sides of a long, and winding road that stretched down deep into forest country.

Whose sole occupant at this time consisted of a blue hybrid made for four that was fairly compact, which darted down the desolate pavement. The driver, a 20-something brown skinned man in a hoodie, had been in a losing battle against sleep. Which had worn down his mind enough to narrowly strike a tree after driving off the curb.

'Ah sheezus!' the man thought, as he jerked back to life and gained control of his vehicle's reins. Before easing back to a safe normalcy, and deciding that it was probably time to get off the road and call it a night.

But after coming to a rolling stop beside a line of trees, and putting the car into park. The flicker of something bright in the distance pulled his eyes, with a finger hovering on the engine's start button.

Not that far ahead, and off to his right was the glow of a warm light that illuminated what vaguely looked like a building of sorts.

Curious, he pulled up his phone and looked for any buildings nearby, and much to his simultaneous surprise and expectation. There was nothing listed.

'That's strange...' the man thought, as he looked at the illuminated structure in the distance. The longer he kept looking the greater his curiosity grew. Beckoning him to get back onto the road, and investigate.

'This is definitely a bad idea...' the man thought, as he pulled back onto the road. Absolutely sure that he'd seen this exact premise playout in many horror movies, and yet he drove up to the building. Conscious of his actions, while repeatedly criticizing them.

Upon pulling up to the building in question, the blue car came to the mouth of a short dirt road that broke off and went into what looked like a small crude parking lot. At the road's mouth there appeared to have been a sign at one point, but had long since been ripped out of the ground, with the only thing remaining being two wooden poles abruptly jutting out.

'Yup, this isn't questionable at all...' the man thought, as he looked around and up in thought before letting out a sigh. Finding himself losing out to that burning curiosity that had been fostered all this time. Thus, he drove into the short road and found himself parked on a gravel lot facing a wooden building.

A small porch area that was under the shade of a wooden protrusion that branched off from the roof. The windows of which glowed with a warm light that was luminous but not blindingly bright. Quaintly diffusing through the glass, and disappearing into the night.

The sign up ahead read "51st Café".

'51st Café...wonder what happened to 1 through 50' the man thought, as he put his car into park and cut the engine. Getting out to see what the building had to offer in hopes of being able to nab a cup of tea before calling it a night.

After failing to make out the interior from the window, the man gave the door a try and found it to be unlocked. Stepping inside he walked through a small old hall that was adorned with various news clippings. Clippings that caught his eye, as they were all of various UFO sightings and abduction stories. The details of which not being paid any mind, as he was too tired to care and more curious as per to lay ahead.

Beyond the small hall was a larger space with about five or six tables, and a wooden counter on the far end. One that was manned by a single soul dressed in a black shirt and a dark brown apron that covered everything below the waist. She was immersed in a book, sitting on a chair and unaware of the man who had just come in.

Looking around the man couldn't find any trace of a menu, and so he approached the woman behind the counter. Tapping lightly on the wooden surface to try, and get her attention. A gesture that failed to register in the woman's mind. Tapping any louder didn't work, and neither did just saying "hey".

It took tapping her shoulder in order to get a response.

"Hey do you mind? Can't you see I'm reading a book?!" the woman said, her raven hair going down past her shoulders, and draping over bits of her neck. The book lowered, as a glint of frustration reflected in her eyes. Which made for an icy stare that made the man feel a little cold, and meek.

But not even a second passed before that frustration turned to shock, and then excitement.

"Oh my gosh you're a customer!"

The dark skinned man blinked, stunned as the woman put her book down and leaned in close, going over the counter.

"You're a customer right? Like, you came in here to buy something to eat or maybe drink?!"

The man leaned back, as the woman seemed to have hopped onto the counter to get even closer than before.

"Uh...yes...?"

The woman smiled, before hopping off the counter and exclaiming "yes! A customer! Man, I haven't had one of those in a while…"

"I uh...I can see that".

"Whew, okay calm down Marcelle..." the woman said to herself, as she took in a deep breath and let it out.

Before looking at the new customer, and smiling asking "so, what can I get you on this fine night?"

"You got any tea?"

"Oh don't you know it! What kind are you looking for? We have English Breakfast, Green Tea, Apple Cinnamon, Maple Cider, Orange Pekoe, Relish, Earl Gray" said Marcelle, as she waltzed around the many boxes that hung off the wall behind her, checking and tapping each box with glee before turning around and facing the man with a smile.

"There's a lot of options".

"I…can also see that…" the man replied before thinking 'wait did she also say relish?'

"So what ya in the mood for?"

"Uh...Earl Gray".

"Excellent choice – though I personally favor English Breakfast" said Marcelle, as she pulled out a tea bag from the box labelled 'Earl Gray'.

"Just something about the taste of the British that makes it all the more delectable" Marcelle rambled off, as she got to work putting the man's tea together. Leaving said man understandably confused, as he tried to comprehend what Marcelle just said.

"Oh, and where are my manners? Name's Marcelle, and you?"

"Raj".

The woman smiled, as she let the coffee machine whirr to life and boil some water.

"Nice name. Haven't met a Raj before. Last guy I met was someone named Stephen, but he was no fun. Had a drinking problem, which was funny cause he was a writer".

Raj furrowed a brow, and was about to ask when Marcelle cut him off by asking "so Raj, what brings you all the way out here?"

"Uh, huh?"

"You'd have to go pretty far out of your way to wind up here, so what gives? Going somewhere remote?"

"Something like that".

"Where you headed? No wait! Don't answer that, lemme guess!"

Raj chuckled, and replied "I don't think y-"

"It's Fremdlich isn't it!"

Raj blinked, as he stared at Marcelle with his head cocked to the side.

"Come again?"

"Fremdlich – that's where you're going right?"

"I'm sorry, I don't think I understood you. What was the name you just gave?"

Marcelle groaned, as she pulled out a small notebook and wrote the name down on it before showing it to Raj.

"This. This is where you're going right?"

Raj looked at the note, and blinked in astonishment.

"Yeah...that's the place..."

Marcelle grinned triumphantly, as the coffee machine stopped gyrating and let loose a stream of hot water into the mug underneath its nozzle.

Raj looked at Marcelle, shocked that not only she guessed right on the dollar where he was headed but also how to properly pronounce the name. As that was the one hurdle he had yet to overcome.

"Wow..."

"Yeah, I'm a pretty good guesser – though if I'm being honest it was kinda obvious. You'd only be this far out if that's where you were headed".

"That, and that you know how to say it. I mean, I haven't been able to say it for the longest time".

"That's cause it's German, at least I think it is".

"Huh...you know, that actually kinda makes sense the more I think about it" said Raj, as he sounded out the name of the town in his head.

The nozzle stopped its stream of hot water, and Marcelle moved the ceramic cup onto a part of the counter that was surrounded by piles of sweeteners, sugar packets, condiments, and kitchen utensils.

"And how would you like your tea?"

"Milk, and sugar. Double, double?"

Marcelle nodded, and gave Raj a thumbs up before emptying two packets of sugar into the cup along with a bit of milk from a carton that was taken out from a fridge under the counter.

"Well, I'm sure you're going to enjoy your stay there".

"Oh, you've been there?"

"Nope, I just assume that it's a nice place. Haven't been out much, ya know?" said Marcelle, as she stirred away.

"Yeah, I get that" replied Raj, as he looked around before asking "so uh...how come this place wasn't on Google Maps?"

Marcelle simply shrugged, and replied "guess this place is just so remote".

"I guess...but how do you manage to stay profitable? I mean, this place looks like it hasn't seen a customer in years..." said Raj, as his eyes fell on a cobweb that hung in an overhead corner which acted as a tomb to the spider that built it.

"The remoteness helps" said Marcelle a tad cryptically, as she finished stirring and put the cup of tea on the counter in front of Raj.

Raj furrowed a brow, as Marcelle pushed some buttons on the cash register and said "that'll be 4 dollars".

"Debit" said Raj, as he pulled out his wallet and paid with a single tap before pocketing it and picking up his tea.

"Thanks a bunch for giving this place a visit!" said Marcelle with a smile, as Raj picked up his mug and nodded in response.

"Sure..." replied Raj, as he picked up his order and walked over to some empty table to take a seat.

"Just make sure to leave the cup on the table when you're done!" hollered Marcelle, as Raj responded with a wave of acknowledgement.

Time passed by at a brisk pace as Raj sipped away at his cup of tea. The flavor of which was rich, and creamy. Alongside a hint of saccharine that added to the taste.

His phone out with Instagram opened up, Raj went past a myriad of different posts covering everything from bird photos highlighted by National Geographic to all manner of sponsored drivel that Raj had no interest in. But among the many posts was one that was posted by a friend of his, who ran into a picture on her phone and uploaded it as a testament to the past.

The picture in question being a landscape photo of all of Raj's friends posing around a table at an all you can eat buffet. Taking great care to recreate the iconography of the Last Supper. It was a picture that invoked many feelings of nostalgia, and good times. Harkening back to a simpler time when the only worries he, and his friends had were exams and little social squabbles.

Raj smiled as he continued perusing when he was pulled out of the app and into his inbox at the behest of a notification, which turned out to be spam. And right as he was about to leave, he was drawn to a recent email that he'd received a couple days prior.

Dear Raj Lakmal,

We received your application, and after looking at it I gotta say I'm impressed. You seem exactly like the kind of guy we're looking for here at Silicon Canyon.

Normally I'd call you up for an interview, and discuss the conditions of your employment if you pass but at the moment we've got some restructuring issues that's put the HR department on hold for the moment.

So it'll probably be a while before we give you a call, but you better believe we will.

Once we get things sorted out on our end.

Sincerely,

Henry Dagon – Director of Human Resources

P.S

Sorry for the wait pal.

His smile waning, as he read its contents for the third or fourth time. Feeling doubt creeping up from the corners of his mind that he had to quell with a sideways nod.

'No, this is fine. If I don't make the move, then I'll never go through with this' Raj thought, as he took one last sip of his cup and drained the ceramic container of all it had to offer. Easing his concerns, and uncertainty for the moment.

Leaving the cup behind, Raj got up and headed out the way he came. Waving farewell to Marcelle, who smiled and waved back. Before retreating to her book, as Raj walked out the door. Retreating back into the confines of his car, and locking everything down before leaning his chair back and willing himself to sleep.

Daybreak came with a bright glare that was amplified by the unobstructed windows. Striking Raj's face dead center, and forcing him out of his miasmic slumber. Groggy eyes slowly opening, and fluttering while the gunk that had manifested was wiped away. Raj cracked a yawn, as he looked around. Straightening out his chair, he came face to face with the café from last night.

The lights all gone with the place looking lifeless.

'Wonder if they offer any breakfast...' Raj pondered, as he shrugged and lumbered out of the car. Thinking it worth investigating since he'd figure his legs could use some stretching. But alas the answer seemed to be a resounding 'no', as the door seemed to be locked from the other side. And looking through the windows didn't help, though he suspected as much given how little they revealed the night before.

'Well that's a bummer...' Raj thought, as he looked at the door with his hands on his hips before letting out a sigh and heading back to the car. Starting the engine, and driving out of the desolate gravel parking lot and back onto the road.

Resuming the journey he had undertaken, almost entirely by car, of which he was on the tail end of. Not many kilometers being left until he was in the heart of his destination. After taking a road that branched off into some forested corner, Raj drove past a welcome sign that had the incomprehensible name of where he was headed painted onto its wooden surface. Along with the population count, which warranted him to stop, and then drive all the way back to get a better look.

"You've got to be kidding me..." Raj found himself saying, the words coming out without intent as he eyed the number painted underneath the town's name.

400.

Raj scoffed, as he resumed his drive. Wondering to himself just how small the place he was headed to actually was.

'I mean I figured it was a pretty small town but...400? That doesn't even sound real' Raj thought, as he drove deeper and deeper past vast lines of trees. Which made up much of the scenery for many minutes, until it transitioned into vast meadows and plains on either side. Where grass grew to untamed heights. And not soon after that Raj found himself entering the town proper.

Driving to the right, Raj's blue hybrid passed by a modestly active park the highlight of which was a giant tree, and after a turn to the left Raj finally arrived at his destination. The drive way of his new home. A brick, and mortar bungalow built out of red bricks with a stone front porch and stone steps that led down to the driveway.

The sun had reached the apex of its climb, as Raj got out of his car and took in the sight of his new place of residence. Really absorbing all the suburban mundanity that was on full display.

'This is happening...it's actually happening...' Raj thought, as he walked up the porch steps and over to the front door. The key for which he pulled out of his pants pocket, and held in his palm.

Looking at it, and thinking 'well here's the key to my new house...one that was sent to me by the post...which I mean, is that even legal? I sure hope so...'

With an intrepid breath Raj inserted the key into the door's lock, and turned it to the side. Upon hearing the click, Raj opened the door and stepped inside. Entering a hallway that went down straight, and narrow. The floor being tiled all the way down, white as a pearl, and equally glossy.

Next to the front door was the closet, which upon opening showed a fairly standard affair. A wooden pole devoid of anything to hang off of. And an empty shoe-rack underneath. Wooden, and old. More like an antique than anything else.

'Hey I'll take a free shoe rack, even if it looks like it time travelled from the 1800s' Raj thought, as he closed the door and walked down the hallway.

The first doorway to the left lead to what Raj assumed was the family room, a large open space that was fully furnished. Two windows on the opposite wall which had beige curtains hanging off their curtain poles. Parted somewhat to let light in, and illuminate the room. In the middle was a three cushion sofa, plush, plump, and fashioned out of black leather. Across from which was a TV stand, and atop it was a large CRT which tried to poorly disguise itself as a flat screen.

'Man that's old' Raj thought, as he walked in front of the TV and took a good look at it. Briefly wondering who had previously lived here to own what was electronically a dinosaur.

'Must've been an older couple' Raj reasoned in his head, as he saw the vacuous spaces on the TV stand underneath.

Above his head there was an old looking ceiling light, and off in the corner, opposite to the doorway, was a tall lamp. Looking about as old as everything else that Raj had encountered so far. On the wall beside it was a framed picture, which caught Raj's eye if only for the fact that it looked out of place.

Fitted in a modern frame that clashed hard against the rest of the room's aesthetic, and contained a bewildering picture that showed what looked like a night sky zoomed in, with a bright object front and center.

'Well that's the worst picture ever taken' thought Raj rather critically, while cocking his head to the side. Trying to ascertain what that white blur in the middle was.

'I mean, I can't even tell what that's supposed to even be!' pondered Raj, as he straightened his head and gave up trying to guess.

Beyond that there was a rectangular carpet underneath the couch, colored with mesmerizing patterns that looked distinctly Indian. Rekindling old memories from Raj's childhood. And off to the right, by the corner facing the TV was a wooden rocking chair. Which further cemented the idea that the previous owners were an elderly couple.

Or at least someone old.

Leaving the hardwood floored family room behind, Raj entered one of the two rooms that branched off. Through the doorway to the left, Raj came into a noticeably smaller space that he assumed was the living room. On account to the fireplace to his left, which had a mounted fish hanging above.

'Guess they were into fishing' thought Raj, as he explored the living room.

There was a sofa, similar in size and make to the one in the family room, but it was made out of porous fabric, and colored a dark shade of brown. Off in a corner sat what Raj recognized as a wine globe, fashioned out of wood the classy antique immediately caught Raj's attention and enthusiasm.

"Oh wow, a wine globe! Man I've always wanted one of these!" Raj exclaimed, as he moved over to the wine globe and fiddled with it. Managing to get it to open, and expose the wine glasses that were housed inside. A crystalline set that looked fine, and clean. Not a hint of use or wear, and tear to be found.

Raj whistled, and said to himself "the old owners really lucked out on leaving this behind...cause now it's mine..."

Even though Raj had passed a myriad of different furniture that were practically his, it was the thought of owning a wine globe without having to pay for it that spurred his excitement.

Leaving the wine globe be, Raj took a look outside the unobstructed window that faced the doorway that led to the family room. Seeing the backyard which he now owned, a modest patch of mostly grass with a small cobblestone area that extended from back of the house. The grass was wild, and large. Indicating that a lot of time had passed since the previous owners were around.

'That or they just didn't care to mow the lawn' Raj thought, as he turned around and left the living room. Intent on exploring the rest of the house.

The doorway beside the one that led into the living room, led to the kitchen. Where Raj was greeted by a tiled floor that clashed with the hardwood of the family room. Along with a granite counter off to his right, that was shaped like an 'L'. Cabinets above, and a sleek looking dishwasher beneath. Off by the two windows on the other end of the kitchen was the fridge.

Stainless steel, like the dishwasher.

Beside which was a couple cabinets, and shelves. All of which were empty, much to Raj's dismay.

'Would've been nice if they could've left some plates and stuff' Raj thought, as he closed one of the cabinets and checked out the stove. Silver just like the other appliances, the sink tap, and the ventilation hood overhead.

The kitchen left behind, Raj ventured back out onto the tiled hallway and into the room across from it. One that had a white door, and revealed to be a bedroom.

'Guess this is where I'll be sleeping' Raj thought, as he took a look around. Illuminated by the light coming in from the two windows, unobstructed by a blatant lack of blinds. To his left was a bed, a twin one made for a single person.

'Okay so it's got to be one person who stayed here...like maybe a single elderly?' Raj thought, as he looked to his right and explored the wooden desk. A simple table with no shelves, or drawers. Accompanied by a wheeled office chair, that looked like it was ripped out of the 90s.

'Maybe an old office person? Yeah, an old office person. This chair was probably taken from their workplace, maybe' Raj thought, as he left the desk alone and checked out the closet beside it.

It was of the sliding variety, and upon opening it Raj was hit with quite the surprise.

"Ah!" Raj exclaimed, as he stumbled back in the face of what was a tall life-sized wooden mannequin. Posed with its arms beside it, and facing Raj.

Regaining his composure, Raj got a closer look at the mannequin before lifting it out and setting it aside. A moderately difficult endeavor, given the heft the mannequin possessed.

Letting out a sigh Raj pondered out loud "why a mannequin? What could anyone possibly want with a life-sized mannequin?"

"And more importantly, what am I going to do with it?"

Suddenly, the doorbell rang and Raj was summoned to the front of the door. Wondering to himself along the way 'who could that be?'

On the other side of the door stood two people, a tall broad shouldered man garbed in a long sleek trench coat. His hands buried in his coat, and his eyes covered by a pair of glasses. Beside him was a woman who was noticeably shorter, standing at a height of five foot three, fair skinned like the man, with short brown hair and hazel eyes, wearing a cozy purple sweater and blue denim pants.

Carrying a bag with both hands.

The woman smiled, beaming with a bright and spry energy that bounded past the confines of her older appearance.

"Greetings new neighbor! My name's Jules, and this is my husband James" said the woman, as she pointed to herself and the man beside her.

"Hello" said James, his voice stern and reserved. Matching the stone-like expression adorned on his face.

"And we're the founders and sole members of the New Neighbor Welcoming Committee!" exclaimed Jules, excitement reverberating in every fiber of her being.

And also her voice, because she was really loud in an in-your-face kind of way.

"So to welcome you to our, neck of the woods so to speak, we got you a little house-warming gift!" said Jules, as she exuberantly offered the bag she held tightly in her hands.

A gift that Raj accepted, because he was all but certain that if he didn't then she'd probably shove it into his hands regardless. Thus giving him the illusion of choice.

"Wow, thanks so much – I mean you didn't have to..." began Raj right as it dawned on him that there was no way Jules and James should've known of his arrival.

"Wait, how did you-"

"Jules" said James, as he pulled out one of his hands and showed his wife the current time.

"Ah jeez, it's that time already?"

James nodded, and Jules let out a sigh of annoyance.

"I'm sorry, but we're gonna have to cut it short. Got places to be, and stuff to burn. You know how it is" said Jules, as she and James hurried down the steps like there was a fire somewhere.

"But hey, if you need some help just give us a holler – we're just on the other side of the street!" said Jules, as they crossed the last of the steps.

"Oh, and one other thing – what's your name?" asked Jules, as she turned around to look at Raj.

"It's Raj" answered Raj, as Jules nodded before heading down the road to the left alongside her husband.

Raj watched the couple leave, and returned to the confines of his own home. Moving over to the living room, and taking a seat on the couch before pulling out the object that was in the bag.

A bottle of wine, the liquid of which was a deep blue, and the name on the label being spelled as "Blaustes Blut".

"No idea how to say that" said Raj to himself, as he looked at the deep blue label, and the contents on the back. All of which were written in German, and beyond Raj's comprehension.

'Hey, maybe I could try out that wine globe that I am now the owner of…' thought Raj, as he shelved that notion aside for the time being. Putting the bottle of wine back in the bag, and then heading back into his bedroom, in a jovial mood.

Completely unaware of the wooden mannequin that stood off to the left, right as Raj opened and stepped through the door. Becoming startled in the process.

"Ah!" exclaimed Raj, as he jumped in shock at the expressionless face of the wooden mannequin. Motionless, and unassuming.

Getting a steady handle on his nerves, Raj glared at the mannequin thinking 'the heck! I thought I put you over there beside the closet!' Before looking at the closet, and then back at the mannequin.

Tilting his head to the side, and thinking 'wait...did I put you beside the closet, or the door?' Glancing back, and forth between the mannequin and the closet, while trying to produce a cogent memory of placing the mannequin beside the closet. And failing miserably to do so. Managing to stitch together only vague embers of related recollection, but never with enough certainty to be reasonably confident.

'Ah, whatever. It doesn't matter' Raj internally decided, while looking at the mannequin and saying "just say there. Alright? Don't move".

Before moving over to the bed, and putting the bagged gift onto the barebones spongy mattress. Looking back at the mannequin suspiciously, and giving it the 'I'm watching you' gesture.

Before leaving the bedroom to get his luggage from the car, and start unpacking.

Unpacking took a bit of time, having Raj move around the house and put stuff that he brought with him where it belonged. But after an hour or so the monotonous deed was done. Leaving him with an empty carryon on the ground, and an equally empty backpack on the bed. Which was now covered with a blanket, and three pillows.

Their fluff having been lost a long time ago.

"There! All done" said Raj, as he sat on the bed satisfied with a job well done. Before getting up, and dusting off his hands. The mannequin standing beside the door, not having moved an inch since Raj started unpacking.

Smirking, Raj walked over to the mannequin and humorously asked "what do you think? Job well done or what?"

The mannequin made no movements, as was expected.

Raj, for his part, found a strange sense of comfort from having talked to a mannequin. Taking a look at his room, now outfitted with all the things he had brought with him. An alarm clock on the simple wooden night stand, a bed fit for a meager bachelor, and a whole bunch of laptop accessories on the desk. Plugged into a power brick.

"Yeah, I think it's a good job too" said Raj, who looked at the mannequin and figured that he'd agree.

Or at least, he hoped he'd agree, if he was alive.

"Alright, well...now what do I do..." asked Raj out loud, as his phone dinged with the sound of a notification.

Pulling it out, and taking a look at the time an idea popped into his head.

"Hey, maybe I should go check out the town! Go for a little walk around? Yeah, that's probably a good idea" said Raj, acting as though he was talking to the mannequin.

Taking the time to look at the wooden figure, Raj stepped back for a bit and thought 'you know...I think I'm starting to like the idea of keeping it around...'

Leaving the mannequin behind, Raj headed out the door after making sure it was locked. Beyond the sidewalk, there were two places that he could go right off the bat. To his left was the park he passed on his way here, the one with the giant tree. And off to his right was what looked like a concrete plaza of a handful of stores and a parking lot.

It was admittedly a difficult decision, but at the end of the day Raj decided to check the plaza out. Thinking to himself that he'll be able to check out the park, and everything else near it some other day. After a brisk crossing Raj was at the plaza, exploring its vast desolate parking lot.

From where Raj stood there were a grand total of three buildings that were situated within the plaza, the largest of which became the first he visited.

"Roswell Groceries..." said Raj, as he stood outside a rectangular building of a noticeably larger size. Reading the store's name out loud, which was emblazoned on the front above the main entrance.

'Interesting choice of name' thought Raj, as he walked inside the building. Stepping past a set of automated sliding doors, and into an interior that was a mix of old and new aesthetics. The floor being hardwood, with the shelves being a mix of wood and metal. The cash registers were largely empty, and so was much of the store.

'Guess I caught the place during off-peak hours' Raj thought, as he explored the many shelves and refrigerated freezers. Most of what he'd come to expect was found, alongside some new things that he hadn't ever seen before.

'Wam?' thought Raj, as he picked up a metal, oddly cylindrical, container that had the word "WAM" printed on its side in big red bold letters. Underneath which the words "wonder ham" was printed in small yellow letters.

'What in god's green earth is wonder ham?' thought Raj, as he looked at the canned, and likely processed, ham for a good couple of seconds before putting it back.

Moving into one of the aisles, Raj's presence fell into the gaze of a lone employee of Roswell Groceries. A raven haired man, whose head was a sea of curls. Eyes a piercing blue, and skin as white as snow. He stood behind a small booth with a bunch of brown gelatinous blobs in small paper cups. Initially looking very despondent, until he saw Raj. At which point his eyes lit up with excitement, and stepped out of from behind the table.

"Greetings…" began the man, as he approached Raj with a sales pitch in mind. But once he saw Raj's face, his mind centered on a singular thought.

"...oh...I don't think I've seen you around here before – are you new?"

"Yeah I am. Just moved in".

"Oh, well then – welcome, welcome! I hope you enjoy your stay!" said Guy, before dragging Raj over to his booth and quickly moving behind it.

"Annnnd mayhaps try out some of our free samples?"

Regaining his balance, and composure. Raj looked down onto the table, and picked up one of the samples. Eyeing it curiously.

"What...is it?"

"Why I'm glad you asked!" said Guy, as he clapped his hands together.

Nearly startling Raj in the process.

"It's a new flavor of Jello that just got released! It's being rolled out in some places, and it's a classic that's found in every brand of chips!"

'A new Jello flavor...' Raj thought, as he eyed the white colored cube of gelatin inside the paper cup.

"In every brand of chips?" asked Raj, as he looked at Guy who nodded in response.

"Yup, it's sour cream!"

"Sour cream?" said Raj, feeling just a tad bit repulsed at the idea of eating gelatin of that flavor.

The slight look of disGuyt that Raj expressed was not lost on Guy, as his mood nearly dropped at the observation. But he clung onto his persistent optimism, and didn't let his smile waver.

"Yes, that's right! The famed, and largely beloved sour cream! And now it's available in Jello form!"

Raj glanced down at the gelatin blob held in his palm, and then back at Guy. Almost in disbelief.

"You're serious?"

Guy nodded, and replied "uh huh".

Raj put the sample back on the table, and said "yeah uh...sorry but I think I'll pass on that, thanks".

He tried to sound as nice as possible, but regardless of the kindness of his tone. Nothing of the sort could've stopped Guy from dropping his enthusiasm and replacing it with a bleak somberness.

His shoulders sagging as though in defeat, as he said "we're not going to sell this, are we?"

Raj blinked, and replied "uh...well..."

Furthermore, there was nothing that could've prepared Raj for Guy just breaking down into tears before his very eyes.

'Oh god' thought Raj in a panic, as Guy turned on the water works.

"Guy you're an idiot! I mean what were you thinking?! Of course nobody would've ever bought this! It'd probably taste really bad!" Guy exclaimed in between tears, and an unhealthy amount of snorting to suck up all the nose goop that came out of his nostrils.

"Uh…" stammered Raj, as he looked around trying to find someone to ask for help. But finding no such luck.

'I should probably leave, but then I'd look and feel like a jerk' thought Raj, feeling himself put unceremoniously on the spot.

"Uh well...I mean...there...there...it's not like it's your fault right?" began Raj, awkwardly attempting to comfort the grocery store employee.

Who nodded sideways, and snorted loudly and quite sadly before saying "but it waaaas, it was my fauuulllttt!"

Lowering his head, and crying a waterfall of tears onto the table. Drenching the Jello samples with his tears, and increasing their salt concentration.

'Now this is just said...' thought Raj, as he saw the absolute mess of a man that stood in front of him. Just barely holding it together.

"I told the manager...this was a good idea...and he trusted me...and now...now..." began Guy, as he sniffled and wiped his nose with the green apron he wore over his black collared shirt, and dark denim pants.

"…NOW I KNOOOW HE WON'T GIVE ME THAT PROMOTIOOONNNN!" exclaimed Guy, as he threw his head back and whined into the ether. Ravines of tears running down the sides of his face, as he sobbed facing the ceiling.

'Alright this is getting way too sad...and pathetic...' thought Raj, as he felt the need to do something. Anything, so long as it would stop this grown man from crying.

"Alright, look man – so what if you messed up once? It's not like there won't be other chances?" reasoned Raj.

After one long snort, Guy looked at Raj with hopeless eyes and said "you don't understaaand. This was my chance! My one big moment to show that I can lead! But now I'll never be promoted, and I'll just stay like this without going ANYWHERE until I retire, and become a crazy cat lady!"

Raj let out a sigh, actually finding something that he could resonate with on an emotional level, in what he just said. Barring the latter part about becoming a crazy cat lady after retiring.

"Alright, look..." said Raj, as he looked around before saying "how about I buy this, weirdly flavored Jello? It probably isn't much, but...maybe if someone keeps buying it – then maybe it'll be seen as somewhat profitable and..."

Raj shrugged, and added "...maybe you'll get that promotion after all".

"That's never gonna happen...not in a million years…" moped Guy, being brought down to his knees with his elbows planted on the table and his head held low.

From the periphery of Raj's eye, he spotted a golden blur on the far end of the aisle. And as he glanced at the sudden movement, his eyes fell upon a long-haired blonde with hazel eyes and a fair tone of skin.

Donning the same green apron that Guy wore, with everything underneath being vastly different.

She saw the situation that unfolded, as well as the looks that Raj gave to help deal with it ASAP.

At the speed of a swift breeze the blonde barreled down the aisle, and over to Raj and Guy.

"Hi, hey, hello" said the woman looking at Raj, as she walked over to Guy and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. While looking at Raj, and silently mouthing "what happened?"

Raj quietly mouthing back "I don't know, he just broke down into tears" before gesturing to one of the samples.

The blonde glanced at the samples, and seemed to grasp the situation immediately.

"It's okay Guy! It'll be alright, somebody will buy sour cream Jello!"

That seemed to make Guy sob even harder, making the blonde haired employee go "ah, jeez".

Raj shrugged, while looking at the blonde haired woman of comparable age. Who looked equally unsure of what to do, when an idea popped into Raj's head.

Quite possibly the most stupidest idea that any one man could've had, at least in the long term, but Raj felt like he was out of options. And he knew from experience than when all else failed, stupidity prevailed.

"Alright, how about this. I will buy one a pack of sour cream flavored Jello, and I will keep on buying it until you get your promotion".

The blonde haired woman blinked, as she got what Raj was putting down and added "and so will I. A-And maybe even convince some of my friends to buy it?"

Guy looked up, and at Raj and the blonde.

"Really? You guys will do that just for me?"

"If it means you'll stop crying, then yes".

Finally at last, Guy crying came to an end as he rose up onto his feet. Wiping away his tears, with a smile returning to his face.

"Thanks guys, you two are the best" said Guy, as he then grabbed the blonde and Raj and pulled them both to a hug. Pulling Raj around the table, and into an embrace with a surprisingly long arm.

"Uh...yeah...sure..." said Raj, who was taken aback by the hug as Guy let them go.

"Also, you might want to go and wash up" suggested the blonde, as Guy nodded. Wiping away the remainder of his tears, as he turned around and left.

Saying "good idea" before heading off.

"Well, I guess I've got to buy this now" said Raj, as he picked up one of the many, MANY, stacks of Jello mix boxes that were on the table.

"Oh you're serious" said the blonde, amazed at Raj's conviction.

"I did say I would right?"

"Well yeah, but like...you didn't have to..."

"Yeah, but then that'd make me a liar, and I'm a terrible liar".

The woman smiled, before tilting her head to the side while eyeing Raj's face. Scanning it thoroughly, and drawing a blank.

"Hey, are you...new in town?"

"You noticed too?"

The blonde shrugged, and replied "it's a small town".

"Fair point".

"So are you passing through or..."

"Just moved in. Today".

The blonde blinked, and turned to face Raj before smiling with as much brilliance as the sun.

"Really?!"

"Yup".

The hazel eyed girl seemingly jumped in excitement, and exclaimed "yay! We have a new neighbor! And it's not someone who was just born!"

"So I'm gonna guess that it's kinda unheard of people moving in from somewhere else?"

"Yeah...I mean, given where we are it's almost unthinkable. But that's beside the point, you're gonna like it here! Trees, people, buildings? What's not to love".

Raj nodded, and replied "those are things that people usually like in a town".

"Exactly!" said the woman, as it hit her like a speeding locomotive.

"Oh, I didn't even get your name!"

"Oh, it's..."

"No wait! I wanna guess!"

"Uh..."

The blonde closed her eyes, and tapped her forehead with one hand cocking her head to the side saying "is it...Raj?"

Raj blinked, and replied "wow, yeah – how'd you figure?"

The blonde smirked, and replied "I'm a real good guesser".

"Nice, and you know what? So am I – watch" said Raj, as he closed his eyes and tapped the Jello box he held in his hands.

"Your name is…Amy, right?"

Amy's jaw dropped, as she looked at Raj in disbelief.

"No way, are you telepathic?"

Raj chuckled, and replied "your nametag".

Amy then glanced down at her nametag, and then embarrassingly blushed. Nervously laughing it off, and saying "heh heh...yeah, that makes sense".

A silence fell as Amy, and Raj simply looked at one another a bit awkwardly until Raj fake coughed and said "so uh...I'm gonna go and buy this".

"Yeah…yeah, and let me help you" said Amy, as she walked ahead of Raj as he was about to make his way out of the aisle.

"In that, I can help you pay for it, by using the cash register" Amy explained, as Raj nodded.

"Sounds about right".

Amy led Raj over to one of the many cash registers that were unoccupied for the time being, and processed his purchase of the befuddling flavor of Jello mix.

"That'll be 3 dolars and 99 cents" said Amy, as Raj paid for it with his debit card.

"Here you go! See you around" said Amy, as Raj nodded and bid farewell.

"You too" said Raj, as he walked out of the grocery store.

Since the curiously named "Dandyman's Hardware Store" was closed, Raj decided to check out the only other place left.

A convenience store that advertised itself both appropriately, and paradoxically as "Inconvenience Convenience" in giant bold letters above the large pane of glass that served as a window into the interior of the store.

A window which was shattered to pieces, with a man wearing both a hoodie and a balaclava inside. In front of the cashier, a lanky white man in aviators with a wicked mullet adorning the sides of his head.

The image this sight invoked was stereotypical, and alarming. Prompting Raj to simply charge in to the store, and tackle the masked man with all his might. Bringing him down amidst a fit of screams. The cashier leaping over the counter with the grace of a kangaroo, as Raj exclaimed "I got him! Call the police!" Wrapping his arms around the man in the ski-mask, loose gray hoodie, and black starch pants.

"Would ya just get off him!" exclaimed the cashier, as he managed to pry Raj off of the other guy.

Raj confusingly stumbled onto his feet, looking around thinking 'what?'

The man in the ski-mask getting helped up by the cashier, as he asked him "you alright Rob?"

"I'm fine Dave. Woof, that was quite the tumble" replied Rob, as he dusted himself off.

"Uh...what?" asked Raj, as the cashier came right in his face.

"What in the name of ranch do you think you're doing?!"

"Uh...stopping a robbery?"

The cashier looked at Rob, and then back at Raj with a furrowed brow.

"Now why in the world would you think that?"

Raj looked at the cashier like he was insane thinking 'what?', as Rob honed in on Raj's face.

"Dave, I don't think I've seen him around here before".

Dave took a good hard look at Raj, and added "so it seems".

"Yeah that's cause I just moved in – today".

Dave, and Rob looked at one another before returning their attention back onto Raj.

"Is that right?" asked Rob.

Raj responded with a nod.

"Well I guess that explains that" said Dave, as he hopped back behind the counter.

"Well then, allow me to introduce myself and welcome you to our humble little town" said Rob, his voice deep and theatric. Reaching out, and grabbing Raj's left hand before shaking it with great strength.

"My name is Rob, and I am a reporter for the local newspaper".

"I'm Raj" replied Raj, as Rob let go of his hand which felt a little sore after being in Rob's vice grip.

"Nice to meet you Raj, and I do hope that your stay in Friend-lake is a good one".

"Yeah, thanks" replied Raj before blinking, and asking "I'm sorry friend-what?"

"Friend-lake, the name of this town".

Raj cocked his head to the side, and asked "wasn't the name of this town Fremlish, Frenchlis, Finnish..."

Rob's chuckle interrupted Raj's poor attempt at pronouncing the town's name, before saying "Friend-lake is the anglicization of the town's actual name – and it's used in its place because almost no one can actually pronounce it, much less want to try and risk butchering it".

"Right, yeah...guess I kinda proved that point huh" replied Raj, while scratching the side of his head.

Rob nodded, and replied "you sure did".

"And uh...sorry about the whole...tackling thing..." said Raj sheepishly, his words stumbling out with an air of awkwardness.

"Ah think nothing of it. You're new around here so you have the benefit of the doubt...for now..." said Rob, that last part coming out a little ominously before Rob turned to face the front counter and picked up the bag of chips that he'd come here to buy.

"Well I'm off. See you around Raj" said Rob, as he gave Raj a faux salute before stepping over the large glass-less frame that was at one point a wide window, now a gaping hole.

Raj blinked, and looked around before asking Dave "there was a window here at one point right?"

"Yup".

"Right..." said Raj, as he did a second look around before finally turning to face the cashier and saying "so uh...I just noticed something, there's no door".

"Sounds about right" replied Dave with not a care in the world.

Raj on the other hand looked at Dave, in absolute bewilderment.

"Sounds about right? My guy there's no door in this place! How are people supposed to come inside?"

"The same way that Rob just came in".

Raj looked out the way Rob left, and then back at Dave.

"The window?!"

"Uh huh" said Dave, more interested in the contents of the newspaper than he was with the current conversation.

Raj stood there for what felt like an eternity, looking around with no real thoughts in his head. Confused, perplexed, bewildered, and every other word to describe a state of confusion. Eventually be it the darkening sky, or Raj's brain on the verge of spontaneously combusting. He finally left the convenience store, stepping out of what at one point was a window, and making his way back home. Putting as much distance between himself, and the convenience store as fast as possible. Wanting to make sure that, that place nothing more than a foggy memory.

As the sun finally came down beyond the horizon, and was swallowed up by the very edge of existence. Raj reached his home, going inside as the moon began to rise. He was still tired from the long journey he'd previously undertaken, and so after locking the door. Raj headed straight to bed, flopping onto the mattress and dozing off.