Chapter 2

I’m seventeen now. I celebrated my birthday today with Sam and an empty house. “Happy birthday, Emerald,” I whisper to myself.

Sam is sitting next to me, panting. It is a warm summer night—June 13th, to be exact. This is the first year I’ve spent alone on my birthday. Neither of my parents called me. Well, I don’t think they have. The house phone has been going in and out all day.

Tomorrow is Saturday, which is grocery day. Mike, the handyman, will bring a load of whatever my parents asked him to bring. He’ll take a look at the corded house phone and hopefully get it to work again. Being stuck this far out and being alone, sometimes it’s scary.

I’m sitting in the dining room at the table, staring at the wood grains of the table’s surface. Sam has her head resting on my knee, and I place my hand on her head. Her eyes meet mine, then she starts to growl. She rips her head off my leg and takes off running toward the front door. She’s growling louder and now barking; she’s on alert.

By the time she gets to the door, a loud knocking comes from the other side of the door. I am not expecting anyone. It’s almost dark outside, and no one comes out this far, especially at night. I take a deep breath and swallow.

I push back from the dining room table and stand up. I slowly walk toward the front door. The light in the foyer isn’t on, so I peek through the curtain. A man’s silhouette is standing on the front porch. His back is to the front door; he’s facing the empty street.

The light from the porch shows me he is wearing a red hat. It’s just Mike. I sigh in relief and unlock the additional locks that my parents had installed on the front door. When I open the door, Mike turns around to face me. He is holding a small white box in his hand with an even smaller red bow.

I smile and greet him, “Hey, what brings you all the way out here?” I ask as I lean against the frame of the front door.

He smiles slightly and hands the small box with the red bow to me. “Happy birthday, Em.”

I take the box. “Thanks, Mike. You didn’t have to get me anything.” I look down at the box and see a picture of a phone on it. I shoot a glance up at him. “You didn’t!” I look back at the box and rip the bow off, pulling the phone out to inspect it.

“I know the house phone doesn’t always work, and you’re not exactly within walking distance to town,” he laughs. “Sorry for coming so late. I got caught up helping Mr. Hess with some… yard work today.” He slows his words when he says the old man’s name, as if he’s not sure if I remember who Mr. Hess is, which I do. He is the town’s mayor.

“It’s no big deal! This is awesome, thanks,” I say, and then I place the phone back into the box. “Do you want to come inside?” I ask Mike, looking up at him.

He smiles politely but shakes his head. “I can’t. It’s getting late, and I still have to feed Scout.” Scout is Mike’s cat.

I nod my head. Mike rarely ever comes inside the house, mostly just to drop off the groceries or fix something. “Ya know… that guy in the trench coat came back. He was just standing in the back field again. I walked out to ask if he was okay, but he only waved at me and walked off.”

“He walked back towards the trees again?” Mike shakes his head. “I am sure he is harmless. Make sure to lock the doors and windows. He never comes to the house or even close to it.” He pauses and looks out towards the back of the house before continuing. “Maybe he was saying goodbye for good this time? Next time, just stay inside. The phone is good to go, so give me a call if anything happens, okay? Please?” He nods his head, and I return his nod. I don’t think he fully believes me about the man in the trench coat. “I’m going to get going. Happy birthday again,” Mike says with a faint smile.

“Thanks again,” I reply in a low, soft tone. “Bye, Mike.”

I swear his face sags some, but he doesn’t say anything else. He turns and walks off the porch. When he gets to his truck again, he waves once more, and I return his wave. He backs out of the driveway and onto the empty road to drive back toward town. I watch him until all I can see are the taillights of his truck. After a few seconds, he is gone completely.

Once Mike is out of sight, I turn around and go back into the house, shutting and locking the door. Sam is sitting beside the front door, waiting for me. She has her eyes locked on me, and her tail is lightly sweeping the wooden floor.

With my back still toward the door, I lean against it, looking down at the phone box in my hand. My first cell phone. I smile again, hugging the phone box against my chest. Then I push off the front door, heading back toward the dining table. I pull out the chair I was sitting in a little more and sit down again.

The phone is simple to navigate. Mike already put his phone number into the contacts. I put my mom’s number and then my dad’s number into the phone. Once I save them, I text them in a group chat.

Me: “Hey, it’s Emerald. Mike got me a phone. Hope you are both having fun. Love you!”

I press the send button, then lay the phone on the table. I get up and grab another slice of the cake that I made earlier today for myself and head into the living room. The television is old, but it still picks up basic channels.

I click the “on” button and start flipping through the channels. I find myself watching an old lady making pottery. She talks you through each step as she does it. I often watch her. The woman’s voice reminds me of my mother’s. It is sort of comforting.

I finish my cake and place my plate on the small table by the couch, then kick my feet up on the sofa. Sam curls up behind my legs. I snuggle my face into the pillow and watch the woman until I fall asleep.