Bleeding Rain: Chapter Two

When dawn made the sun slowly rise from it's sleep, Suzy stood up, lifting the box gently, and walked on.  She had done this for so long she knew the exact way to hold it, so, little Simon stayed asleep. She had been traveling for ten years. 1

She walked, perhaps, three miles before she reached the next town. Frankston.  She walked down main street slowly, past sleeping horses, and quiet wooden buildings.  She turned into an alley, and stopped.  She gently lowered the box, and stretched her arms, yawning. She laid down, and slept.  She kept one hand over the box, holding it down.2

She had hidden safely so that nobody could find them during the day.3

When the sun went down, Suzy woke up. She shook the box slightly, and up awoke Simon.  He stared at her groggily.  She patted his head, and laughed.4

"There's a saloon oveh that away.  You thirsty?" she asked.  Simon nodded. She helped him up.5

"The box'll be okay here, we'll come back before for it," said Suzy.  6

Simon was just glad that he was going to make human contact with someone other than Suzy. She walked ahead of him slowly.  This was the only time he didn't have to drag him along to do something.7

Once they reached the saloon, Suzy turned to him.  "Don't go off alone with no one. I know!" he said.8

She smiled, and walked inside.  9

The room smelled like body odor and beer.  The floor was stained all over and covered in dust.  There was peeling wallpaper on the walls that looked like it was once brown stripes.  Three small tables sat around the room.  There was a group of people at every table, two of the groups were playing cards, the third was talking. A small bar sat on the right side of the room.  Suzy and Simon walked over to the bar, where they sat down. 10

Suzy ordered a drink, and sat down on a stool.  She asked, "So, ya' anythin' 'bout the weather 'round this town?" 11

The bartender smiled, and said, "Figurin' it ter rain.  All of the ol' women in town's back's hurt terday," he said.12

Suzy and Simon smiled in unison at the sound of rain.  "We can stay out longer, Suzy, and stay here overnight!"13

"I know! I know!" yelled Suzy.  She smiled at the bartender, "Thank ya'."14

"So, can I go off alone?" asked Simon.  Suzy smiled reluctantly.  "Let's wait 'til it starts rainin'," said Suzy.15

The bartender sat down a drink in front of Suzy. She pulled a coin out of her pocket, and handed it to the bartender. 16

"Can I getta' drink?" asked Simon.  "Simon, I tol' you, no," she said. 17

Simon rolled his eyes.  He kicked the bar playfully, and whistled.  They sat for an hour.  Suzy ordered two or three more drinks as Simon waited.18

"Jus' settle, Simon, the rain'll come," said Suzy.  19

And it did, after she said these words, they heard rain pounding the ground outside.  She told him he could go walk if he wanted to, and sat drinking.20

...more later.21