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“Yeah, right.”
No. I cannot be having this conversation in my head. I look at the clock. It’s after one. He should be here by now.
He’s not coming.
But he promised.
I feel stupider and stupider as the day goes on. I’m wandering around in a T-shirt and boxers, it’s so hot.
Finally, I hear a car coming. Driving up. Stopping.
All of the doubts I’ve been denying now turn themselves into relief.
I run for the door and throw it open. I’m about to jump into A’s arms—when I realize the guy in front of me is very old and has a dead deer across his shoulders.
I scream.
He also screams, stumbling back.
I scream again and retreat into the cabin.
“Who the hell are you?” the man yells.
I want to slam the door, but I can’t. He’s still yelling.
“You’re trespassing! Jesus, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Are you alone?”
He’s looking at me now. Seeing a girl. Seeing my legs.
“I’m Artie’s niece,” I say. “Artie’s my uncle. This is his cabin. I’m not trespassing.”
He looks skeptical, and I really wish he’d put the deer down. It’s making me nauseous.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” the man says. “If you even are Artie’s niece.”
“One second,” I say. I scramble for my wallet, find my license. When I come back, he’s put the deer back in his truck, thank God.
“You see,” I say, holding out the license. “We have the same name.”
“Fine. Doesn’t mean you’re supposed to be here.”
“You can call him,” I challenge, knowing there’s no way, and hoping Artie will cover for me if there is. “He must’ve mixed things up.”
“Well, you’re about to get a whole lot more company. We’ve been hunting all morning, and Artie told us we could clean the skins here and do our business.”
The vegetarian in me is horrified. But I’m stuck.
“One second,” I tell the man again. I close the door and change into as many pieces of clothing as I can. I pack up all my things.
But I can’t leave, because what if A comes? I am so mad at him for abandoning me but I can’t risk abandoning him.
So I stay. As more men arrive. As they look at me funny. As they stare at me. They bring in more kills, and set up an area outside to skin the animals. I reread the only book I have. I go out to the car. I try to avoid everyone, but eventually I have to use the toilet, and there’s no room to move.
I hold out for another two hours. Then I give up.
It’s too late. A can’t be coming. I need to get home.
The whole ride back, I seethe.
