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“I bet,” I said, the picture in my head likely not doing it justice. “Listen, you guys have fun. I’m heading to bed.”
“Had a…nice night?”
I stared at the man trying so hard to be nonchalant. “You know, too. Am I the only one that doesn’t?”
“I’m sure there are a few others that don’t, but not many.”
After trying to get it from them once before the following day, I bid them all goodbye and headed to the guest house. Home.
I knew the place was temporary, but it felt like home. I got in the door, made a sandwich, and relaxed on the sofa while staring out at the trees.
Big picture windows, that’s what most of the homes had around the area. Burke’s did, Noah’s did, and so did the two homes on Rick’s property. It was like living outside, but safe, and comfortable. Everything was beautiful but not as hot or cold as the true outside could get.
It looked like a cluster of Christmas trees with breaks by stark white of the aspen trunks. I could imagine all the trees, covered in Christmas lights. Hell, I wasn’t even Christian, but I enjoyed Christmas immensely.
There was a knock on my door, and I jogged to open it, seeing Chandler waiting on the stoop. “Hey, Kan.”
“Hey, Chan,” I said in rhyme.
“Cute but cringy,” he mentioned as he came inside without being invited. “How was your weekend off?”
“It was…fine,” I said as I closed the door.
“Sorry to invade you, but I watched this Tiktok about the city, and I wanted to ask you about it.”
Finally, I could do my actual job. “Sure, sit. We’ll talk about it.”
The video he showed me was about subways. “Not saying I’ll live in a place with them. Sure. But…can’t I just take cabs?”
“You’re rich, so I guess it won’t hurt you, but cabs get expensive. Any rideshare, too. Buses and the subway save people a ton of money. Less convenient, but much cheaper.”
“Oh. Well, my dad’s giving me an allowance. I don’t want to spend it all on rides. Tell me about subways and stuff?”
“Sure, Chandler.” I went on to explain the subway systems, how to find the right train or bus to take, how much he’d spend and ways to make even that cheaper by getting bus passes and things. We got out the laptop and looked up a few of the cities he was thinking of living where his schools would be close, and spent almost two hours learning the route of buses and subways.
“Don’t people get mugged a lot, you know, on subways and stuff?”
“It’s not as safe as a cab, but cabs have their risks too. You’re dropped off in a place where not a lot of people are, and since you took a cab, you have money. Mugging bait.”
“Thanks. Maybe I should just stay here and hide.”
“Funny thing is that small towns have their own issues. Some have higher crime rates than big cities, if you look per capita. You are safe and protected from the world at home, but that’s no way to live, Chandler. You have to weigh safety and real life sometimes. But you can have both. Just be in crowds when you’re getting on the subway. Always carry your wallet deep in your front pocket, or don’t carry one at all. Be aware of your surroundings.”
“I am, I think.”
“Say you’re going for a hike or run here, in your own backyard. Do you run and stick your head in the clouds?”
I knew the answer, as I’d watched him and Rick both on the trails. Their heads are on swivels, watching for predators. I knew Rick had taught his son that, as they were identical in their movements.
“Okay, I guess I’m aware. You have to be here though.”
“You have to be there too.”
“Right,” he said, pointing at me, giggling. “Right, right. Got it. Watch for predators. They’re just different than the ones here.”
“Exactly, Chandler. I think you’re gonna do fine. Make some friends and travel with them. That’s even better.”
“That sounds better, for sure.” He looked me up and down and asked, “Did you…have fun?”
