Lost In Time

Chapter 8 - Yes, I Smoke Too But Candy

Juliet's POV

“Hey, you guys ready,” Jessica said, coming out of her house. A chorus of ‘yeah’ went around.

“Alright, everybody into the truck.”

I moved and went into the truck and sat in the front while Patricia sat opposite me. Then Preston came and sat next to me as Jessica sat opposite him.

The rest began to file in, one after another. The engine revved, and soon we took off. The beautiful scenery passing us by as we laughed and chatted. My hair danced in the wind, hitting Preston in his face. Each time, he playfully narrowed his eyes at him while I try to hold my hair down.

David shouted. “Let’s play a game,”

“What game,”

“I spy,”

“I’ll go first,” Pat said.

“I spy with my little eyes something green,”

“A tree,”

“How did you know,”

“Lucky guess, babe,” he said and gave her a peck as everyone laughed.

“This is getting boring. How about some music,” Preston said, taking out something?

Is that a small pocket radio player?

“Yeah,” Michael said, nodding.

Suddenly, David and Micheal stood and yelled, “Hey there, foxy,” As we turned to look, we saw a girl looking at him in disbelief. They continued to whistle after her even as we went farther and farther, but before we were completely out of sight, she pretended to gag.

David yelled. “You got shot down, brother.”

“Hey, Jess, the store is coming up on your left,” Michael shouted, ignoring David’s remark.

The truck swiveled to the corner, and we all hopped out. The boys went to fill the gas up while we girls stood next to the truck. While we waited for them, a car passed with a bunch of guys standing up, whistling and shouting, “looking good foxes,”

We all giggle and blush. However, when we turned around to see what the boy was doing, they were counting money. With a defeated sigh, we go to them.

“How much do we have,” David asked.

“I did some yard work and got 5,” Preston answered.

“I got 7,”

“I got 4,”

“I got 20,” I said, and it went on and on.

“20 unbelievable,” Patricia said with wide eyes.

Is that a lot here? Back in my timeline, 20 dollars doesn’t really buy a lot of things.

“OK, so there are 10 of each, and we have 50 bucks.”

Micheal muttered, eyes wide, staring at the money in Jess’s hands. “Wow, that’s a lot,”

We all split the money equally between the boys and girls and shopped except Jess who was still filling the gas.

“I want a Chicken in a Biskit,” David shouted happily.

Chicken in a biskit?

What is that?

The shop was tiny and had a welcoming atmosphere. Snacks, candies, and canned food were divided into three parts. Like the flog on a chilly morning, the man behind the counter blew a puff of smoke. We all grimaced and hurried to get what we needed as he smiled at us with his yellow, crooked teeth. I quickly got a sprite and pringles.

Hesitantly, we approach the creepy guy. As I hand the guy behind the counter the money for all of us, he yells. “Hey, what are ya doing?”

Confused, I mumbled, “huh?”

We all watch as he rushes out from behind the counter and chases the guys.

Preston yells, pulling the door open and stretching his hand to me. “Let’s go,”

I placed the money on the counter and ran like my butt was on fire towards him; the girl running behind me.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” David panted to Jess, who was in the truck waiting.

“What?”

“I said let’s go dumbass,”

Jess immediately started the truck and drove. We all ran behind as the guy from the store was still caught after us. One by one, we all filled.

After Preston hopped in first and stretched his hand, I grabbed it, jumped in, barely making it. I grabbed on tighter as Preston pulled me up. Unfortunately, he pulled a little too hard, and I roughly fell on him in the truck.

“Sorry,” he said, laughing as I and everyone else joined him.

David enthusiastically said. “That was fun, let’s do it again.”

Josh pants. “Nah,”

***

“We’re here,” Jess shouted as he came out of the driver’s seat.

All of us filed out one by one, jumping off the truck with glee. When it was finally my turn, I bent my knees to hop out like anyone else, when Preston unexpectedly caught me by the waist and gently squeezed me as he lifted and lowered me from the truck.

I grin. “Thank you,”

A small smile curled the edge of his mouth as he nodded.

“Excited?” Pat said, running to me, smiling excitingly while Preston excused himself and went to his friends.

“Ye,” I stopped as my eyes caught the ‘no trespasses sign’ hung on the fence.

When Pat noticed where I was looking, she smiled. “Don’t worry, we do this every year. Trust me, you’re going to love it, "

I hesitated, but nodded anyway.

Josh makes a small area for us to pass through. One by one we enter. As I gaze at the farm and the sigh in front of me, only one word describes it, ‘breathtaking. "

It was like the earth using its loving arm to craft this dreamscape. The farm upon a rustic wind that speaks of olden days.

I looked up, squinting as I saw the denim sky smiling down upon us. The white puff that looks like Dandelion to me radiates white light, adding fragrance to the day, which makes it seem like an old photographic film.

The field we were currently walking through was filled with pumpkins. Michael would pick one and throw it at the one who had the bat in his hand. When the pumpkin comes into contact with the bat, it shatters and covers David. He mumbles, “shoots,” brushing off his clothes as everyone chuckles.

After I calm down from laughing, I ask pat, “Why do you guys do this?”

“I guess it’s like a tradition for us. We all grew up together, except Pat and Preston. They have known each other since birth. It is just something we do to get away from things or problems or even our family,” she said, her eyes watching someone. I followed her eyes and found she was watching Preston, or at least I think it was him.

What was that about?

“Is there a specific reason you look at — -?” Before I could complete my sentence, Jessica made an appearance and asked,

“What are y’all talking about?”

Pat mumbled. “Nothing,”

“Why did Michael think there would be girls here?”

“Oh, last year, they couldn’t come. So we ditched them and when we came back, Preston told them they missed some foxes. And don’t mention how angry they were. "

“I remember. They didn’t talk to us for about a week,” Jessica added, chuckling along with Pat while I smiled.

***

“I’m so hungry,” David grumbles, throwing himself down on the green grass under the large oak tree in the middle of the farm. However, Josh came and took his foot and shoved him, which resulted in him rolling away while muttering profanity and cursing at Josh.

Josh rolled his eyes. “What a meathead,” and took a seat under the tree. Bracing against it, he pulled Pat down to sit between his legs as she smiled happily and gave him a peck.

I smiled slightly at the scene before grinning even more when I spotted David walking toward us as he pulled out a small black comb from his back pocket and started combing his hair.

I remember the first time he did that, and I asked what he thought he was doing and he replied saying what the cool boys do and winked.

I was pulled out of my thought when Preston and Micheal took a seat on each side of me. Micheal had a pack of cigarettes in the roll of his sleeves.

He took out one and placed it in his mouth, then offered Preston one, which he took and said thanks. Michael lit both cigarettes and smoked.

I didn’t know he smoked.

He places the bud in his mouth and inhales. After a while, he removes it and blows out the smoke as if the second natural.

“You’re staring,”

“Huh,”

Micheal whispered. “I said you're staring,”

I glanced at Preston and saw a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Here, since you don’t smoke,” he said and handed me a box of candy cigarettes.

I chuckle. “Thanks,”

I remember my mom always told me during the road trips how she would smoke candy cigarettes while dad would smoke a real one.

I opened the pack and took out one. It was white. I placed it in my mouth and pretended I was smoking myself. Both boys next to me laugh while my cheeks turn rosy and burn as I ignore them and continue what I was doing.