Things were peaceful.
The birds sang and foraged in the grass of the front yard, scratching for bugs.
The open window let in the smells of warm sunshine heating up the fresh washing flapping on the washing line slowly rotating and creaking.
Sheer curtains speckled with pictures of juicy oranges strained against the yellow ribbons keeping them tethered to the hooks holding on tightly.
I stood in the kitchen, mixing a thick bowl of powdered vanilla custard. With the box beside me, I reached to grab it to check for answers to the consistency when I spotted him.
His head peeled over the fence, nose almost running on the wood as he tried to remain inconspicuous.
Frazzled grey hair shot out as if it had been electrocuted. His sun-burnt face peeled across his nose and forehead hidden under a dark cloak.
The oddly dressed man appeared randomly throughout the days to try and convince me to leave my tame life for one of adventure and wild stories.
He insisted I was some sort of 'chosen one' who could only partake this quest with him to rid the land of evil. I just kept my gate latched and slapped a 'no junk mail' sticker up on my mailbox to try and deter him from stuffing in yet another letter written entirely in curling script.
Fate was determined that I drop everything to go. The last few months had been hell trying to avoid it.
Crows swarmed my yard with letters raining from their claws.
The sidewalks had rearranged themselves to curve out of town and towards the mountaintops.
Water flooded through my house from the sinks to force me outside to where the man waited.
And, the man himself, had my mailbox bursting with old scrolls summoning me.
But, I had solutions.
A crude scarecrow made from two old mops and a stuffed pillowcase kept the pesky birds away.
The letters that littered the yard made for excellent kindling for the oil drum that served as the base for a bonfire.
I had a plumber refit all the taps with older screw- tops that I later stuffed with old rags. This prevented them from opening up randomly and causing more water damage.
Food and small items could be ordered in and delivered to my door by the cheerful postman. There was no need to be led astray anymore when walking into town nearby.
As for the man, he didn't dare come past the fence. For some reason, he still held high morals about trespassing on foreign property. With that, all he could do was wait and try and convince me when I scraped out the mailbox into a paper bag to burn, leaving behind a token of food in the hope he'd take the snack and go away.
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Custard was my focus today. The man seemed to prefer softer foods over crusted breads or boiled lollies. If it was handmade, he practically melted when snatching up the treat to enjoy on the other side.
It was quite comical to see how much he enjoyed the food I left out for him. In a way, it was rewarding to see my hard work be appreciated by something other than the stray cat I fed every night.
Scanning over the yard, my eyes lifted to the skies to see the flock of crows returning with another onslaught of paper.
Grabbing a cup of water, I poured it into the custard to keep mixing it while ignoring their descent.
Demanding caws of the creatures grew closer. I flicked the curtains from their hooks so I could let them flap out the window before reeling them in and tightly closing it.
Making eye contact with the blank-faced man, I only forced a smile and continued to stir.
The first letter flipped and twisted into view to land neatly on the grass. Others followed, dancing and spiralling around when they clashed and cluttered up the air.
Hearing the thick blanket falling below the nagging birds, I kept my eyes on the bowl to avoid those of the man I knew would be watching me in irritation.
Turning for the fridge, I heard his frustrated sigh and smiled to myself at how much my ignorance was annoying him.
Instead of reaching for more ingredients, my hand slipped into the gap down the side to slide out the rake I kept there for these moments.
I marched for the front door with the rake in one hand and the other around the door knob. Letting out a sigh, I tore it open and hurried out to huddle under the little roof above the measly three steps I had to the ground.
Crows were already perched along it to try and get a glimpse of me as I shuffled onto the grass to slap my rake onto the grass.
Pulling together the first pile, I moved in a circle with determination beading on my brow.
Seeing the man watching me in annoyance, I gave him a little wave and propped my rake up to lean against it.
"Nice day for it!" I called out with a laugh on my voice "I was getting low!"
The man huffed, muttering to himself bitterly.
"You can't avoid it forever!" he jabbed a crooked finger at me.
I continued to rake, pretending not to hear him.
The letters were already drying up. They all blanketed the ground I gladly tore through. A few flipped and fell into the path of the rake who stabbed through them.
I was happy here. The old man had to try harder.
"There's darkness brewing in the distance!" he warned with a twirl and point to the mountains smeared in dark clouds that crackled lightning "it'll be here in no time!"
"Oh!" I blinked back and paused, giving him a moment to think he had me "i do need to take the washing off before the storm sets in. Thanks for reminding me!"
The man growled and pulled at his own hair as I promptly headed back for the front door, leaning the rake up beside it.
Grabbing the rattan basket from in the laundry, I was back out the front in no time to see he hadn't left.
He followed along the fence when I kicked a path to the washing now flapping in the increasing wind.
"There's dark forces out there too wild to comprehend!" he shouted to me.
"Mmm hmm" I just nodded while unclipping a sheet.
"They'll tear apart the fabric of the earth! It'll destroy everything as you know it!"
"Really?" I sighed back, folding the sheet into the basket "wow."
"You are the only one who can do this! Power runs in your veins! The only power that c..."
"Speaking of...." I mused "...do you think I've got enough to carry back some sandbags? I don't want the water getting into the house."
Maybe two or three would block the front door? It'd stop another flood trying to wash me out from the outside.
The frown was back from the man whose energy instantly disappeared as he watched me yank down a shirt and add it to the pile beside me.
"You weren't listening, were you?"
"Oh....no" I chuckled "you've got to stop trying. I'm happy here, honestly."
"But, doesn't your heart yearn fo....?"
"No."
"Adventure awaits!" he choked out, frazzled.
"And it can keep waiting" I smiled to the pants I folded now "you don't even have transport to get us to wherever your 'great adventure' is."
I searched the road behind him to search for a car or even a horse and carriage. The man was alone.
"It strengthens the soul and heart!" he started up again "you'll be connected by walking the path of good to vanquish darkness!"
"The only place I'm walking to is town" I jerked a thumb over my shoulder that he followed "about twenty meters that way. If you come back with a car or even a giant crow, I'll be impressed."
"But you still won't come?"
Chuckling again as I unclipped underwear, I shook my head.
He deflated, grumbling.
"A quest is not without it's setbacks" he told himself with a surge of determination.
Sure. He could keep trying.
"Just try not to get too wet when it rains tonight" I circled a finger to the sky he looked up at.
Folding his hands together, he was suddenly meek.
"Perhaps I could trouble you for accommodation tonight?"
I sucked in a breath between my teeth, pulling a face of exaggerated false remorse.
"Ohh, perhaps not" I replied with a shrug as I wedged the basket against my hip "the stray already asked me so politely for the couch. You just missed out, sorry. Full house."
The irritated blank stare was back. I swear I even saw the man's bushy eyebrow twitch.
Turning from it, I was on my way back to the house, with him following from the fenceline.
"You've still got to go get your sandbags!" he called with a smirk in his voice "about twenty meters that way, isn't it?"
I didn't have to face the man to know he had me. Brimming with confidence, we both knew he would follow me the whole way while still pestering me to join his cause.
Dropping the fresh washing just inside the door, I was suddenly dreading the short walk.
The man waited, smug. He grinned hugely when I eyed the rake still leaning against the house.
Would it be a bad idea if I used it to try and shoo him away?
Shaking away the thought, I knew I had to just get it over with quickly.
But... It would be safer to stay indoors. I could use my entire stash of ratty towels to stuff under the cracks instead.
Grinning at the better plan, I stepped inside.
"What are you doing?" he frowned back "you need to prepare yourself for the wild darkness!"
"I don't have an umbrella. I might get wet carrying the sand back" I sighed back "might just have to stay home...."
"But, the.... the letters! They're everywhere!"
He was searching for anything to keep me closer to him or make me leave the yard.
"The crows will return them to me tomorrow, right? I doubt someone is writing fresh ones when they don't need to."
If they weren't burnt, they could just be dropped over and over until I finally opened one. They'd be crumpled and stained long before I'd ever think about it.
I saw his face drop instantly. He threw out a hand, as if it would stop me from closing the door.
"No, wait!"
"Byeee!" I sang back and snorted when I shut him from sight.
The man sure was a funny one to mess with. He almost had me there.
Returning to the bowl of cold custard, I began to mix it again with a smile on my face.
Adding another cup of water, it finally thinned enough to be perfect.
Everything was just the way it should be.
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