This story is pure fiction and any resemblance to any people real or otherwise is purely accidental.
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My name is Abigail Lawson, but you can call me Abi. I live with my parents (no siblings) in a small mid western town called Methuselah's Pride, Or Pride for short. And it's slap bang in the middle of Kansas and miles from anywhere. The type of place where the houses were big for no real reason. It's a small, close knit community where everyone knows everyone else and they all support each other. No supermarket would stand a chance in this town. Nobody would work there and even if they did no one would shop there, we're all just to proud of the shops on main street.
When I left School I went to college and between that I worked in the family bakery like my daddy had done before me and his daddy before him and so on for I don't know how many generations. But I love working in there working with bread and cakes, it's so much fun. Of course it's not all fun, working in a bakery means I eat a lot more foods that make you put on weight. I would be quite a porker if it wasn't for my obsession with running.
As it happens I'm very physically fit. Maybe a little too athletic for some but I don't care. Other than being a little thinner than most I am an average 18 year old. 5'5, not too much bust and a modest bum. Most people say my most attractive feature is my long dark hair that stretches straight down to the small of my back. I have to keep it tied back when I work and when I go running. But I really prefer to let it down so it can swing in the breeze. A little bit of flirtatious rebellion in an otherwise conservative town that doesn't approve of clothes shorter than thigh length and almost has laws against low neck lines.
But the story begins in the summer of 2008, on a Wednesday morning. As per usual I was working in the bakery with Timothy (Tim) the bakers boy. But before you get any ideas I am not dating him. I'm dating Benjamin (Ben), the butchers boy. But our story does not concern him yet. The first important character is Mrs Niedermier (But she lets everyone call her Mrs Ned) who walked into the bakery to pick up her usual loaf. Despite her name being that of an elderly woman she was only 35, but she was married to the elderly Pastor.
"Hello Mrs Ned." Said Tim in his usual happy manner "I have your usual." He pulled out a milk loaf and began to wrap it in brown paper as she smiled her thanks.
"Hello Abi." She smiled as I kneaded another batch of buns "Have you heard yet?"
"Heard what?" I asked. Mrs Ned was the pastors wife and in accordance with universal law was a terrible gossip.
"Well I heard from Mrs Goddin that Mr Robinson has finally sold the house at the end of your block. You know the one near the woods."
"That's wonderful news. It's about time a new family moved into town."
Mrs Ned began to whisper slightly, a good sign what she was about to say was only being spread to half the town "Oh it's not a family from what I heard. Apparently it's a woman from England. Mrs Goddin said she used to work in finance but has already made enough money to retire."
"Wow England. I've never met a French woman before." Said Tim in his adorably stupid way. Me and Mrs Ned laughed slightly as she took the time to explain that England and France were not the same before she paid for her bread and left. Presumably to give the same news to Mr Hill the butcher.
"I can't believe someone from England has moved to our little town." Said Tim. I just shrugged and continued with the bread. Little did I know my whole life and the life of our little town was about to change completely.
The next day few days were the same as they had always been. No more news filtered through to me and I was content to keep it that way. I didn't really care about it, so long as I still had my job and my health. Although people who did care were constantly asking me about any changes to the house, this was because my well known running route went passed the house and through the woods to the lake. This meant that as far as the towns gossip intelligence network was concerned I was their lead gatherer of information. But it wasn't until Saturday that anything changed.
The preparations for my evening run began just like any other day. I put on my sweatpants and tank-top. Pulled on my running shoes and stepped out into the red dusk of summer. I stretched out my muscles and noticed with a small shock that the end house had a moving van sat out the front. I started out at a slow pace but sped up as I went past the house so I wouldn't be ogled by the moving guys to much.
I ran round my usual route with my head full of thoughts of what the England woman would look like. With all me previous experience being movies, I decided she would be a short dumpy looking person with bad teeth who drank tea all day. I smiled to myself about it as a rounded the lake and made my return nearly half an hour later (The lake is very big).
I slowed slightly as moved along the fence that surrounded the house's garden. As I rounded the corner I saw the van had gone and so had all the boxes that had been strewn about the yard. I looked at the house as I passed it but the curtains were closed. I slow jogged back to my house as a warm down every so often turning my head back to look at the house as night set in properly.
My thoughts as prepared for bed was of what an English woman would actually be like. Culture from anywhere other than America didn't really penetrate far into this part of Kansas, and I wondered what music she would bring. Not the Beatles or any of the really big English bands. I wondered about lesser known books and artworks she had been exposed to not living in the bible belt. I almost didn't sleep thinking about it all.
The next morning as I walked about the church I looked around for any new faces but none appeared. I was somewhat disappointed by the fact but that didn't stop me sharing the news the face in town, was actually in town. Mrs Ned and Mrs Goddin speculated as to why she wasn't in church but the two of them and the rest of the bible brigade forgave her this transgression seeing as she must have been tired after her move.
It's at this point I should give you more details regarding the hardened Christian centre of the town. Whilst I had never held much regard for the bible going to church was very much a prerequisite in Pride. Because if you didn't you lost business and friends. And if not being a social pariah came at the cost of a few boring hours a week, I was prepared to pay the cost.
After church as I always did I visited Ben at his house. Like me he lived with his parents on the other side of town. In Pride you either lived with your parents or you lived with your wife or husband and your kids. No middle ground.
We sat in his room (The door left open at his parents request) and we kissed. Pecks on the lips and occasionally a no tongues snog. This went on for a while and then silence. When we first started dating we used to talk, but now it's silence. I liked to listen to his heart beating in his chest. But soon it was time for me to go. I needed to get home to do my chores.
Nearing the end of the day I sat and thought about how boring my life was, and how I wanted something interesting to happen.
"Abi."
I nearly jumped clean out of my skin. "Mom, please don't sneak up on me like that."
"Sorry honey. But I was wondering if you could do me a favour."
"Sure."
"I've invited Ben and the Niedermiers to dinner. And the pastor wondered if we should invite the new lady from across the street as well. And you run past her house anyway."
"Yes I will invite her round for dinner."
