Teresa had built a life for herself that had begun and ended with the farm. She and the roosters woke up before sunrise, and she headed to feed the animals. She returned to the house at dawn, shook the children up, and prepared them for school. She drove them there before going back to the farm. Teresa remained under the blue sky until 1. Then she went to pick up the kids from school. It was the routine of her life since marriage, children, divorce, and buying the farm.
Until Christmas break. Her husband had gotten partial custody, which included Christmas and New Year's Eve. Teresa would be on her own from December to mid-January. The home would be empty of her kids' chatter, footsteps, and the television. The TV was airing news rather than cartoons. She wasn't fully alone: she had her black and white border collie, Susie.
It was a serene break for her. It was less laundry and less sweeping of the floor. Those were replaced by shoveling snow. Her arms grew firm as tree trunks, and her legs became pillars of marble. She had considered cutting her hair, but she decided to tie it up. She stayed in her home with the brunette locks over her shoulders.
Winter soon brought a storm. She had heard the warning of a blizzard in the news, but she saw how truly heavy it would be when she saw the dark clouds in the distance. She had gone through this many times before, so she did the same routine to prepare the farm. Susie aided her in leading the animals. It took her two days to finally have it ready, and on the third, she did the regular feedings and care.
Susie had collapsed in front of the heart. Teresa smiled fondly at her as she rested on the loveseat with a heavy cup of black tea. She had cocooned herself in drapes. The winds roared outside.
A honk erupted from afar. Susie startled up as the honking continued. Teresa set her teacup aside and let her blankets fall on the ground. She crossed the house to see through a window. She couldn't see past the snowy winds, but there was a brighter whiteness in the distance. The honk seemed to come from there.
"Who the hell is out here driving through a storm?" Teresa asked her dog, who looked at her with perked-up ears and a tilted head. Teresa went upstairs, "Sorry, sweetie, but I'm not letting anyone die if I can help it."
Teresa put on an outfit that was equipped for storms. She had gotten it years ago since she was advised by an older farmer neighbor when she first moved out here. It wasn't impossible that any of the animals could escape or hurt during the storm, even with the most preparation.
The thing about neighbors-- they were acres away, and elderly or with children. The phone signal had disappeared so the driver was on their own. The driver was definitely closer to Teresa's farm. She was on her own, with her dog.
She leashed Susie and walked out of her house. She had to push through a few inches of snow, while winds blasted her eyelids. Susie pushed forward, barking as though fighting with the storm. The canine lifted her snout and pointed it towards the light.
You were worth the price, Teresa thought as Susie guided her through the blizzard towards the light. The honking went on for another minute, until the person must've given up or realized that if they hadn't heard them yet, they'd never be heard.
The light turned out to be car lights. The snow engulfed a red car like a kid had stuffed their toy car in and left it to get a snack. Inside, a weak yellow light shone on a young man. He couldn't be older than twenty-two. His toned arms and handsome face must've helped him in whatever city he came from. But nature doesn't give a damn.
Susie went up to the half-covered car door and pawed the glass. The young man startled and turned to them. His tensed expression melted to relief. He lowered the glass. His mouth moved, but Teresa didn't hear anything.
Teresa got on her hands and knees and crawled towards him, "I couldn't hear you. Speak up!"
"I'm stuck," He said.
"No shit," Teresa lent a hand. "You're not getting the car out. Come here and get warm before you freeze to death."
"You're messing with me?"
"This isn't a joking matter. You're gonna die," Teresa grabbed the man's wrist and stood up, hauling him. He used his free hand to push himself out. She fell back and quickly got her footing. Susie hovered her snout over his hand and circled him.
To give him credit, he had clothes that could last him an hour here. "Come on," Teresa walked back with his wrist. She drew two leashed brings home. The man didn't argue, so he wasn't as idiotic as he could be.
Once Teresa got the door closed and locked, she asked: "What in God's name are you doing driving in a snow storm?"
The young man collapsed on the couch, where her kids and Susie liked to lie. He closed his eyes and arched his back. "Running off." He uttered.
"From the cops?"
"Kinda. More like running from my dad," His mouth stretched in a grimace. "Fist fight and mo-my mom was calling the police. So I ran off. That's my first car. Fuck."
"You're from the city, aren't you?" Teresa crossed her arms. "Only there they call the cops and not the neighbors. Why the hell would you fight your pa?"
"It's a long story," The man sighed. "Look I'll tell you but I'm really tired. Mind if I take a nap?"
"Sleep the whole night," Teresa took one of her blankets and strewn in on the man. The man's eyes quivered open from surprise. "Bathroom is right over here. Only door open. Don't forget to put the seat down. And get water from the fridge-- I'm not taking care of a sick thing that aren't my kids."
"Sure. Thanks, really," the man's voice weakened.
The morning would be a chilly occasion. Teresa had turned on the heater at the break of dawn, before she went to feed the animals. She didn't worry about the young man. She knew that the younger generation adored sleeping in late. City folk slept through ambulances and police chases. And everything that's worth stealing had been left in a safe. If he opened it, he earned it. As well as a bite from Susie and a whack from Teresa's bat, but that was a what if that she needn't worry about yet.
She came back at noon. When Teresa opened the back door, Susie ran inside and barked. Teresa entered and followed the barks to the kitchen. The young man stood in front of the sink, washing his face. Susie sniffed his pants before going to the bedroom, likely to lie on her dog bed.
The young man seemed different with the daylight cast on his chiseled face. The window had white bars, so the shadows marked squares on his alabaster skin. He truly was a city boy, born and raised. That he found the farms must've been troubling.
Was that the face of a criminal? An abuser? Or a guy that really told the truth, and was just being a young lad?
