Ellie stood at the counter, her hands at her side. It was always so noisy in the early morning. She would wait patiently for her coffee cup to be filled with the luscious brew that magically came from her favorite breakfast blend pod. She would add two spoons of sugar and a long dash of cream and then head for the elevator and up to the third floor to enjoy her coffee.
Her pace quickened as she remembered the honey bun waiting on her table. This was her morning ritual. She could get her own coffee maker, complete with pods, but her morning trip to the group kitchen was just what it took to get her out of her apartment each day. There had been a bit of subtle chatter this morning among the members of the “breakfast club.” Apparently, a new tenant would be moving in on this day and she actually had her own vehicle. Only one other tenant owned a car, and it hardly moved from its parking space.
Over the next few months, Ellie and the newcomer, Birdy, were fast becoming friends. Birdy had not taken her car out on the road since her arrival, so she and Ellie chose a beautiful June day to do some serious shopping. And so it came to be that the two ladies, dressed in their finest shopping garb, set off in Birdy’s immaculate, oversized Pontiac with the wind in their specially coiffed hair, bright pink lipstick, and purses large enough to carry a great deal of merchandise, including bottled water and an extra blouse just in case. After all, there was no room for worry about a stain or two. The two ladies got into the car, put on their sun shades and were ready to roll.
They decided to wait until much later before hitting the grocery store so the food wouldn’t spoil. Heaven only knew how long their journey would be. They went through the drive-thru of a popular restaurant, ordering sweet iced tea and two cheeseburgers.
They looked for the perfect spot to eat lunch along the way and pulled off on a visible side road, remarking between bites and sips how lucky they were in life. Both ladies had children who lived in other states. Ellie’s husband had passed, but Birdy had divorced long ago. Their children were in constant touch with their moms, and they both giggled as they realized this mini road trip had not been reported to the kiddos, but that was OK. They would be back in their apartments early, satisfied with their spark of independence.
They headed out, while Birdy sang the praises of a new discount store in Washburn. Sure enough, they found themselves in Washburn and shopped in that store, purchasing all sorts of goodies. They got into the car and took a right, crossed a bridge, and found themselves once again going straight; laughing and pointing out how green and breathtaking Aroostook County was in the spring and summer. Lost in conversation, they continued along the road, which now had transformed itself into a completely unpaved, narrow dirt path with nothing before them other than lush green grass and an occasional group of trees.
“We should probably turn back,” Birdy said with a look of concern bordering on fear. Ellie nodded and Birdy turned and headed back. They continued on, looking for an end to the road but it just went on and on.
Birdy stopped the car and took a deep breath.
“What do we do now, Ell?”
“Look for the bridge,” Ellie whispered. “Look for the bridge.”
They continued on, finally finding the road that led them to the bridge. They turned left on the Washburn Road and headed back to Caribou. With shaking hands rigid on the wheel, Birdy drove them back to their apartment building. They decided they would get their groceries later as they entered the elevator, large purses at their side.
A lone feather from a novelty writing pen peeked out of Ellie’s bag, along with the tip of an enormous Slim Jim. Birdy’s bag boasted the hook of a plastic clothes hanger as well as the shoulder of the fleece bed jacket she had purchased for $6.
A fellow tenant stepped in the elevator with them, smiling at the two ladies and glancing at their bags.
“So, tell me all about your little journey out into the world. You both look exhausted, by the way,” the tenant said. “I think we are all getting too old for these little journeys out into the world.”
Ellie looked the gentleman in the eye and said, “Journey? Oh, my dear man, this was an adventure, wasn’t it Birdy?” Birdy lifted her head and smiled at her dear friend. She gave her friend a thumbs up.
“An adventure, it was, Ellie. And more await us.”
My friends, I know Ellie and Birdy. Their adventures indeed continue.
Please be kind to yourselves and each other. Much love.
Belinda Wilcox Hersey lives in Caribou with her husband, Kent. You may email her at belindahersy@gmail.com.
