There are beautiful days and there are glorious days. Today was a glorious day. The sun was shining in a clear blue sky. Its rays reflected off freshly fallen snow like polished chrome. And you couldn’t ask for better temperature: warm enough you could ski with just a sweater. But this kind of day wasn’t unusual in Lyman, a city known for its ideal weather, its beautiful scenery, and for being surrounded by some of the best mountains for skiing in the country; even the bad hills were good. Lyman was the kind of town you’d expect to see on a postcard, attracting skiers and tourists from all fifty states every winter. They only thing visitors loved more than the skiing was the scenery—perfect for taking lots of pictures to show jealous friends back home.
Most of the great ski hills were owned by lodges, but in the middle of town stood a good-sized hill that the locals could ski for free. Even the biggest thrill seekers managed to find a trail or two to make them scream. Normally the hill was so crowded with people that they outnumbered the trees. But today everyone must have stayed home to play Rebels For A Cause IV, because the hill was empty and the powder untouched.
“Oh, this is the perfect day for skiing!” Rusty shouted excitedly.
“Mmm, mmm, mmm, it is,” Dusty added lustfully. He couldn’t wait to thrust his skis into the virgin powder. “I can’t believe I’m going to be the first one down that hill.” He turned to Jarom. “Aren’t you glad you came with us?” Jarom was tapping his finger to a beat. “Dude, how can you listen to music on a day like this? And with snow like that?” He pointed to the perfectly white blanket of powder.
“I just want to finish this last song. Then I’ll go skiing.”
Dusty couldn’t take it anymore. Anyone that had his mind on anything other than skiing on a day like this with an empty hill of fresh snow like that was is serious need of help. He marched over to his friend, thrust his hand for the earbuds again, and yanked them both out.
Jarom erupted. “Dude! What did I tell you about touching my buds?” He punched Dusty in the jaw, knocking him down. “Do that again, and you’ll find yourself with more than just a sore jaw.”
Rusty stepped in between the two. “Jarom, buddy, we’re just really concerned about you is all.” He turned to the side to help Dusty up. “You’ve been listening to your music for the last five hours straight. It’s just not good for you to do that. How about taking a short break for an hour or so and doing a couple of runs with us?”
“Just let me finish this last song.”
Rusty shook his head sadly as it sunk into his hands. Dusty, however, was mad. He threw his head back in disgust. “Jarom, you have a problem. You need help.”
Jarom jerked back with a crusty look on his face. “Problem? I’m not the one grabbing at my friend’s earbuds.”
“Jarom, we’re your friends, and we’re concerned about you.” Rusty tried putting his hand on Jarom’s shoulder.
Jarom slapped the friendly gesture away. “What did I tell you about keeping your hands to yourself?! And I don’t have a problem!”
“Then put the player down, and let’s do some skiing.”
“I’m in the middle of a song. Let me finish it first.”
“Jarom, give me your player.”
“No.” He pulled it closer to his chest.
“Give me your player. Now.”
“Get your own #@&$#*^% player!” He stormed away.
His friends gave each other uncertain looks. Should they go after him, or did he need a little time to cool off first?
Jarom reached the bottom of the hill just as the song finished playing. He stopped to wait for the next track to begin.
He waited.
And waited.
Then he started to panic. He shook it. “What’s wrong with this thing?” He shook it a couple more times. “No, no, no!” He looked at the screen: 12,068 of 12,068. “I’m out of music. I’m out of music! Gotta get more music. Gotta get more music.”
*****
Lyman—it’s a nice town, but even the best places have dark secrets. From the front, Perry Dave’s Variety Store appears to be just another reputable business like any other mom and pop shop you’d find in Small Town America. But if you were to go around back, well, you would see a whole other side no one wants to admit exists.
Behind the friendly façade was a section of city ripped from the belly of Hell itself. This rundown, filth-ridden squalor was littered with used needles and razor blades, half-digested food in puddles, and broken bottles surrounded by broken people; it wasn’t a place you’d want to be caught dead in—and dead was the way most visitors found themselves. Jarom had been warned by his parents, his teachers, and his religious leaders to stay far away from this place and the people who came here. He had always taken their advice—until now.
“Hey, watch it!” a hung-over old homeless woman squawked at him when he nearly tripped over her twisted feet. She was hunched over a bottle of something cheap with a grungy blanket draped over her shoulders. “Don’t you look where yer going? Do ya think just ‘cause I ain’t got no home, I’m not a person no more? Don’t gotta show me no respect? Huh? Is that what you think?”
“Sorry. Sorry.” He tried not to make eye contact as he walked towards the light—a single incandescent bulb housed in a dented metal cone hanging by a rusted chain over a roughly hewn door. The large number of tracks in the snow showed Jarom he wasn’t the only customer. After looking around to make sure he was alone, he knocked on the door. He crossed his arms and shivered—not from the cold but from the withdrawal pains. Why wasn’t anyone coming to the door?
“What do you want?” A squinty-eyed man poked his head out the open door. Jarom hadn’t even seen it open. “Oh, it’s you. Back for more, are ya? Couldn’t wait for our usual meet in the park, could ya?”
“Yeah,” Jarom couldn’t stop shaking, “but I’m going to need a whole album this time, not just an EP or a Maxi-single.”
“A whole album you say.” Squinty rubbed his chin. “That don’t come cheap. Not cheap at all.”
“I know. I know.” The shaking became worse.
“Let’s see the cash.”
“Umm, I was hoping you could ... um ... give it to me on credit again. You know, like last time. I can get you the cash quick, just like last time. I just don’t have it right now, but I can get it.” Squinty looked unconvinced. “Come on. You know I’m good for it.”
“Well, you did pay on time with interest for that last one, sooo—” A strange howl, similar to a wolf’s, but slightly more sinister, interrupted his thought. He deepened his scowl. “No.”
“What? Why? I’ve been a good customer for a long time. The best, in fact!”
“Yeah, but that was before.”
“Before what?”
“Before your credit went bad.”
“What are you talking about? I’ll pay you. You know I’m good for the money. But I’ve got to have more music now.” He grabbed the front of Squinty’s shirt and shook him weakly.
“$5,000. In cash.” He pulled Jarom’s clammy hands off.
“$5,000?! Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?”
“You’re the one who said he was good for it. You figure it out. No cash, no music.” He turned his back on him.
“But I’ve got to have it. Please, you can’t do this to me. Please.” Jarom fell to his knees.
“It’s nothing personal; just business.” He closed the door, not bothering to look back at the beggar in the snow.
Jarom sunk forward, almost sinking his face into the grimy sleet. What was he going to do? Where could he get that kind of money? He’d already pawned everything he owned that was worth anything. Maybe that new video game his friends had bought? But it wasn’t worth $5,000—not even close. He started to cry. Why is this happening to me?
Another howl stretched thru the alley, yanking him back to reality. He sat up and looked around—nothing but that old homeless lady. Maybe she had some secret stash hidden ... no, if she did she wouldn’t be wallowing in this hole.
She watched him drag himself to his feet and stumble out of the alley. “Good riddance,” she cackled as she pulled her ragged blanket around her more tightly, “now I can have me some peace.” She settled down to sleep and closed her eyes. They shot open at the nearby sound of a rough growl. She didn’t dare move. Something was in this alley with her. She heard snow crunch under the weight of something coming her way. If I lie still, maybe it won’t see me, she thought as she sunk down pulling the blanket over her head. She heard heavy panting coming closer and closer. She squeezed her eyes shut as tightly as she could. Then the panting started to move away slowly. She dared to peak out from under her blanket. The bulb gave off just enough light to draw an outline around a creature walking on all fours and as tall as a man! She ducked back under her blanket, held her breath, and sat perfectly still. She could still hear the snow crunching under the thing’s paws in an unbroken rhythm. It hadn’t seen her! She peeked out from under her blanket again and watched it leave the alley and turn in the same direction Jarom had. “Good riddance to you both,” she hissed under her breath.
*****