Runaway

Chapter Five: All the Time in the World

The nomad is not always on the move. He must stop and rest between journeys to recuperate his strength.

Helen eyed me strangely. Her dark brown eyes rolled up and down my body, seemingly peering into my soul. She opened her mouth to speak but quickly closed it. I felt very awkward, standing in front of the counter. I shoved my hands in my pockets and looked down, not knowing what to do. I heard a soft, feminine, chuckle and quickly looked back up. Helen smiled and began to speak.

"Just a quick question . . . how old are you?" she asked with a slightly apprehensive tone.

"Oh I'm eighteen . . . today," I had forgotten my own birthday. How in the hell did I do that? 

"Ha! Well, happy birthday!" Helen said, laughing and smiling. It was nice, to hear someone say that. No one had spoken to me with any vague interest in a long time. I smiled back.

I was still in disbelief that I had forgotten. I guess my mind was occupied with other things, I thought. It felt like it had been ages since I ran away from the school, but it had been merely a day. It felt strange, not being on a schedule or having to budget time. Out here on my own I made the rules and did things my way. It was a good kind of feeling. I finally had some form of freedom.

"Thanks, um . . . why did you ask my age?" My eyes found hers and we held eye contact. "Just wondering," I added.

"I was just making sure you weren't too young. I couldn't quite tell just by looking at you. I was afraid that after I had just given you the job I would have to take it back. But my fears were for nothing,"

I laughed lightly, forcing it a bit. "So . . . when can I start?"

"When are you available earliest?"

"Right now,"

"Really? Right this instant?"

I nodded.

"Alrighty then. I guess I can show you the ropes, we still have a few working hours left," I checked my watch, it was five o' clock. I assumed they closed around eight or nine. She gestured for me to come behind the counter.

It had taken a couple hours for Helen to show me everything in the store. I was now an expert on the quality of winter coats and on how so size someone for a ski or snowboarding boot. The task that had taken the longest was showing me how to work the ski sharpening station and how to fit and adjust bindings. It had taken even longer each time a customer strolled in because Helen had to go and help them. I had almost cursed each time someone came in, it was frustrating to be interrupted. My anger never lasted long though, for without customers I wouldn't have a job and I certainly needed this job.

Helen had left me to wax a snowboard for a customer while she went to grab some dinner for the both of us. I found that very kind of her. She barely knew me and was already acting like a friend. I figured it wouldn't be so bad being stuck in Prince George for a while.

I had the snowboard propped up on a stand while I dragged the bar of wax up and down the bottom of the board. The graphic was pretty cool. It was an abstract design with swirls of neon colours on a black background. 

Getting lost in the rhythm of the simple up and down I began to hum. It was a simple tune from some movie I forgot the name of. It always soothed me when I hummed it. I toiled on and I was so deep in my work that I almost didn't notice the bell ring as someone opened the door.

I peered upwards, not stopping my work. A group of teenagers stepped in, bringing with a drift of snow. I hadn't realized a storm had started outside. They shook themselves, getting the snow off of their shoulders and out of their hair. It was two guys and a girl, all dressed like they were going on an expedition in the arctic. I didn't blame them, it was looking brutal outside. I started to worry about Helen. I turned back to the kids.