Chapter 6

If you thought about it, I could hire a person that could come once or twice a week to sweep the floor and wipe the windows. I could go to the laundry shop and have people take care of the clothes for us. We could order food every day and for the rest of our lives. Why didn't we? While those would be convenient, we wouldn't learn from the experience. We would be another pretty faces with bright minds and large bank accounts. It was time for a change.

Lulu was in an acceptable outfit when I came down, plus a handbag. "Keys," I said. She tossed me a copy. "Smartphone." She showed me hers. "Good. How much money do you have?"

"A few hundred bucks," she said.

I rolled my eyes. "Look who's taking advantage of her family name. Whatever, let's go."

You might wonder why we were taking precautions with the keys and whatnot, making a fuss before leaving. She and I, with Casper in tow, loved to see places when we were in high school. It had led to many misadventures like keys getting lost and Casper winding up with a different tour group. All part of being a traveler. We were still strangers in this town, so we would need to stay vigilant.

Ten minutes into walking, I congratulated myself with the decision to choose this place and not go out of the country for university, like what some of my high school classmates did. I liked the idea of having Casper in the neighboring state where he was attending college. I wasn't that needy of a sister, but Casper, like Lulu, was a constant in my life. It gave me comfort to have him near. The neighborhood was also beautiful. The shingled homes were carbon copies of the properties we saw in New England.

Pedestrians in different ages walked by, backpacks on, conversation going. There were some people in bicycles too, pedaling lazily, not really in a hurry. The small shop we passed had indie music on from a band I didn't recognize, and probably wouldn't have radio air time in the future. Nevertheless, I hummed the last few beats I was able to catch as we went along.

A sleepy town like this could have belonged in a different country, somewhere in Europe, yet there it was in one of the wider know locales of ours. A blessing for anyone who wanted to get away without really meaning to. Thus, I was here.

Lulu tugged at my sleeves, pointing to a shop down the street. "There's a bookstore. Want to go before we grab breakfast?" I didn't see why not. I allowed her to pull me there. "Wicked!" she exclaimed like a kid when we were outside. "It's like a cauldron or a wand shop." Anything that had to do with supernatural or mysterious stuff got her going, even a bookstore that was reminiscent of them. The wind chimes hung on the top of the door sounded pleasantly when we entered.

"Go take a look around and meet me at the counter later," I said to her. She nodded eagerly. "Don't buy too much," I reminded. "We didn't take the car." We parted ways, me taking the left side, she taking the right. The bookstore had an acceptable selection of paperbacks and textbooks. For the time being, I would have to rely on them before visiting the university library.

While searching for something to take home, I saw a tape recorder on the adjacent shelf. "Lady luck is guiding me to the right path," I murmured, taking the packaged recorder. It was exactly what I needed for my project; lightweight, could be configured in seconds, a real researcher's friend. Backtracking my footsteps, I went in search of Lulu.

"A minute of your time, miss," someone spoke behind me. I swung around to find a buff, linebacker type of a guy who had friendly eyes and a nice smile. I know what you might be thinking. This was the chapter Scotland met her partner in crime, the person she'd marry in the future, have babies with, and take on the world with fire and smoke. Well yes and no.

"Anything you can do for me?" I said, forgetting for a moment that I've decided to take on a new leaf. "Err, anything I can do for you?"

He jiggled another recorder between his fingers. "I saw you choosing a while ago," he said.

"How stalkerish of you."

"You picked the wrong choice," he explained. "I'm also using a recording device for study purposes, and based on my experience, the one you're planning to buy is a waste of money. This is better."

Waste of money, he said. What did he know about that? I checked him from head to foot. Blue shirt. Khaki pants. Slightly loose necktie. Ivy league. I took the recorder he was suggesting. "I'll buy this then. Thank you." I went back to the cashier where Lulu was now paying for her own finds.

"What's that for?" she said, eyeing my recorder.

"My project."

"And who's that?" She gestured behind me. Mr. Ivy smiled sheepishly when I glanced to see what she was referring to.

"I don't know," I said coolly. "He told me what recorder to get. Maybe he also wants to sell me his mixed tape."

Mr. Ivy stepped forward so I wasn't twisting my neck too much from looking at him over my shoulders. "Actually, I'd like to ask you for dinner," he said.

Lulu shook her head and proceeded to pay. She was used to this, me being asked by random guys for dates out of the blue. My shelter from it in high school was to get a boyfriend, so I could always say I was in a relationship and not have to deal with broken hearts. I always ended up breaking the hearts of my exes too. Something was often lacking.

"I'm not in the mood for dinner with other people," I said. "My friend and I are new to this town. I prefer taking in the sights first before anything. Maybe some other time."

He regarded me for a second before saying, "I've been studying in the area for a year. Instead of finding your way and possibly getting lost, wouldn't it be better if I come along?" I should have known that he wasn't easily taking no for an answer, as with most of the people who wanted to date me in the past.

"I think it's a great idea," Lulu said, wrapping her arms around our new purchase, sealed in a paper bag by the cashier. "Breakfast, lunch, and dinner's on you. I can't wait.”