Chapter 7 - We Think Too Much

October 1, 2022

It's been a week since the Susan Incident, a week since he'd seen him.Norman hasn't been outside since then, his parents invite him to go to the mall or even go out to eat and he kindly declines the offer.His excuse is he just doesn't feel like it, he is worried of running into him.

"Alright Norman, we'll bring you some pizza then- you want pepperoni ?" Yelled Norma from downstairs as Norman yelled back

"Yea- thank you …."

The couple left as Theo remarked,

"I still think he needs more help …"

The two had a small argument on the way out as the door slammed.Norman still can't has nightmares of what he saw, he is still self- aware.He knows what he did to the animals he's had before but those mostly didn't squeal or beg.With a person, they have a sort of defense, the begging still haunts Norman now as he looks around his room.He starts to feel whispers of Mickey,

"Please, I beg …"

He hears as he start to spin out of control,

"I'm- I'm sorry, I'm sorry Mickey …"

Said Norman to himself as he slowly went for his little box of wonders.He looked through it as he still had the same tools he used on that cat.He just can't feel guilt or resentment for the animal.

"Fuck this …. " said Norman as he put the box away and got dressed.

He wore long sleeve shirt and khaki pants with white socks and black sneakers.He started to walk outside as he stopped himself at the door,

"No this isn't right …" he said as he then turned back and said

"No it isn't right but neither is letting it happen …"

Norman walked quickly downstairs as he rushes for the front door.

He exits as he sees the neighborhood as peaceful as ever, it was a travesty.He went for a walk to the supermarket as he went the long way, he walked the a path in hopes of avoiding Susan.He made it to a neighborhood that leads to a busy street down the way as he was listening to

"Nowhere Fast " by The Smiths, he sang along quietly as he got to a house that had a front porch with a red chair on the lawn.He saw a woman sitting there as he felt god had given him consequence.He sad through the darkness as the sun had been mute and the moon had begun to tease its presence.He didn't know for sure but he knew that face anywhere, he saw Agnes.

He played it off as a random person just walking by as she was on her phone.She sat there as she was covered in a blanket and had Sandals on.He finally passed her as she didn't even notice him,

"Oh my Christ …" he said to himself as he stopped as he passed the home a few blocks.He was against a wall as cars passed by.

He began to lean against the wall as he tried to relax, I mean how could he.The girl he's been fantasizing about was just there, or so he thinks.

He began to punch the wall until his knuckles bled,

"You- you, dumb dumb man- stupid bastard …"

He said as he only stopped punching when his pinky felt dislocated.He let out a yell in pain as he continued walking to the supermarket.

"That had to have been her, there's no way it wasn't …" he thought to himself, this is all he could think about now.He made it it a red light as he pushed the button vigorously as he didn't worry about Susan anymore.It's maddening how quickly your emotion or feelings towards something so serious can change.

He made it to the supermarket as he entered with one goal, to get a watermelon.With money he had saved he went first through each section as he like a married man sent by his wife who keeps nagging about groceries.He felt alive as this place he felt like a whole new person as he looked through things he knows he doesn't enough money or fits the age for.He looked through the wine section as he read the label with such visualization as he squinted his eyes, he had no business doing this but it made him feel mature.

He then hurried himself to the next section which was filled with all sorts of cereals.He felt like a child once again as he looked at all the sugary options.

"What do I crave ?" He said to himself as he had to boxes in each hand.He looked at them both as ironically they were both the same cereal but different mascots.One is an elephant and another was a firefighter, the most bizarre mascots that make no Sense.

He got nothing as he walked by different sections until he got to the fruits and vegetables.He looked through each watermelon as he inspected them.He saw the prices and thought it was obscured

"Ten dollars for this, fuck that …"

He put it back as he walked towards the beverages, he got an energy drink and headed to the a self checkout section.He saw candy bars on the racks as he got one.

He payed for what he got as he left the story in a playful attitude.He had a charming smile as he looked on to people who entered the store, they were weirded out.He walked back home in a happy-cheery mood as he drank in such an exaggerated manor, each sip felt like childhood and each bite felt like innocence.

He made it back to the same house he'd assume was Agnes's.He saw no one in the front lawn but the red chair was still there.He shrugged it off as he continued walking but stopped across the street from the home and contemplated doing something moronic.

"What if I just knock and say something like

Hey I know you probably don't remember and all but I really like you-" he thought as he smacked himself and kept saying

"No you fucking idiot- you can't just do that…"

He walked away as he got to a red light.

He looked around as the purple neon lights of a donut shop glared at him.It irritated Norman as he looked into the store as it had some customers.

"Ehh, fuck it …" he said as he turned his attention to the shop as he was at the front door; someone exited as they held the door for him.

"Thank you …" said Norman charismatically as the man replied

"Ahh no problem man …"

Norman looked at the place as the decor looked futuristic and had cherry red benches and tables.It had framed pictures of famous people who've step foot in the place.It had many but the only one Norman could notice is Glen Campbell and Jonah Hill.

"Ehh what would you like today ?" Said the woman at the register as he was talking to Norman.Norman turned as he said

"Ehh let me one Bear Claw and some of those little donut holes…." The woman happily got it for him as Norman still looked around the place as it felt like this place doesn't exist.

He's passed through this neighborhood multiple times but never noticed this Shop.The woman had them in a little bag as she got it checked at the register.Norman approached the register as she said

"Alright…..Five bucks …." Norman handed it over as she gave the two bags.

"Thank you …" said Norman as he exited the store, he still felt odd.He was at the front door as he saw someone approaching, he continued the cycle.

He held the door but the person said nothing, they just walked by him and entered.

"You're welcome ….asshole …" whispered Norman as he continued his way back home.

What not many understand is Norman had seen such atrocities not so long ago and is on his path to following those footsteps.It may seem chaotic he seems so calm and relaxed but deep down he's a lost soul that needs guidance.