Chapter 3 - Ford Country

It's a somber Sunday Afternoon, Thanksgiving is this Thursday.I'm stuck in this room, I still don't understand the man's reason for having me like this.I can barely move now, he did promise food soon but that's well I'll attack again.Oh yes of course I'll lunge at him, I'll eat him I swear to god I will.Wait that won't be right, I'll lunge at him then try to run again but that didn't end well last time.I'll….I'll just play along to his little charades, then when I can I will demolish his whole system of god.God can kiss my ass and this man can go to hell.

The man is at a Supermarket , it's a hectic drive to get there from where he lives.He arrives as he parks his Chevy nova SS and sees teenagers loitering in the parking lot.He ignores them nonchalantly as he gets himself a shopping cart.He enters the Supermarket as he makes his way to the pastry shop."Hello there…." He says to the woman at the counter." Hello, how can I help you today ?" She asks.The man looks around the glass, looking for the cherry pie."I'd like a cherry pie please ma'am if you can." He says energetically as she smiles and says "Okay, the whole thing ?" She asks as she gets it out."Yep….the whole thing." He says enthusiastically as he looks around the store.He notices through the windows facing the parking lot.Those teenagers are near his car, he shrugs it off for now."3 dollars please …" she says as the man at shock gets his wallet out and hands over the money."God I remember in 63' when this was at-least a dollar and fifty cents." He says kindly.As he gets the pie in a box and adds on "Well thank you and have a good day sweetheart." He takes the pie and puts in the cart and heads to the candy section.He gets himself some DOTS, pop rocks and all sorts of sweets.He heads to the by the cereal aisle and gets a box of Lucky Charms and a box of Cheerios.He arrives at the Fresh produce section, he gets himself some apples, oranges, bananas and carrots.He starts heading to the store clerk, he waits in line as now he can still see through the windows those teenagers.They are near his car and start to smoke cigarettes and chatter amongst themselves.He feels disgusted as he's next in line, he starts placing his items quickly to be scanned as the clerk asks "Any bags ?".The man is a bit confused then snaps back into it and replies nicely "yes please…" As he continues looking at those teenagers the clerk finished scanning and used 2 bags to stuff everything in.

"Will it cash or credit today ?" To which the man says "Cash….".He says as he quickly pulls out his wallet and hands over a hundred dollar bill.He awaits the clerk as he still menacingly looks at those teenagers."Sir….sir !" Says the clerk as the man focus his attention on him again. "What ?" He says a bit angered which shocks the clerk."Your change sir…" to which the man takes back and embarrassed says "oh yes thank you….sorry about that." He starts walking out the supermarket with his cart and heads for his car as the teenagers are aside him.They stay quiet as they look at him, the man opens his car and puts the 2 bags in the passengers side.He then takes the shopping cart back to its station.The teenagers get back to joking and laughing.He walks back to his car as the teenagers annoyingly flicks his cigarette near the man.The man angered rushes up to them "hey !!!!!…..the hells your problem ?" He says as the laugh.The boy responds " no problem sir we're just the youth of America, working on being model citizens one day." He says as he takes a salute, his friends laugh as the old man.Grabs him by his shirt, scaring him and his friends."Let go of him !" Says a kid as the man keeps eye contact with the kid.The kid shakes and tries to get free but the man won't budge.it's just silence with the two as the teenagers around try to tell the old man to let go.The boy is breathing heavily as the old man's angered expression turns to a smirk.He scoffs and let's go and as he walks back to his car he tells the boy."stop smoking….it'll kill ya." He enters the car and starts driving out of the parking lot as the boy stands there, looking at him in shock.His friends no laugh at him as he goes back to his childish demeanor.

He arrives at his home and parks.He walks up the stairs into the porch and enters.He closes the door on his way in and enters the kitchen with the 2 bags.He gets the things out of the bag as he places the cherry pie in the fridge.He gets puts the 2 cereal boxes on top of the fridge.He stray to hear banging, he annoyingly gets an apple out of the bag and walks upstairs.He walks through the hallway and opens the room with Baxter in it.The noise is him punching the wall over and over as he sees the light hit.He collapses.The man disappointingly gets him against the wall.As he sits against it, the man stands against the door and tosses the apple to him.Baxter gets it and immediately devours it.The man looks at him like a man looks at dog eating."You are Adams rib my son…." He says as leaves room and locks it.He walks back downstairs and puts the rest of groceries away.After finishing that he walks to his living room and sits on his chair.He turns on the television to some news channel that is giving a recap on the "Halloween massacre " by President Ford.As the man sits and watches the news he hears the banging again.He knows it's Baxter but ignores it until Baxter bangs louder and louder.He gets up annoyed and rushes upstairs.He goes through the hallway as if he's a parent who's annoyed of his kids loud music.He opens the door and angrily says "if you rush the process you shall feel a premature madness !" He says as he yells "so shut the hell up !" He demands as he's about leave until Baxter says "hey…wait wait !" The man turns around and asks "what ?".Baxter takes a breath as he looks at the man and says "When I get outta here I'm gonna kill you." The man looks at him and smiles as gets closer to Baxter.He gets in a squatting position as he tells Baxter with joy "that's good, you're on to the next level, aggression and determination…..you shall eat this Thursday….you shall eat good…..you will feel gluttony then on that day we shall see if you have accomplished what god intended." He says as he exits out the room and slams the door shut.

I hurt myself today, I did to see if I can remember if we feel pain.I am to each his own for my bones shall dissolve.If I knew my fate would be a box and a desire for death.I would've packed soap, being in here gives no hope.I haven't shit in days and I've peed myself a couple times now.This is a week almost in here.I feel dirty as- oh wait I see a cockroach.I hate these things, I wonder if it knows it's presence is with me.I wonder if how I live is how it lives, always in darkness and knowing any minute could be it's death.

Baxter crawls near the cockroach and as it can see it through the darkness it grabs it.It's weird legs trying flee as you hear the mush of it being squished.He is so desperate he takes a breather and swallows the roach.He feels disgusted and vomits it out.This is hurting him more as now you see the pile of vomit with the dead cockroach laying in it, twitching it's leg.He feels repulsive as he now looks at his vomit in distress.He lays against the wall as he starts to sob.Hw cries and cries, "why me…..oh god why...what did I do…why…" he says as starts to bang his head against the wall.

It is now the next day, The man is out on his porch.He sits there and enjoys desert sun as he drinks a nice glass of almond milk.His peace is interrupted by a phone call from the kitchen.He gets up with his glass and enters the home.Hw goes for the kitchen and picks up the phone.

"Hello ?" He says as it's quiet until the caller replies, "Hello…dad it's Alice, is this still the same number ?" This shocks the man as he's quiet for a second until she says "sorry guess this a wrong number " until he quickly responds."No no, it's me….hello darling." He says joyously as he sets his glass of almond milk down on the kitchen counter. "Oh dad, great so I guess you know we're coming over for thanksgiving and you better have that cherry pie.." she says jokingly as he laughs and smiles. "Yes of course, uhh have have you been sweetie ?" He ask to which she says "hold on hold on…..yea just place it right there." She says to a person with her. "Yea dad….I've been good here in California…Im leaving today for the airport for Texas." She says as he quickly says " you need me to pick you up ?" As she replies " no I'll be fine….but it is yeh same home right ?" She asks as he says "yes…yea same old place we lived…same place I saw you take your first steps…" he says nostalgically as she says "yea I know….I know….uhh dad I gotta go I'll see you tomorrow…I'll be there in the afternoon…" she says as he happily, "okay see you tomorrow, goodbye." She finally says "alright goodbye dad…love you." She hangs up as he slowly reacts. "I love you too…" He says as you hear the dial tone, he places the phone back as he gets his glass of milk.He walks to the living room and sits in his chair.He stares at the televisions black screen as he smiles.