That classic guitar lick came to her ears as she turned the radio on, in the ‘88 station wagon. “I’m on the highway to Hell, on the highway to Hell!”, the hoarse voices sang in beat to the drums and guitar. It was that kind of tune that makes you want to rock your head back and forth in a slight rhythm to the song, but she was too somber to sway to the music. Windows down, the wind beat at her dirty blonde hair that was pulled back into a ponytail. Diana had briefly looked over to the passenger seat where Echo sat. The collie’s short hair rippled in the air, his eyes closed against the wind. He seemed to be enjoying himself more than she was at the time.
It had been a long day, and long years. Although that was the past, she was escaping from those hard years, and many tears. Running from all the problems in her life. It will be better now, she had told herself, accelerating on the gas, merging into the highway. Again the chorus played, “On the highway to Hell!”. She should have listened to the words, but was too occupied, and oblivious to even think what would become of her life as she followed the directions to the beach condo she would be renting out in the new town.
“She would be disappointed. . .” A low whisper came, barely audible. Diana’s eyes had darted to the rearview mirror almost thinking someone else was in the car with her. Although the back seat was only occupied with suitcases, a small TV, and other miscellaneous objects that would soon fill the condo. It was probably the howling wind diving through the open windows. But who would be disappointed, and why? The thought was tossed in her head a bit before the guilty thought of Adaline came to mind. Oh Ady, my dear friend you wouldn’t be disappointed would you? A pang to her heart as she thought of her deceased loved one. She was her dearest friend, and the only one she had ever had.
“Don’t run away Diana. Fight your problems, like a true Wailings!” Ady had said, the memory fresh as if it had been said yesterday. She always encouraged her, gave her the needed confidence. Like a true Wailings, those words echoed in Diana’s mind; Ady had been more proud of Diana’s last name then she ever was in all her 23 years. Diana had a hard knock life, a troubled past with an abusive father, and an alcoholic mother, so she wasn't too proud of her family. Ady always seemed to be there though, at her side ever since the two children found each other on the playground in 1st grade.
“Papa’s gonna be mad. . .” That low whisper came again. The word ‘mad’ pierced her ears as it reverberated through the car. Diana looked in the back again. Echo tilted his head watching her reaction. She rolled the windows up, chills running down her spine from those wicked words. Papa doesn’t know anything, she thought, a scowl on her face.
“Sorry Echo buddy, this wind is giving me the creeps. . .” She said, as Echo laid on the passenger seat head resting on the console.
Papa’s gonna be mad. . . She recalled the first time she had met Ady.
“Whatcha doin’ hiding under there, ain’t your momma or papa gonna pick you up?” That tiny voice came to mind as she pictured Ady’s chocolate eyes peeking through the wooden slats on the playground. It was the end of the day, the humid spring air blowing at the girls’ curls. Bows adorned Ady’s auburn, silky strands her cheeks like cherry blossoms.
“Papa’s gonna be mad. . . I failed my addition test. . .” Diana’s voice was shy and quiet, carefully sounding out the word ‘add-i-tion”.
“Oh. . . I know what to do!” The child’s face was animated as it lit up, like a light bulb was above Ady’s head. She jumped down from the wooden platform, like a monkey grabbing at Diana’s hand before pulling her to her father’s red, rusty truck. Mr. Wailings was leaning against the front door, cigarette in the corner of his mouth, arms crossed over his chest.
“Diana, where have you been? Your mother and I have been waiting here. You're in for it now child.” He said. He voice was testy, eyes leaving an ice path as they looked over Diana, dismissing the cheery, young girl she had by her side. Diana peeked past him to see her mother in the passenger seat, face pale, hand splayed across her forehead. Her hair damp with perspiration. No doubt the woman had a splitting migraine from the hangover she was baring from one too many scotches on rocks, from the night before.
“Mr. ,” Ady stopped in her tracks, looking to Diana’s shirt that had her wrinkled, worn name tag on it. “Wailings, Dina was a late because the teacher was so happy she got the very best score on her addition test!” Ady said. Pronouncing her name ‘Dina’, leaving out the first ‘a’ by mistake.
“Yeah, papa! All the other kids failed even worse on their tests!” Diana had said smiling up at her father, hoping he wouldn't notice the little lie.
“Mhhm, alright then get in the truck.” He flicked his cigarette on the pavement, squashing it under his boot. The ride home was quiet as mother had insisted no one talked as it “pierced her brain.”.Although when they got home her mother and father had gotten into a hellacious fight. Diana remembered she had been so nervous, and shaken up by their yelling and vulgar language she had dropped her glass of milk on the kitchen floor. The liquid as white as her mother’s face, creeping along the kitchen floor making a mess. Diana began to cry.
“L- look what you did! You ma- made her drop it!” Her mother’s speech slurred from the alcoholic concoction she had already started on. Diana remembered she had cursed at her father blaming him for the milk. “Oh dear, there’s no need to cry over spilt milk.” She tried to comfort her only child.
“ It ain't my fault, woman!” He said. The rest of the memory had blurred, Diana shook her head staring at the highway. It was so long ago she only remembered the fury in her father’s face and how she had woken up in the morning with the cigarette scar on her shoulder. . . Of course her mother had tried to help her, but she was not much help and not what you might call a ‘first class mother’. She was so inebriated she wasn't really much of a mother at all. After that fight with her mother and father, she and her mother were moved to her grandma's house, and hadn’t ever really seen her father much after that. Things settled down and life was better with her grandma Nini. Nini had passed away leaving Diana and her mother her belongings and what money she had left. Splitting it between the two.
Ady and Diana grew close throughout the years, like sisters. Although Ady had gotten very sick and never made it through the illness just earlier in that present year. Diana was left by herself, nowhere to go in life at her home town. Not after all the tragedies there. She took her money and ran, leaving her estranged mother with her new boyfriend. The beach. . . The only place Ady had ever wanted to go but never got to. . . I’ll send you the beach in a bottle Ady. . .
Bringing her mind out from the haze of reminiscences, she turned the car into the exit to the beach. Small, family owned businesses, restaurants and fast food joints, and other miscellaneous buildings had decorated the main street in the small beach town. She was nothing fancy, this soon to be new town of Diana’s. Although it had its charm. Echo sat up in his seat watching people walk past the station wagon as they slowed. He whined quietly at them in anticipation to meet everyone, wanting to sniff where they had been on their hands, or what they had eaten on their lips. Diana was nervous but hopeful. Something that she hadn’t been in a while. . .
Upon arriving Diana grasped the envelope the realtor had given her when they had met. In the envelope contained rules, information about the condo’s layout and location and of course the key to the front door. It’s almost enthralling, this key. Its a new place, a fresh start, Diana thought rubbing the worn key in between her pointer finger and thumb. With a last glance at Echo, who was studying everything happening outside the car window, she unbuckled, and crawled out of the station wagon.
“Well? Are you coming, Echo Necco?” She called after him. He jumped out of the car, stretching his tense muscles in front of her, wagging his tail in circles, hindquarters in the air shaking from side to side. She shut the car door, feet padded on the gravel parking spot in front of the condo. She came to the door, Echo following behind her sniffing the new territory surrounding the two. She shoved the key in the front door and turned it, and tried opening the door. Nothing. She groaned trying again, still nothing. She vigorously shook the door knob up and down. By her fifth try she gave up.
“Ugh, okay you win! I'll just go crawl through some window, or God knows what. . .” She said giving the door a snack with her palm, showing her frustration, thankfully Diana was a wild child when she had hit those teen years. Oh yes, the thick globs of mascara, and black eyeliner encircling her blue eyes, music blasting in her bedroom, those were the days. She was the master of breaking into houses, and out of them, as her mother had half-heartedly tried to keep her in once, promptly giving up the next day to find an empty bed, and wallet. Although those days were the past and Diana was settled down more and responsible, but that wild child had learned a few handy tricks on the way. The condo had double hung windows. All she needed was a hacksaw tool of some sort. Looking around in the back seat she found just the tool she needed. Sliding it between the upper and lower sash, she jiggled the tool until she got it in the middle of the latch on the window shaking the sash back and forth until, finally the latch gave in.
“Ahhh, and that, my dear Echo Necco is the sound of heaven,” she noted as the window creeked open a bit. “Now, you just stay here and I’ll open the front door from inside.” Echo eyed her curiously as she lifted her lower half on the windowsill crawling into the condo. I must look like a fool, Diana said to herself lightly laughing at the thought.
“Or that is the sound of burglary, and a offense on your record.” A masculine voice came from behind her. She froze her eyes could have been the size of baseballs. Do I go farther into the condo, or back out? Well she had no choice really, losing her footing she fell into the condo, face making contact with the hardwood floor. Her shoulders crammed up near her ears, she felt a hand wrap around her ankle trying to catch her, but it was too late. Now I look like a fool that got caught. . . Breaking into my own condo! Diana spun around, the hand on her ankle releasing.
“I tried to catch you but-” the man was cut off before he could finish his sentence. Thud! The window crashed onto the man’s back. There came a low, painful groan from the man’s chest. Echo barked outside the condo, jumping on the side of it’s walls. Diana stumbled back to her feet shocked as she stared at the trapped man. Oh Lord, no this can’t be. . . The Sheriff? Diana noted his Sheriff hat had fallen off in the bustle, she could see the gold star ‘Sheriff’ badge peeking from beneath his dark brown leather jacket. It gleamed in the dull sunlight, almost antagonizing her of the mistake she may have just done. Not the best introduction to the Sheriff of the town now is it?
“I uh, I think I am stuck. . . A little help would be much appreciated, miss.” He said. His voice seemed a bit embarrassed, or was it amused? She couldn't tell, she was too jumbled in the moment.
“I um, I’-I’ll. . . Is it jammed?” She asked. He nodded his head. Diana walked to his side slipped her hands under the window and shook it vigorously. Click, click, clatter!
“Well jeez, don't break the thing!” He said.
“No, trust me. . . I got this!” She said. The window rammed up on it’s hinges, and the Sheriff backed up from the window, and slowly raised himself to a standing position, wincing a bit in the process.
“See, spick and span! Just like brand ne-” She was cut off when she took her hand out from under the window, only to watch it on it crash onto the sill. “Brand new. . .” She repeated. Shugging her shoulders she looked through the smudged window at him, finally able to see what he looks like. He couldn't have been 4 years older than her. His face rugged but handsome, he had a short beard and styled brushed back hair in a just woke up look, but more neat. He raised an eyebrow at her, thumb pointing towards the front door, gesturing her to open it.
“Right,” She said picking up his hat. She exited what she guessed was the guest room, into the closet. Tap tap, at the window. The Sheriff was peering through the glass pane pointing to the other door. Flustered, Diana walked to the other door opened it and peeked into the hallway tentatively walking into it, looking around at the adjacent kitchen and living room to the right, and the front door to the left. There was cigarettes laying around, wrappers and a few beer bottles. Freaking hooligans, Diana thought. She walked to the front door there was something jammed in between the frame and door making it impossible to open from the outside. Their was writing on the door in red letters. ‘Demons lay here! Death marks this abode!’ Diana was unsure if she had said that in her head or heard someone else whisper it in her ear. . . Her stomach flipped in uncertainty, but ignored her feelings thinking it was just a bunch of teenagers fooling around, right?
“Stupid kids, vandalising this place.” She said. The Sheriff replied by banging on the door for her to open it. She pulled the plastic object jammed in the door and tossed it aside, opening the door to see the the Sheriff standing there. Echo ran in passing the man and Diana.
“Police, open up.” He murmured half jokingly, strange sense of humor, Diana thought. “I sure hope you have paperwork, or something that tells me you own this place and that you aren’t just another kid breaking in.” He said gesturing with his head to the mess behind her that Echo was sniffing at. Diana searched her car and found the envelope with all the information and gave it to him.
“I’m not a kid.” She clarified as he looked through the condo information. He seemed to smile lightly at her being offended by his comment ‘just another kid breaking in’.
“Certainly not-” He looked at her name on the paper, “Ms. Wailings.” He said smiling at her. That smile, it’s charming, she thought. . . Oh stop it you schoolgirl, she almost yelled at herself as she handed him his hat.
He offered help unpacking, but she politely declined not wanting to bother him anymore than she already has, but really she just didn't want to further embarrass herself. Time flew as she cleaned up the condo, and unpacked the car. Various items still in their boxes here and there. She glanced at her watch, it read at 4:52 p.m.
“Oh no!” She said out loud, in the empty, bare kitchen. She grabbed her purse and keys and hurried to the front door. Echo quietly peeked through the guest bedroom door frame. She stopped in her tracks looking at him. “Can I trust you here by yourself?” She asked the dog despite the fact he wouldn't understand a word. She shrugged and told him to stay as she went out the front door. If I miss an opportunity like this I’ll be dead meat. . . She hopped in the car and drove to the small diner where she had saw an advertisement for help needed as a waiter.
She pulled up in the parking lot, it was dinner hour as people were coming in and out of the diner doors chatting amongst each other. She opened her car door and could hear the muffled music and peoples voices inside the dinner. Glancing again at her watch she was about 10 minutes late to the time they requested for applications to be in. The door flung open and an elderly couple walked out holding leftovers, exchanging smiles with her. She slipped in through the door and saw a line of people waiting to be seated. Jeez, maybe this wasn't the best time to come in and ask for a job, she thought. Diana walked forward beside the line trying to get a workers attention.
“We have a bit of a line honey, we will be with you as soon as possible!” A plump bellied waitress, middle age had passed by her pointing at the line for her to wait in.
“No, I am not here to dine. I need to talk the manager about a job offer?” Diana told her although the woman didn't stop to help her, as she was busy with customers, she only nodded and signaled her to wait in line. A few minutes later the woman was in the doorway to the back of the restaurant talking with a man a little older than the waitress, she pointed to Diana. The man came up to her, they shook hands and he gave her a smile.
“Call me Hank, what is it I can help you with miss?” He said. His voice warm like a grandfathers.
“I am here about the job offer you had. I am Diana Wailings, I believed we talked on the phone earlier, Hank.” She said trying to raise her voice over the speakers playing old tunes and voices chatting.
“You’re hired! Can you start tonight?” He said. The elderly man looked serious but she thought he must of been joking. She lightly chuckled.
“I have my resume, do you want to look over it? I imagine you have some questions for me.” She said, though he laughed.
“When is the soonest you can start? We could really use a helping hand ASAP!” He said as he looked over her resume and application form.
“Sorry what, I uh. . . I can start tomorrow morning?” She said almost asking, looking at him in disbelief.
“Sounds good! Doris Dear, can you get this young lady a uniform and whatever she'll need for tomorrow morning.” He said stopping the first waitress that had talked to her. Doris smiled and nodded. “Diana, this is Doris she will be be you guide for tomorrow.” He finished introducing the two. That was quick. . . They must be in desperate need of help, Diana thought as she follow the woman to the back were it was quiet. They were back in a storage closet where various items were still in packing boxes.
“Alright you’re what size hun? Small to a medium?” Doris said looking Diana up and down. Doris had plump red cheeks, brown with a few grey hairs pulled into a tight bun atop her head. Her face was warm and young, yet wise with years. “Here ya go darlin’,” Diana had just realized the small southern drawl in her voice as she handed her a blue uniform dress with white trim, along with a orange waist apron. “Hair in a bun or ponytail, and wear comfortable shoes! See you tomorrow 5:30 a.m sharp.” She said with a smile as she exited the storage closet. Must have been the highway to heaven, this is all too good to be true!