Chapter Text
Chapter 1: A little town in Minnesota
Our story starts in a town named Hackensack, a city in Cass County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 313 by the Census of 2010. It is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area. Although the population is small, it is located within a ten-mile radius of 127 lakes, so during the warm months, there is plenty of business. The city center is home to gift stores, the Big Dipper ice cream shop and restaurant, Udom's Thai restaurant, Lucette's Pizza and Pub, and much more. The town is really quiet as it does not have a big population, but is a good place to live if you want to be left alone. Most of the population is in their middle edge or older, but that does not mean that the town has younger people too.
The town is good for fishing and hunting since it is around a forest and big lakes. During the summer is the busiest time for the town and when they received most of the money to the economy of the town. Because a lot of people come on vacation to enjoy nature and have a good time with their families. But our story is not about the town or its citizens. It is about two different people that found comfort in each other. So now that you know a little about the place, let's start with our story show us!
Our story starts in the summer of 2018, on May 25 to be more specific. That was the day Joel arrived in the town of Hackensack, Minnesota. He comes from Texas to try to escape his past, not knowing the someone here is going to change his future.
*Summer*
A 1985 pick-up truck got out of the main road and stopped in a gas station on the state 371 S route. A 40 years old man got out of the truck after he parked beside one of the gas pumps and walked toward the gas station store. Soon he gets there he walked toward the man that is attending the place.
"Hello there, how are you doing today sir," said the old man behind the counter.
"Hi, I need to fill the red pick-up truck outside, I think $40 will do," said Joel soon he gets close to the counter. Then he looked around the store and speak again. "Do you have any good whiskey in here?" Said Joel moving way and checking the racks.
The old man turned his head and looked at the pick-up outside. He noticed the boxes and other things on the back of the truck. "Yes we have a few good ones in the back area," said the man looking back at Joel, who was now picking a few things from a rack. "Hey, I notice that you have a lot of stuff in your truck, are you moving into town, or just passing through?" he watched Joel moving to the back of the store, but as he did not get any answer he continued. "This town is maybe small, but we get a lot of tourists during the summer. They come to fish and hunt, and some of them just come to enjoy the lake areas to have a good time. If you come for one of those, I can recommend a good inn. Are you on vacation? Because if you're traveling a long distance, it is better if you get some rest. It is going to be dark soon and it is better to drive after a good rest."
A few minutes later, Joel came back with two bottles in hand. He put the two bottles on the counter and a few bags of dry meat and walked back to the counter. "You ask a lot of questions, for a gas station attendant."
"Well, I like to help people, especially if they're going to spend some money in town." Say the man grabbing one of the bottles checking the price.
Joel looks around and notices that there is nobody else in the gas station. "Yeah, I can see that," he said looking at the man again. "Actually, I am not here on vacation, but I'm looking for a cabin or an old house that is supposed to be closer to the lakes around here. So maybe you can help me out."
The man starts to put the bottles and the other things in a bag. "Oh, so you're moving in? Well, maybe I can help you, but you need to be more specific, there are a lot of lakes here."
Joel introduces one hand in one of his pants pockets and takes out a small paper and passes it to the old man. "I think this is the address," he said while the man grabbed the paper. "The place belongs to my grandpa, but he passed away last year, and left it to me. His name was Jacob Miller, did you know him?"
The man looks at the address for a moment. "Well, I don't recognize that name or this address, but sometimes people come here to live a quiet life and don't talk much to anyone," the old man gave the paperback to Joel.
Joel took the paperback and put it back in his pocket. "Oh, okay. Well, that means that I have to find it myself."
"There are a few old cabins and houses closer to Birch lake, so maybe someone there knows him. I moved here five years ago after my wife died, but I don't remember hearing of someone dying last year."
"He wasn't living here for the past 10 years, he was living with my brother and wife. He got sick a few years ago so my brother was taking care of him. Anyway thanks for the information. How much do I owe you?"
The man moves to the register and starts to press some numbers. "Well, is that is the case, that will explain why I didn't know him. Is going to be $74.45, mister."
Joel took his wallet out and gave the money to the man. "Can you give me any direction to how to get there, I am not from around, so I don't know the area."
"Yeah sure. You just need to go a little south from here and turn on County 40 NW road. Then take the 52nd Ave now that is a few miles in that direction and that will take you to the lake part, you can ask someone there," Said the man passing to Joel the bag and his change. "I notice that you have a southern accent, are you from Arizona?"
Joel grabs the bag and looks at the man. "No, I'm from Texas," said Joel starting to walk away.
"Well, that is good. Hope you find your place soon... Hey, I didn't get your name?"
Joel opens the door and starts to get out. "I didn't give you any… like you said some people just come here to get a quiet life," with that he walked out of the place without saying anything else.
After that, he filled the pick-up and drove away.
( One hour later )
Joel was driving slowly on a rusty road looking for the address or for someone that knew his grandfather. The man on the gas station was right the part closer to the lake that he was looking for it was almost deserted. There are not many houses there or people to ask for directions. After driving a little bit, he finally found an old woman that knew a little about his grandfather. When he asked about the house he has around here, she told him a little about him, but also told him that not many people know him well. As Joel doesn't like to talk to people much, he said goodbye to the woman after she gave him the direction he was looking for.
Joel drove the truck into a more dense area of the forest that surrendered the lakes until he found an old road that seemed to take him to his grandfather's house. Soon he found the place, he stopped the truck in front of the old house and looked at it. "This must be the place," he said while opening the door of the truck and getting out.
He takes a good look at the place and notices that it needs some repair. It was natural since no one been here for the last ten years. Yeah, his brother told him that their grandfather talked to him about the place a few times, but he never came here. He was going to come to check the place, but after their grandfather got sick he never came. So after a few minutes, Joel walked toward the door taking out the key from the house and introduced it on the door locks. Soon he opened, he walked inside and started to look around. The house wasn't big, but for just him? it was more than enough. After a few minutes, he closed the door and walked to the living room. He tried the light, but as that didn't work, he opened the curtain, so some light got in. After that Joel looked at some of the furniture there. Some of them were damaged and others were covered with some white sheets.
So after checking the living room, he walks to the kitchen and tries the light there too. Soon he found it, he tried to turn it on, but it didn't work either. So that is one thing he needs to fix first, and probably call the electric company so they put the power back on. He checked the kitchen and noticed that some dirty water was on the floor. So Joel looks at the ceiling and notices that the water has come from a little hole there. The water was already green and smelling. So that is something he needs to clean that later. Also, he needs to check the roof of the house and see if there is more leak in other places.
After that, he continues checking the kitchen. After checking the stove and seeing that look in good condition, he moved to the fridge and opened it. The fridge was smalling badly and looked like he was going to need a new one. The cabinets need some repair too, but there is nothing he can't fix. Joel walked out of the kitchen and looked to the back part of the house. He knew that he needed to put some money to fix it. And lucky for him, his grandfather not only left him the pick-up truck and the house, but he also got some money too. His grandfather has insurance and after the funeral and all his debts were settled, he got enough money to repair the house and buy a few things. That is going to be enough until he finds a job to make some money. He is planning on using his talent as a carpenter and handyman for that.
After a few minutes, Joel walked into the small corridor that took him to the back door of the house. He opened and walked outside and noticed that the house had a small terrace. The screen that it covers was broken, so that is another thing he needs to repair. He walked to the backyard of the house and saw the small shed at the back and other old things. Most of them look broken, so he needs to check them later and see what he can save. After 10 minutes outside looking at the place and the tree. Joel looked at the sky and noticed that it was going to get dark soon, so he decided to walk back to the truck and start to get his thing inside.
After one hour, all his things were inside and all over the living room. He didn't have much, so it is not going to be difficult to unpack his things. After all, was set on the floor, Joel went back outside and collected some woods for the fireplace. He is going to need the light from the fire to illuminate the place until he resolves the electricity problem. When the fire was ready, he went to the kitchen where he put the bag from the gas station. And take out the whiskey and a bag of dry meat. He walked back to the living room and sat on the chair that he put in front of the fireplace.
Joel opened the bottle and put some in a glass that he brought from Texas. He found a few glasses in the kitchen, but when he opened the water tap no water came out, so that is another thing he needs to check tomorrow. As the house was deep in the woods, it must have underground water well, and that is going to be good. After he got some bite from the dry meat,
he grabbed the glass up to his hand and looked up.
This is for you baby girl whatever you're. I know that I wasn't a good husband or a good brother and I never have the chance to be a good father. But I promise you that I will try to be a better person and try to start over. Salud my dear lovely baby… I am never going to forgive you, baby… I love you. Joel moved the glass to his mouth and started to drink. Some tears go down from his check before he finishes the drink. By the time he finishes half the bottle, he falls asleep on the chair.
( Next day )
Joel wakes up late with a hangover, he doesn't even remember where he was until his mind comes back to the present. Soon he got up from the couch, he walked to the kitchen to splash some water on his face but noticed that there was no water in the house yet. So he walked out of the house and back to his truck and got a bottle of water he had there. After he splashes some on his face, he started to look into the forest in front of him.
He moved away from the truck and started to look at the house. The place needs some work, but it looks like a good place to start again and be alone with my pain. He said to himself while he looked around. Okay, I have a lot of work to do, so it is better to go and change and drive to the town to get a few things done.
After he gets back inside, Joel looks for the box that has his clothes. After he finds it, he gets to the bathroom and changes. After he finished, he went out again, got into his truck and drove into the town. Driving to the center of the town it wasn't that far, just 20 minutes drive from his house. So the first thing he did was find dinner and get some breakfast to start the day. There he asked the waitress, where he can find the electric power office that serves the town. The woman told him and gave him directions to where the office is, she also told him where to find the other place he needed to visit.
After he goes to the electric office and pays to get the power back on to his house, he visits a few stores and buys the things he needs for the moment. He always tries to avoid talking to people, unless he has to. So he will try to visit the town as little as possible. After fishing, Joel goes back to the house, works on the water system and starts cleaning and unpacking his things.