TWILIGHT
In Forks
Charlie already gotten me registered for high school and was going to help me get a car . But it was sure to be awkward with Charlie . Niether of us was what anyone would call verbose , and didnt know what there was to say regardless . I knew he was more than a little confused by my decision -like my mom before me , i hadnt made a secret of my distaste for Forks . When i landed in Port Angeles , it was raining . I didnt see it as an omen - just unavoidable.Id already said my goodbyes to the sun . Charlie was waiting for me with the cruiser . This i was expecting too . Charlie is Police Chief Granger to the good people of Forks . My primary motivations behind buying a car despite the scarcity of funds was that i refused to be driven around town in a car with red and blue lights on top . Nothing slows down traffic like a police. Charlie gave me a awkward one armed hug when i stumbled my way off the plane . " Its good to see you Ells " he said smiling as he autimatically caught and studied me . " you havent changed much . Hows Renae? . " moms fine . Its good to see you too, dad ". I wasnt allowed to call him Charlie to his face . I had only a few bags . Most of my Arizona clothes were too permeable for Washington . My mom and i had pooled our resources to supplement my winter wardrobe, but it was still scanty . It all fit easily into the trunk of the cruiser. "I found a good car for you, really cheap" , he announced when we were strapped in . "What kind of car "? .I was suspicious of the way he said ." good car for you "as supposed to just "good car". "Well its a truck actually , a Chevy " "Where did you find it ?" "Do you remember Billy Black down at La Push ?". La Push is the tiny Indian reservation on the coast . "No " i said "He used to go fishing with us during the summer ,"Charlie prompted . That would explain why i didnt remember him . I do a great job of blocking painful, unnecessary things from my memory . "He is in a wheel chair now ,"Charlie continued when i didnt respond .,"So he cant drive any more ,and he offered to sell me his truck cheap.". "What year is it ?"I could see from his change of expression that this wad the question he was hoping i wouldnt ask . "Well Billy's done a lot of work on the engine - its only a few years old rrally ". I hoped he didnt think so little of me as to belive i would give up that easily ."When did he buy it ?". "He bought it in 1984 , i think ". "Did he buy it new?" "well, no i think it was new in the early 60s - or late 50s at the earliest " he admitted sheepishly . "Ch- dad , i dont relly know anything about cars . I wouldnt be able to fix if anything went wrong , and i couldnt afford a mechanic ..."
