As Happy’s vehicle descended from the ferry and onto the street, she felt the vibration of the small town and all of its people in movement. Animals being walked up and down sidewalks and voices chatting away. The town was busy but serene. She embraced the feeling of being a part of a different energy. A peaceful energy that radiated a feeling of contentment and satisfaction with life. That’s how the busy people appeared to her. She imagined that was how they felt as they moved about and around her. The hustle and restlessness of living in New York made her feel like she was on another planet. People were smiling and chatting calmly to each other. The sky was bright and open. The air was crisp, warm, and clean.
After driving around in circles for almost a half an hour, digesting all the newness of a small town, the city girl decided to park. She found a spot two blocks up from the ferry next to what appeared to be a rustic New England designed hotel. She sat for a moment, beholding the sights and being in the present. It was a moment she gave herself. Something different from pain and pity and longing. She wanted to feel the essence of what she was seeing in all the human beings that passed by her car. Why were they okay with their world and she was not?
Holding Junior in her arms, they walked down Circuit Avenue to get a closer look at the little stores and restaurants in the area. The small-town vibes and cuteness of the unique boutiques and landmarks were electric to her. Her first stop was the Vineyard, a wine and cheese shop. She knew it was proper etiquette to bring a bottle or flowers to someone’s house. She and her aunt may have been related by blood, but this would be the first time meeting her and staying in her home. She wanted to start their relationship with positivity. She didn’t want to walk in with just her baggage and a dog. She bought a bottle of red merlot. The salesclerk had told her that red was the preferred wine to bring to someone’s home. Now with Junior on a leash so she could hold the bottle in her available hand, she walked down the avenue some more just to see what else she could find.
A gift shop with jewelry and other trinkets in the window caught her eye. Junior was small and cute, but she knew walking in with a dog on a leash in a prissy gift shop wouldn’t be allowed. She put the bottle that was stored in a brown gift store bag down on the floor and scooped up the pup. Her small, red leather Coach purse was strapped across her shoulder, hitting her hip. She didn’t know how she was going to carry anything else, but she couldn’t resist what she saw in the window.
She heard chimes as she entered and stopped at the doorway. A woman with a flowing floral colored dress stood behind a glass counter and greeted Happy with a pleasant smile.
“Hi! Welcome to Beach Boutique.”
“Hello! Is it okay for me to carry my dog? I don’t have a kennel for him yet.”
The woman rushed from behind the counter to greet her guest.
“Sure come in. I can set your bag by the counter while you hold your dog. What a beautiful puppy. Is it a girl or boy?” She pet him gently on his head.
“He’s a boy. His name is Junior.”
“A junior huh. Senior was left home today?” The woman chuckled.
“No, he passed away.” Happy told her.
Eyes large and startled by what she heard, she apologized. “I’m so sorry to hear that. He was an old dog?”
“Yup.” Happy responded with no emotion.
“Well good thing you have this cute little bundle of joy. I just love yorkies.”
Is that what this is?
“Is he friendly? Will he come to me? He doesn’t look like he bites.”
Happy had no idea. Junior was only around her and Lucian. He met Landry maybe twice and was greatly ignored by her. When she took him for walks, he never barked at strangers or tried to bite them. He only seemed scared of Happy.
Without hesitation, she handed the stranger her dog so she could be hands free to roam about. Junior willingly went to the lady, sniffing her, and then started panting.
“He looks thirsty. Do you mind if I give him some water?”
“No. Go right ahead.” Happy was busy looking at the shiny costume earrings in her view.
Something gleaming grabbed her. She was guided straight to a gold vase. It sat alone, lighting up the back of the store with its mosaic shimmering glass. Happy owned four panels of gold curtains she’d been meaning to put up in her living room. She also wanted to find a nice gold trimmed rug and throw pillows. The vase would be a perfect addition. This led her to thoughts of redecorating. Something she hadn’t thought about in years. As long as things could be easily put away when she needed it to, she didn’t care whether her furniture matched or looked nice. She just didn’t care.
Gold was her favorite color, and this would be perfect as a gift to herself.
“Ahh.” The store clerk sighed, still holding Junior. “You’ve spotted our gold mosaic. It’s the last one. We only had five and sold the fourth one just yesterday.”
“It’s so pretty.” Happy gleamed over it.
“I can wrap it up for you if you want this one.”
“That’ll be great!” Happy was excited.
The lady handed Junior back to Happy and retrieved the vase from the shelf. She bought it to the counter to wrap and secure it. Happy watched as her gift was wrapped in front of her. She imagined arriving back to Brooklyn and being pleasantly surprised by a gift she bought herself and forgot about.
The cashier said without hesitation, “That’ll be one hundred and twenty-five dollars.”
Happy paused for a moment and looked at the vase.
Fuck it.
Shrugging her shoulders, she gave the woman her debit card feeling good that though it was an impulsive expensive purchase, she could afford it and not sacrifice anything.
“How about I put your vase and wine in a large bag together so you can carry Junior.”
Happy smiled at the clerk, took her bag, and walked out of the store.
I love when things work out for me.
With her newly purchased items in the trunk, Junior sitting next to her in the passenger seat, and her long drive almost coming to a close, she restarted the GPS to Marina Bay to finally meet Aunt Belle. The navigation told her it was forty minutes from Oak Bluff. In her haste to plan the trip, she hadn’t given much thought to the mileage between the two towns. She just assumed they were close.
“I hope Marina Bay is just as nice.” She said out loud as she looked at Junior like he would respond.
His tiny body curled up into a ball, he glanced up at her.
“So, Ms. Lucy said I was your mommy. I don’t know about me being a mommy to a dog. I would rather parent an actual person. It is what it is, huh?”
Junior just stared back at her, content in his balled-up position.
“Right.” She laughed at herself for talking to a dog. “Let’s roll. Forty more minutes, and we will meet our aunt and her husband. I hope she likes us or whatever.”
Happy started her car and was on the road again.
Junior’s Happy
She doesn’t realize I love her. She is my mommy. She just scares me sometimes. Like when she cries uncontrollably for hours or days and feeds me that nasty dog food. It’s like she doesn’t care when she goes to the people store. She just picks up whatever and puts it in the bowl and walks away. She rarely takes me on walks. I mostly do my business on some mat in the bathroom. Sometimes I get her real mad and do my business under her bed or in her shoes. When I hear her yelling and going crazy, I know she found my little surprises. I just want her to know I’m here, because I know she forgets. I know she forgets about herself sometimes too. Almost like she doesn’t even like herself. She loves daddy though. I can tell she thinks about daddy all the time. And I know most of the yelling is because of daddy. She thinks I love daddy. I only love him because she loves him so much. I get excited when he comes cause then she changes. She takes care of me and even picks me up and pets me. She doesn’t when he’s not around and I don’t like that. She’s my mommy. I’m happy now. I get to ride in this people car. I get to sleep in the bed with her and I get to eat really good food. What was that-that laughing lady gave to me? I want more of that. I hope I get more of that. I love my mommy. I hope she loves me. I hope she doesn’t need daddy to love her in order to love me. I just want her to love me. That’s all.
***
Happy pulled up to a small white house settled on a slight hill surrounded by clean cut grass. Her eyes followed the evenly cut bushes around the house with patches of colorful flowers. The door was a fresh colored blue with a gold star made of brass on the front of it. Happy spotted the driveway on the left side of the house and proceeded to pull up behind a red Mustang parked in front of the garage.
A couple that didn’t look too elderly came out and stood in front of the garage. Happy parked and got out. She walked up to who she believed was her biological aunt. She noticed her necklace was the same as hers. Gold circle ringed necklace with two hearts. They immediately began to cry without words or even a sound, hugging each other for what seemed like eternity. She heard a voice whisper to her soul.
“Happy is finally home.”