Chapter Two: Crybaby Blues:

1967 became my turning point. I met a boy then. He came from the outside. The townspeople frowned upon him when he first came here, but I didn�t. I had never seen such a beautiful rebel. I only call him that out of truth. In the beginning it was because the others in the village called him such. I remember when I met him.

He never gave me his real name. I just called him devil because he told me to. Even then, I was a puppet. I never had decisions to make for myself. Everything was planned out for me. My grandmother took care of everything. She even got me the job at the bakery that I used to do during the summer. Speaking of which, that�s where I met devil.

I worked at the cash register at the time. That was a slow summer day in �67. The bakery, Little Maureen�s, had just opened for the day. Because I was always early, I helped set up shop. I took down the chairs, dusted off the counter, and turned the sign on. Once I put on my apron, I was ready for work. I hadn�t expected much that day. Just another work day and go home in the evening.

That�s when he walked in.

I looked up when I heard the door angel ringing. A guy about my age looked around the open doorway. I watched him with a curious look my face.

�Can I help you?� I asked. He didn�t seem to hear me as he kept looking around. I raised an eyebrow at him.

�Sir?� I asked. �Is there anything you would like today?� He looked at the setting before turning my direction. I blinked at him.

�Uh� hello?� I asked.

�You sell beer here?� he asked. I shook my head at him.

�No,� I said.

�Is there a liquor store anywhere?� he asked.

�No,� I said again. The guy shrugged.

�Any smoke shops?� he asked.

�No.�

�A sex store, then?�

�Eww! No!�

He gave me a strange look. �Why do you say it like that?�

�That�s just gross!� I barked.

�Why?�

�It just is!�

The guy shook his head. �Fine, is there a bike shop nearby?�

I raised an eyebrow at him. �Bike shop?�

�Yes,� he said.

�Oh, that would down the road to your right,� I said.

�Thank you,� he said. �Now was that so hard?� I shrugged at him.

�Hey, it�s your fault that you picked a boring town,� I said.

�Is that right?�

�Yep.� I nodded when I said that. The cicada chirping outside filled the pause between us. Then, my eyes caught him smirking at me.

�What?� I asked. This bold guy walked over to the counter and pressed his hands against the hard surface.

�Oh, I can think of a few things to do here,� he said. I didn�t see what he was getting at.

�Like what?� I asked. He put a dirty finger to my throat and trailed it down just above my chest. His crystal blue eyes held my attention the whole time.

�I can think of quite a few,� he said. �Some involving you.� I blinked at him, lost.

�Me?� I asked.

�That�s right,� he said. �All I would need is you to have some fun in this town.� I tried to keep it together as I felt my knees shake.

�H-H-How?� I stammered out. He took me by my chin and drew my ear to his lips. My heart pounded all the way to my throat.

�I�ll be by around closing hours to show you,� he whispered. I swallowed hard as my heart sped up to go off rhythm. I didn�t even notice that he had left until someone asked, �Hello? Can I get a bagel today?�

I looked up and saw Old Mr. Heinny peering at me with his glasses. He raised an eyebrow at my face.

�Miss Rose,� he said. �My, your face is so red! Is something the matter?�

I quickly shook my head. �No, no!� I lied. �I�m perfectly fine! Uh�a bagel, right? What kind?�

�Plain, please,� he said, sounding skeptical.

�Coming up!� I cheered in my usual work tone. I got right to work from there. Since then, nothing has ever gone how they in the village wanted it for me.