Morning fog is cut to shambles by the piercing rays of sunshine in Coutter. The temperament of the small town will soon be infused with the hustle and bustle of commerce. The time period does not matter but one must be aware of the surroundings. Coutter is a normal town, set in a normal time, and within a space that anyone can occupy. There are shops and fruit stands that dot the landscape of Main Street. Their wonderful brick work dotted in dew as the fresh heat from morning begins to force condensation. Nonetheless, the morning still sleeps as the shops are closed. Soon, the creek of mechanical entities will transform the area like a pebble’s waves rippling from the epicenter of a pond.
Phenomenons all over the world, in every corner, in every city, town, or farm. Coutter was no different. It begins with a morning jog in the surrounding suburbs. Coutter is a small town, but no one steps foot upon the cobblestone sidewalks of Main Street till the fog has dissipated completely. That is a luxury of the town. Unlike a metropolitan area like New York or Chicago it starts slow, builds to a nice jog, and never sprints. Oranges are in season for the organic farm stands that dot the street. Yet, that is too far in the journey to discuss.
Danny Jenkaus was a normal man with a normal build who loved his dog, Fluffernutter. Danny was pasty white because winter was just leaving the small town. He hadn’t been outside for some time but that is one of the hazard of living in the Midwest. Soon the area would warm up and his porcelain skin would begin to brown. His short cropped hair was a fragment of his life in the military. A tiny scar dotted his forehead from his childhood and his soft brown eyes were still sad. Happiness was his dog.
Fluffernutter was a massive White German Shepard, and from his snout to the tip of his tail was six feet. When he was a puppy his gigantic paws would hinder him from running. In fact that little demon had once tripped over his snowshoe type feet and got his leg run over by a car. During this time Danny wasn’t very attached to the fluffy bundle of joy. His ex-wife, she was no longer with him due to a car accident a year ago, had purchased the dog. With his high school sweetheart gone from this world he only had the dog to remind him of the softness in her heart.
Thus, the dog was given the life of a King. Every morning Danny would wake up early and cook the dog’s breakfast: white rice, lean chicken, the bone marrow from a chicken bone, and a tiny bit of bacon, bacon was for added flavor. For dinner the dog would get one of four meals, tonight: was lean beef, some ground turkey, rice for carbohydrates, and the zest from an orange. This was a special treat because oranges are not always available in Coutter. So this delectable meal was only available for a limited time. Even though the dog only received the dish at certain times of the year it was his favorite dish. He loved it so much that he actually knew the name. Danny always told Fluffernutter what was going to be cooked for dinner. Thus, the dog waited with anticipation for his owner’s delectable delights.
Fluffernutter was notorious for escaping into the surrounding yards during the morning. With his well-meaning owner veraciously making breakfast Fluffernutter would disappear into the neighborhood and experience freedom. In order to stop this Danny had chosen to erect a fence a couple months back. Normally Danny was highly protective of the large White German Shepard but in during the morning he gave the old dog leeway because of the fence. He had installed this security measure to keep the dog from roaming the neighborhood, because he was fearful of cars taking the precious reminder of his wife from him.
In the back yard was a large privacy fence that had been installed to keep the juggernaut of a dog from jumping into the surrounding yards. However, dogs aren’t stupid and if they can’t go over they will try to go under. Fluffernutter had been working on an escape hatch from his jail cell since it had been erected. Today would be his first day back in the free world.
Therefore, the morning began like always. Danny grab his bundle of joy behind his ears and pushed his head toward his own. With the tall ears pointed at Danny’s face he placed a large kiss in the between the eyes of his lovely child.
A quick scratch behind the ears and a soft spoken greeting, “Hi buddy! You ready to go outside?”
A large woof could be heard as the two foot long tail began dusting the floor. With a hop and a skip the two companions made for the back doorway. Danny didn’t know that his pooch had been working on an escape route and opened the screen door. Oblivious to the chain of events that would take place. Events that would change his life forever.
“See you in an hour!” Fluffernutter would return because he loved breakfast and Danny.
While breakfast was being cooked someone else was participating in a morning ritual. Down the road, about three blocks, George Kafra was pouring his third glass of whiskey. He hated his life more than Danny. He didn’t have a dog or a wife. Rather, all he did own was a massive amount of debt to a bank he worked for: his house, car, education, and whiskey all were part of the debt. He was scruffy unlike Danny but did have a military haircut. Both had been in a platoon together but George had issues finding a job. The bank that employed him gave him a position as a clerk. Nonetheless, they were downsizing soon even though they had a record year of profits.
Furthermore, George hadn’t always been a drinker but learned that the world was softer when he was intoxicated. It helped with his chronic nightmares and allowed him to avoid the stress of being yelled at by customers. This new habit had been created a month ago when he read a memo on his manager’s desk. Ever since then he walked into a lion’s den waiting for a pink slip of paper that released him from his position. The fear drove George to work every day and the whiskey dulled the anger in his heart. With the third glass gone he prepped his forth and a bowl of oatmeal.
About an hour out from George and Danny’s street was a delivery truck. In the back where crates of oranges, bananas, and avocadoes. Normally this truck barreled down their street as they all slept. Due to a set of unfortunate circumstances the delivery was an hour behind. One of the lug-nuts had been stubborn and the flat tire was difficult to remove. It took a samaritan passing by with an acetylene torch to remove the pesky hindrance. The heat from the flame quickly removed the rust and the lug-nut finally parted ways with the stud it had clung onto. With this setback on the books the driver had to increase his speed. The shop owners were preparing to receive their morning produce and their sales would be encumbered if he didn’t put the petal to the metal.
With the delivery truck barreling down the street another morning ritual was beginning. A widow who recently decided to leave her sorrow behind and try something new. This widow was Tricia Finagole and she concluded that she could run a marathon. It was her sixth month training. If one met her seven months ago her pocketed face and mammoth thighs would have scared even the most daring man. She spoke with a snarl and hated most people. The only person who had ever treated her like a human being was Danny, but since his wife’s death he had receded from social situations.
There had been a tradition when the two neighbors crossed paths, Danny always began, “Fine morning for a run.”
“Great day for walking the dog.”
Both would laugh because each one of them hated the respective activity. On one hand, Tricia’s body being overweight made running a hassle. On the other hand, Danny absolutely hated Fluffernutter and wanted nothing to do with picking up his feces. This bond forged in hate soon dissipated when Tricia began running and Danny began walking his new love.
Nevertheless, people change and they both struck hate from their hearts. Tricia had to visit a plastic surgeon because she had shed close to one hundred pounds in the last seven months. Her healthy diet and strict exercise regimen had proven fruitful and now had suitors queuing for a date. Her legs were slender, her face taught to the bone, her hair no longer greasy, and her eyes vibrant. She no longer needed makeup because she had surpassed the need to impress others and worked only for herself. Nonetheless, only one person noticed her favorite feature, Danny.
Even with sadness clouding his eyes he never failed to give her the best compliment, “Your eyes are green today! Lovely to match the fresh grass that has sprung from the soil.” Or, “Today they are blue! Perhaps we will have snow?”
No one knew that Tricia’s eyes changed based on some unknown trigger. It was a genetic anomaly and only Danny had noticed. Even her dead husband had failed to notice her favorite feature. It had been a year since Danny had complemented her eyes or noticed the change in color. To him she was a person and not an object.
Tricia lived half a block from Danny and she passed his house every morning on her five mile run. She longed to have him compliment her eyes but his dog distracted him from the world. Her butt grew cold as the tile sapped the warmth from her body. She quickly laced her shoes. A failure, they weren’t tight enough so she began anew. Eventually she had them where she wanted them and took off into the foggy morning.
As she passed by Danny’s domicile she saw Fluffernutter crawl under the back left corner of the home. She stopped for a moment to make sure her eyes weren’t deceiving her, they weren’t. Soon the behemoth of a dog was out and sprinting towards the street. She looked both ways and saw no cars then whistled for him to come. He diverged from his path to freedom for a quick scratch and pet.
His soft fur bent under her meticulously groomed finger nails. Not a piece of fur left his body because Danny consistently brushed his surrogate son every night before bed. His brilliant coat had pieces of dirt that flecked and spackled the ground as her fingers pushed throw the long hairs. Eventually, he was done with her and took off into the neighborhood. Everyone new Fluffernutter and loved him. Thus, there would be no issues with his jot through the area.
Tricia stood from her crouched position and smelled her hands. Instead of the normal dog smell one would get from a vigorous petting session there was only peaches and cream. She chuckled as she hopped back into her run. Only Danny could turn a menacing dog into a soft creampuff of a child. With one last look at her neighbor’s son she giggled again because a trail of saliva was dancing from his outstretched tongue.
Some time had passed as the five members of society went about their day. Danny continued cooking and drinking coffee. The chicken was almost done and all that was left was scrapping out the bone marrow to give the dish its final kick. George was now in his car and no longer focusing on whiskey. The old Chevrolet El Camino rumbled into life as the garage door opened. Oranges, avocadoes, and bananas were closing in on their destination. The truck driver had made good time and was now on George, Tricia, and Danny’s road. Tricia was on her way back to her house and had looped around so she could come back the same way she left because Danny could be taking out the trash. Finally, Fluffernutter realized what time it was and quickly took off towards his home. If Danny found out he had escaped the hole would soon be filled and his freedom constrained again.
In a moment everyone’s morning would be crippled, minus Fluffernutter and Danny. George was now in the street and one block from Danny’s home. He was lighting a cigarette. Tricia was almost home and saw a white blur tearing through the backyards, she whistled. The delivery truck was closing the gap on the El Camino and the driver was also pulling a cigarette out of his soft-pack. He was stressed because he was behind schedule and the shop owners would yell at him when he arrived.
Tricia was in her crouched position when Fluffernutter popped out of a row of bushes and ran up for some more cuddles. He hit her so hard that she was pushed into the street. She nearly hit her head on the asphalt as the big dog slobbered on her face. He loved the salty sweat that dotted her forehead. Giggles escaped from her lips as the two of them embraced. Eventually she was able to get up and push back the ninety five pound mammoth. With the two back on the grass she continued the session.
Danny’s voice rang out, “Fluffernutter! Where are you?”
Without a care in the world Fluffernutter booked across the street. Tricia never saw the car because she was facing the wrong way but did hear the screech of tires as the wheels locked up. She flinched because she assumed that Danny’s dog was not going to make it. However, the little beast made it across the street.
George had slammed the brakes and was now crooked. He had seen the big dog and was aware of how he functioned. He had stopped about four feet from Tricia’s back. If he hadn’t been intoxicated he wouldn’t have needed to slam on his brakes and wouldn’t be facing Tricia. Alas, he had narrowly avoided taking someone’s life and decided it was time to get his life back on track. That was a fateful day for him. A sober realization crossed his head and he realized that life was not soft. Trying to turn the world into a cushioned experience was a poor excuse for not trying. When he got home he would begin looking for his dream job. As that thought careened across his mind a jarring feeling snapped his head back and the El Camino continued its precarious journey.
The trucker driver had grown frustrated trying to get a cigarette and took his hands off his steering wheel so he could use two hands. As he banged the pack of smokes against the palm of his hand a cigarette fell out and landed on the floor mat.
“Motherfucker. Can this day get any fucking worse?” It did.
He reached toward the floor mat but couldn’t find the little annoyance with his hand. Therefore, he looked down and located the Lucky Strike. His eyes were off the road for a second and he missed the dog scuttling across the street. Tires screeching were the only thing he heard and then he looked up. The brake pedal was mashed to the floor beneath his steel toed boots as he grasped for the steering wheel. It was too late and he smashed into the Chevy at around fifteen miles per an hour. An object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an equal or opposite force. Newton was correct and the El Camino jumped and hit Tricia. A single orange bounced out of the truck and rolled into Tricia’s front yard.
Danny had heard the tires squealing in the street like a hog that had been branded and ran to the window. He had seen Tricia get clipped and her head smash against the tree in the front yard. Realizing what transpired he called nine-one-one. Immediately he ran towards the front door after the dispatcher had been informed on what happened. He was oblivious to the chilly morning air. George’s El Camino was in bad shape and blood was visible on the front windshield. Tricia wasn’t moving and the truck driver was shaking off a daze as he opened the driver side door.
First was George, “George you alright? It is Danny. Jesus Christ that is a lot of blood.” A moan parted his lips symbolizing life, “George I am going to check on Tricia. Stay still till the paramedics arrive!” Military training had taught him to react and not dwell on the “what-ifs”.
Tricia looked like she was in the worst shape. She was unconscious and a small stream of blood was coursing through the valleys and hills of her face. The trail began at small gash over he left eye. Blood was being navigated by her eyebrow, down to her nose, and across her lips. The only makeup she ever wore was crimson lipstick but this was now obscured by her own blood.
With her head cradled in his lap he spoke in soft tones, “Tricia let me see your eyes. Your eyes are wonderful and I am curious what the weather will be like today. Come on open your eyes for me. I am here for you and you know today is a great morning for a run.” A tear was coursing its way down his cheek and soon dropped onto her face. Unlike the movies Tricia didn’t wake up but the blood was diluted as his tears dotted her nearly perfect skin, “Come on Tricia! We have work today. You know the Benson deal. Mr. Handeck will be furious if we can’t close it and we are the only ones who can do it.”
“Is she alright?”
“Why the fuck didn’t you stop? She isn’t responding.”
“I didn’t see the car… does she have a pulse.”
Danny put his index finger and pointer finger on her wrist, “Yes! She does thank god she is still with us.” Sirens began to echo down the street, “Thank god they are almost here. Go check on George.”
“Who is George?”
His tone slithered between a small gap in his mouth, “The only other person who is injured, asshole. He had a nasty cut on his forehead.” With that the trucker driver didn’t fight Danny and moved towards the El Camino. Danny refocused on Tricia, “Come back to us. You gotta win that marathon. You have been training too long to give up like this!” With that exclamation her eye lids peeled back.
“Danny… where… my head… What the hell happened?”
“You were hit by a car the paramedics are coming.” A slight smile crossed his sullen expression, “Looks like today was a bad morning for a run.”
She tried to laugh but her head was pounding and she quickly moved to massage her temples, “True… but it could be a great day to walk a dog. It has been awhile since you have talked to me in any social setting.”
“This isn’t a social setting.”
As they finished their exchange the paramedics arrived. Danny explained what he had seen and that Tricia was unconscious. The paramedics assumed she had a concussion and began prepping her for transport. George was in a worse state and no one knew how much whiskey he had indigested. If they had he would have had an easier day in the hospital because the doctors could have accounted for the alcohol.
Nevertheless, Tricia stated that the fault of the accident wasn’t George because she had heard his car stop before she had been struck. The truck driver took all the blame and admitted to not paying attention. He was tested for alcohol intoxication but passed. He was issued a ticket and prepared to leave. As the police cleaned up the scene both Tricia and George were on their way to the hospital while Danny was getting ready for work. He rode his bicycle to work.
George got onto his bicycle and journeyed towards Main Street. He needed to get some fresh oranges for the week. Otherwise Fluffernutter would be upset and George didn’t like it when Fluffernutter was upset because he defecated somewhere in the home. He had gotten a late start on the day because of the accident. Normally he was first in line to get his produce from the vendor on the street. However, with oranges being in town there would be a massive line or worse they could be out of oranges.
Nonetheless, the worst case scenario was realized. Of the three vendors who sold the produce near his work none of them had anymore oranges. Danny was furious and lost himself. He buried himself in his work and didn’t speak with anyone and prepared for the Benson deal. Hopefully Tricia was okay and could make it into the office because she had prepared all of the finances. Without the finances the sale would go south and the firm could go bankrupt.
From Danny’s cubical he could hear the grandfather clock in the lobby chime eleven times. It was Danny’s D-day and he was assaulting Normandy without any soldiers. He stood. An icy cold sweat began to appear. A light twitch appeared in his eye lids and he continually heard noises that weren’t there. Nonetheless, he continued down the drab hallway and ran his left hand across the cloth of the
It is an Orange cube farm. The crisscross pattern was rough to the touch and didn’t offer any comfort but absorbed some of the sweat in his palms.
He looked at the black door of the conference room. Like a sniper a sharp breath entered his lungs as he turned the silver handle. The click of the mechanism echoed in his head as held the hot air deep inside of his soul. A fake smile appeared on his face and he pushed into enemy terrorist.
“Mr. Jenkaus! We have been waiting for you please sit. Tricia here has been telling us all about the deal. We think this will benefit both of our companies.” The man speaking to Danny was Mr. Yelch the owner of Farwan Inc.
“Please call me Danny.” The sweat dissipated immediately and he shook Mr. Yelch’s hand.
“Ahhh please call me Dick.”
“Pleasure to meet you Dick.”
The meeting was a resounding success and the two celebrated by the water cooler soon after.
“I was surprised as one of those gophers coming out of the machine and then getting wacked on the head.”
“Yea, they cleared me and said it was a minor concussion but I should be okay. The car barely touched me apparently and I just fell forward into the tree.” She showed him her bandage, “They didn’t even need to give me stiches. Um… they say George isn’t responding properly to the medication and is going to be a different story.”
“Jesus Christ. I hope he makes it. I am going to go to the hospital and see him after work.” Danny sighed, “Fuck I can’t. I have to find an orange in this town for Fluffernutter otherwise he will shit in the house somewhere.”
“Please the dog can go one day without a multicourse dish.”
“You don’t know him, he has been unruly when he doesn’t get what he wants. He knows today is his favorite meal because I told him so.”
Tricia was shaking her head, “You really think that dumb dog understands what you are saying half the time? Go see your friend he needs you.”
“Interesting… your eyes are gray.”
“Don’t change the subject.” She was happy he noticed. It had been so long since he noticed.
“I don’t think you know Fluffernutter like I do.”
“He ran across the street and caused the accident when you called for him. Fuck the orange he could have killed someone one today. Or better yet himself.”
“Don’t say that! How did he get out?”
“Check the left corner of your back yard for a hole. And stop worrying about him. He can eat dog food for a day and he needs to get off your ridiculous diet. Your buddy is in the hospital.”
“No! She trusted me with the dog, she loved the dog, and I promised to keep that dog healthy till the day I die.”
“You are disgusting! Your friend is fighting for his life and you care more about that dog. She died Danny, she fucking died and it sucks but she is gone and you need to move the fuck on! Fuck I got hit by a car today and you care more about that damn dog because you think he is her.” Her tone had been crescendoing throughout her heated speech, “She is dead. She isn’t the dog! And you need to fucking learn that and come back to the world of the living!” With her heart on her sleeve she left Danny and made a b-line to her cubical.
On her stroll she was hijacked by their manager, “Good job today guys! You saved this firm. Take the day off!” The manager dragged her back towards the water cooler and shook both their hands, “Expect a big bonus come Monday. And enjoy your extended weekend.”
Tricia didn’t hide her anger with Danny, “Thanks. See you Monday.” It was short in tone and words.
Danny just nodded because a lump had appeared in his throat and walked away. The manager was dumbfounded and couldn’t understand what had transpired.
Tricia was on her way home and couldn’t get Danny’s mind boggling fascination with his dog out of her mind. She felt bad for what she said about his wife and wanted to apologize. However, she didn’t think it was a good idea to do it anytime soon because he would probably be fuming. Danny didn’t have a temper but he could hold a grudge with the best of them. When she had left she saw him with all of the vendors holding up a twenty dollar bill for a ten cent orange. Of the three people he visited while she was walking home each shook their head. He wasn’t going to find that orange.
It was at that point that a small object caught her attention. She had dropped her keys and noticed it out of the corner of her eye. It was an orb like shape, dimpled, and orange. A laugh cut through her sadness as she looked back at the object.
She muttered to herself, “There is no way that is an orange.” She walked over and bent to pick it up, “It is an orange!”
She immediately picked it up and ran to Danny’s house. Her finger bent under the pressure she applied to the little white circle, the doorbell. No response. He must not be home so she decided to leave it on the doorstep. As she placed it on his welcome mat she realized he wouldn’t see it. He never checked the front door. Thus, she decided to stake out the house and bring it over when he got home.
Once back at her place she changed into comfortable clothing and laid down on her bay window. With a good book in her hand she began reading. She lost herself in her romance story and was completely unaware of how much time had passed. Six hours later she saw Danny ride his bike up. He wasn’t carrying any bags and looked defeated. No one had been willing to give up their oranges.
She was going to be his savior and threw on her running shoes, forgetting her appearance behind. Immediately she broke from the door and was across the street and a few houses down. Once again her knuckle turned white as she pushed on doorbell. Unlike last time there was a response.
Danny looked startled, “I am sorry about earlier. I know she is gone and I need to move on but I am…”
“I was wrong Danny. I never should have said those things. She must be looking out for you because I found this in my yard when I got home.” She presented the offering.
“I offered a guy fifty dollars for an orange and he just laughed in my face and here you are offering me one for free.”
“What are friends good for?”
“Come in, let me cook for you.”
“I can’t that would be too much.” She wanted to come in.
“Please I insist. I have something I want to ask you.” He had been holding this in for ages and it needed to come out.
“What is it?” She kicked off her shoes and settled into a leather couch in the living room.
“Would you like to get coffee sometime?” His voice was shaky at best, “Um, well, you know I always wanted to ask but Judy would have been jealous. And I… Well I find you attractive and you have always taking my awkwardness very well.”
Her heart was beating in her ears, “Of course I would like that very much.” She had a lot more practice with suitors because of her looks and was able to keep herself in order.
A small smile parted his lips and it looked sincere, “If you hadn’t brought that orange over I never would have had the courage to ask.”
“If Fluffernutter hadn’t run into the road the truck wouldn’t have gotten into an accident. I never would have come over to give you that orange.”
He looked into her eyes, “Your eyes… they are blue now.” She loved this man.