Page 21 of How Does It Feel?

Earl: No problem. Damn phone.

Earl: Sorry, dang phone. Forget you hate swearing. No pomegranates, I’m sure you have some girly beauty things you need to do. See you at 9

Callie: you caught me;)

* * *

“Ouch!” I groaned, trying to cover the top of my foot with my hand. The top burned from the intense heat of the engine torturing it. My shoulders tensed as I placed my cell phone into the cup holder and continued through the forest on my lawn mower, all the while wiggling my loose back tooth like a nervous madman.

High heels were not advisable for driving a tractor. Thankfully it was still light enough out to see clearly and navigate. Otherwise, the trees would cause me an incredible amount of trouble.

The tinted evening air softly rustled the pine branches in warning, and I suddenly remembered exactly where I was headed. I shivered with the thoughts of how horrible that forest had made me feel. Goose bumps pebbled my skin with fright and chill, and I instantly regretted not bringing a warm coat.

I pulled the large curlers from my hair and tried to calm myself. Thank god I didn’t have neighbors close by. If anyone else saw me, they would definitely think Earl had rubbed off on me and I was now equally as mad.

After I had grabbed the closest dress and thrown it on, I flew out the door and onto the tractor, my thoughts purely on reaching my destination and returning home. I was trembling and clammy. I’m quite certain I already had mud all over my tiny black dress.

I would just call and cancel dinner. Earl would understand.

“Ouch!” I moved my burning foot so the heel took the brunt of the heated assault.

The forest was quiet and calm, save for the roaring John Deere, but aside from that, it was actually really refreshing to be in the thick part of the forest this late at night, alone. Owls hooted to each other in the distance in sync with the crickets. I loved the night; it always gave me a sense of calm.

With a heavy sigh, I pulled my phone from the side cup holder of the tractor.

Callie: I’m so sorry, but I have to cancel. Something last minute’s come up. Will call tomorrow. Sorry for everything!

Earl: What’s going on? Is everything all right?

Earl: Cal?

Earl: Cal?

* * *

I tucked the phone back into the tractor’s cup holder after checking my coordinates on the park’s GPS app and let out a breath. At least I wasn’t under a time constraint now. I was equally glad Earl wouldn’t see me in this dress. Had it been a gift? I would never have bought something that showed so much skin. Had I known it was this small and tight, I wouldn’t have even bothered to put anything on. I should have grabbed the sparkly pink one off the bed before I ran out the door. Then I would have at least felt like tractor Barbie, which sounded more fun. As it was, I looked like some type of James Bond spy girl or something, though I seriously doubt a spy girl would ride a beat-up old tractor to her destination.

The forest was completely dark now. Shimmers of moonlight blanketed the trees like a spooky movie. Only cloaked in a silver sheen, it reflected off some of the pine trees and merely silhouetted others, leaving your mind to question the depths of what you actually saw. Maybe it was my mind playing tricks on me, but I swear I could already feel the terrifying feeling from earlier creeping into my bones.

Amber orbs of gold flashed as lightning bugs danced along the trees like mystical Christmas lights. It seemed like there were hundreds of them, formed almost in a trail of sorts. The hair rose on the back of my neck. Something didn’t feel right about the way they all trailed toward something.

I straightened my spine. It was only fireflies.

Even though it was just the quiet forest and myself, I tugged down the very short black dress, suddenly feeling quite silly and uncomfortable. My breasts were shoved together so high I thought my nipples might pop out, so I yanked up the fabric masquerading as a chest covering. The dress rose higher up my thighs with the aforementioned action. It was like a terribly slutty game of tug of war.

Pull up to cover cleavage, and the dress would rise to scandalous heights on my thighs.

Shove down to hide legs, and the treacherous dress would threaten to throw a nipple overboard.

Perspiration began to gleam across my forehead with the struggle. I had to be close now. All-in-all the tractor was going much faster and more effici—

My body lurched forward as the tractor’s tire caught in a root.

Son of a garbage can! I jinxed myself!

I was so angry I nearly swore as I attempted to reverse the mower. The action only caused the tires to whip moss into the night air and trench farther into the soft soil of the forest.

Mother forking crap on a cracker! I was stuck.