Part 2

As the cab pulled up to the house I had been renting, I finally discovered why the renter had rented me the house for such a low price. From just one glance, it seemed like a very open floor plan, and I wasn't even sure if by it having a bedroom he meant it had a pull out couch. I wouldn't really know though until I went inside.

After paying the cab driver, who then quickly drove off, I faced my new house, if you could call it that, with my lugage at my feet. Standing there in the gravel/dirt/dry grass driveway, I could tell it really needed some work. The paint covering the wooden walls on the house was practically gone, the roof was in terrible condition, and the windows in the back of the house were borded up. It actually kind of freaked me out, but there wasn't really anything I could do at this point, so I headed off towards the door with my laugage, found the old key under a old welcome mat, and hoped I wouldn't find anything too unpleasent inside.

As I entered the house, I was relieved at what I saw. There was old wood floors, a small old wooden kitchen table, and I small kitchen with a basic fridge, stove, and microwave. Setting my bags down, I went over to the kitchen sink and turned on the water. Thank god it worked, or that would have been a big problem. Then, I headed over to the other side of the large room, where there was a avergage sized, worn couch and a few shelves. The colour of the walls was an off white colour, so the house didn't look too bad. Then, I headed into the bedroom.

I found a queen size bed, with an old wooden frame. Everything looked fine, and although the windows were borded up, all I had to do was take the boards off and it would be fine. Although it wasn't the nicest place from the outside, I'm sure I could make it feel like home without a problem.

After I had ventured through the rest of the house, (which included the bedroom bathroom that had a tub/shower, sink, toilet, and a average size closet) I headed outside to the front of the house that faced the forest, and looked at the grass, or where there should have been grass.

It was pretty much mud and twigs that covered the yard, and I didn't really like that very much incase it rained, because I hadn't brought rain boots, and that would be a problem. It wasn't that I didn't like dirt, it's just that I'd rather not find myself stuck in a pile of mud. I would need to get sod.



After I had changed into a pair of old jeans, an old t-shirt, and put running shoes on, I then found the keys to the old ford pick-up truck that sat in the houses drive-way that the renter said I could use, and started the truck up, heading off into the closest town.

After driving to the hardware store, and finding someone to work there to ask where to get sod, I quickly got an answer from an employee who wrote down an adress for me, and then asked, or, begged me if I needed anything else. I guess he really wanted a raise or something. Since it was only around four o'clock, I figured I might as well stop but the sod farm and see if I could get some sod right away, so I hopped back into 'my' truck, and off I was once again, off on a journey for sod.

As I drove down the long dirt road, windows down as I found out that the truck had no airoconditioning, I kept wondering if I'd ever see Jordan around this summer. I knew I probably wouldn't but it was a nice thought. It would kind of nice to have at least one friend around. I shook those thoughts from my mind though as I found the adress, and pulled down the road, heading up to their driveway and house.

As I parked my truck, and man walked out of his house, and over to me as I got out of the car. He was probably around my dads age, and he looked fimiliar, but I just couldn't think of who he was.

"Hi, I heard that you needed some sod. Jerry from the hardware store called me as soon as you left the store. He seems to think he should be getting some extra money if he refers to me." The man spoke and smiled. I returned the smile back.

"Yes, I do need sod. I'm afraid a lot of it actually. About an acre's worth." I spoke, and he nodded.

"No worries, you've come to the right place. I'll get the boys to start loading it up in your truck while we go make a receipt. Oh, and I haven't seen you around here before. I bet my wife would want to meet you." He spoke, and I followed after him into his house, and started to tell them my story about how I ended up in Thunder Bay.


As soon as I figured out the man's last name, I knew why I recognised him.

"Oh, you have to meet the boys. I bet the can help you fix up the house you're renting too. Henry, go get the boys. They should be taking a break anyways." Mrs. Staal spoke, and smiled at me. I smiled back, al though I knew this could turn out very awkward. As Mr. Staal went out to get Jordan and his brothers, I wondered why I had picked right now to be wearing old clothes.

Mr. Staal entered the house first, then Jordan entered after his dad, and as soon as he saw me, he smirked. I could tell he wanted to say something witty, but I think he knew his mom probably wouldn't approve of that. So instead, his mom explained my situation, and he just watched me closely, his brothers doing the same.

"Why don't you come over for dinner? I'm sure you haven't had enough time to go out for groceries yet." Mrs. Staal spoke and smiled, and I thought for a moment.

"Thanks so much but I'll be able to find something. I don't want to impose." I spoke, and hoped that she wouldn't insist, because it wasn't that I'm not much of a people person, it's just when there's four gorgeous guys in a room, and their parents, dinner might not be such an easy mission.

"Oh no, I insist. As long as you're fine with talking hockey, you'll fit right in." She spoke and laughed. "So, seven o'clock, be here. I don't want to keep you any longer, so I won't blabber on anymore. Jordan, help her unload the sod at her house." She spoke, and then I was out the door, beside Jordan, heading to my truck.

"So, you're stalking me eh?" Jordan asked once we were inside my truck and grinned. Watching me and smirking. Fine, two can play at that game, maybe.

"No. I needed sod. If you don't want to come, then I'll be find getting home." I spoke, watching him, and he laughed.

"It's okay. I'm sure you'll get lost driving back to your house, and if you don't show up for dinner, mom's going to kill me." He spoke, and grinned. I tryed to hide my smile, but I knew it just wasn't going to happen.

"Fine, but you're unloading all the sod." I replied and grinned, starting up the truck, and heading off towards my home for the summer.


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