Still Life

This is not "Family Under the Bridge" nor is it "The Bell Jar" and it may never be what "Hillbilly Elegy" is but what it is; is a manuscript that came from a 500-word writer challenge. With only three requirements the lead sentence had to be " Get out of my trash!"; to use two items next to you ( Pepper shaker and a Crosley counter radio) and a word count of 500 words or less. With the help of Curtis Lowel and a trip to Wooley Swamp; I took that 500 word challenge and add on until I reached 7000 words. To short for Harper Collins but I felt I had added enough with out difuseing the sintement of the story. Longer is not always better. With that in mind here is a quick sample of what is to come. On many occasions, I was a bottle short and they let me go ahead and get a sandwich and a drink. Whoever rang me up would just keep a tab of what I owed. I never let it run a long time, my dad would kill me for spending money I didn't have. My stomach was growling and I want to show Pepper that I could handle a simple sandwich run to the Alco. I get off my bike and even put the kick stand down because I didn't want to dent the basket anymore than what it was or just knock it off altogether. That would not be a good thing. Making Pepper mad is the last thing I want to ever do. He could always go to the police because I was stealing out of his trash. He has one on me and I need to be as good to him as I need to be to avoid any law enforcement in my life. I run around at all times of the day and I don't need any trouble from anyone else besides my dad. Mom acts as if she doesn't care if I am there or not. Dad is only home on every other Monday from the road and has more on his mind than where I spend my time. That would all change if the police would become part of my life. Dad would more than likely take me along with him. To most boys my age that seems like a dream come true but for me, it would definitely be the end of my freedom. I walk in through its off set door and all the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the on goings plays out like some rag tag orchestra. Right away Dale is yelling my name and motioning me to come where he was standing. “Do you have the seven bottles that you need to clear up what you owe? He asked once I got closer.“Yes sir. Here are your seven plus four more I would like to cash in.” I said cheerfully. “Thats' fine. So eleven bottles at seven cents a piece, here is your seventy cents. That's minus the fifty cents you have on your tab. Your balance is clear and how would you like your twenty eight cents” he asked as he brought his hand from out the cash register. “Can you take that off of what mom owes? I asked himHe looked at me puzzled and then nodded. “So you want to take this receipt and make sure your mom holds on to it. I dont want there to be any discrepancy with her bill.”he told me. I shook my head yes, took the receipt from him and told him thank you. I looked around and realized that the place was actually crowded. A line has formed around the parameter of the store starting from the front door all the way to the back to the deli portion of the store. I walk past the peanut stand and popcorn popper.