Passing the welcome sign on his way into town, Nick couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief at the sight of his old stomping grounds. It had been a while since he'd last been home. Driving down the main street through town, he gave a glance up at the old water tower. The high school logo painted on the side, time faded with help from the weather. Leaving home for college was something Nick looked forward to. A new adventure, one that took him out of state and into the big city, away from the monotony of a one-horse town that was his prison for the first eighteen years of his existence.
Earning a bachelor's degree and enjoying all that the college life offered, Nick thrived. Living independently, partying every weekend, and the occasional hook up here and there. Four years flashed by in a blur and upon graduating, he found a job close to his university and settled in to his new life.
Things were going well for the young man. He had a nice apartment, a steady job in the infancy of his career, and of course, the spotlight of his life, his girlfriend, whom he had grown very intense feelings for. They hit it off instantly when a mutual friend introduced them. The pair were soon inseparable, as casual dates turned into lustful sleepovers, which eventually led to a deeper intimacy and bond that formed between the two. At least, that's how Nick saw it. You can imagine the shock he got when that same mutual friend approached him with the worst news the young man thought he could receive. His girlfriend had stepped out on him and was seeing someone else behind his back. Enraged by the news, Nick was beside himself, replaying events from the last two years in his head.
Where did I go wrong?
He thought, the pain of being wronged numbing him to his core.
She never denied it either when confronted. The only explanation she had was that it wasn't him, but her.
"That old cliché," he muttered as he turned and walked out of her life, too heartbroken to say anymore.
His world slowly crumbled around him. Productivity at work slowed as night after night he found himself curled up on a bar stool till closing time. Finally, his boss approached him with an ultimatum: either pick up the productivity or look for other employment. Nearing the end of his rope and foggy from the previous night's hangover, Nick found himself that next morning loading up all of his belongings into his newly purchased pickup truck. With the turn of the lock on his apartment door, he was gone.
After twelve hours of driving and his hangover all but gone, his truck tires hitting gravel as he turned off the two-lane highway towards his parents' place. Feeling the rumble of the gravel under him brought back distant memories. A pit formed in his gut as the thoughts of yesteryear flooded back.
Approaching the old homestead, Nick's heart skipped a beat. Far too long he had been gone, and it made him feel good pulling into the old farmyard. Taking in the modest house and barn, freshly repainted an eggshell white, a small smile cracked his lips as he took in a deep breath and coughed. He laughed to himself as he forgot about how potent the fresh smell of manure was. A smell he hadn't been acquainted with for some time.
Pulling the truck up to the house, he stepped out into the hazy autumn air. It was unusually warm for this time of year, but the humidity felt good on his skin. Taking a few steps towards the house, Nick noted how clean the place looked. He always thought his parents' farm was nothing but a dung heap, but now he was having a new sense of appreciation for the place he called home for so long. He eyed up the sizeable garden that his mom had planted alongside the house, recalling the many long hours he spent helping cultivate, pick weeds, and harvest vegetables each year. Just then, the screen door burst open with excitement.
"Nicholas! What are you doing home?" his mom exclaimed, rushing to hug her baby boy. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming all this way?"
"It's a long story mom, I'll tell you after I unpack some of my things. Is that all right with you?" he laughed, returning his mom's hug.
"Of course, of course. Are you hungry? I can fix some lunch while you unpack?"
"Yeah, that'd be great. I'm starving after that long haul." Nick said, stretching his arms above his head.
Unpacking took a lot less time than he thought and before he knew it, he was sitting at the kitchen table scarfing down a sandwich, chips, and sweet tea. His mom sat across the table, never taking her eyes off the son she hadn't seen in ages. When he finished eating, he explained in great detail of the events that unfolded in his life the last several months. The whole time, his mom sat and listened intently. Nick always appreciated coming to his mom with things on his mind. They talked on the phone several times a month while he'd been gone, usually for an hour at a time. She was reasonable and always did her best to understand both sides of any story before making her opinion known.
"I'm just so happy you're home now, Nicholas. Your father is going to be thrilled to see you."
"Speaking of dad, he out hauling a load?" Nick asked, peering through the kitchen window to the vacant farm yard.
"Yes, he's been hauling corn to the grain elevator for most folks around here the last few weeks. Probably won't be home till after sundown," his mom said, taking the empty plate and glass and placing them in the sink.
Nick's dad owned a semi-truck and grain trailer that he used to haul grain from their farm, as well as helping their neighbors. Many of the neighbors had much larger farms than Nick's family, but they all respected Nick's dad as a hard worker and one that they could always trust to get the job done.
Nick told his mom that he was going to lie down and take a short nap. His mother agreed to the idea and sent him on his way. Retiring down the stairs, Nick found the basement just as he'd remembered it. It was one large room with concrete block walls. Unfinished and used mainly for storage. Nick had turned it into his bedroom when he was about fourteen. He loved the cool and dark dungeon fell, much easier sleeping than the sunbaked upstairs bedrooms. Plopping down on his old bed, he quickly drifted off to sleep.
Stirring from his deep slumber, Nick awoke to the sound of a diesel truck rumbling up the driveway. The basement was completely dark, and he assumed it must be well past sunset. Rising from the bed, he climbed the stairs and entered the kitchen just as his dad stepped through the back door into the mudroom. A look of surprise covered his face as he untied his work boots.
"What the hell brings you home, son?" his dad exclaimed. "Sheila, did you know about this?" A look of shock, mixed with pure joy, filled the man's face as he stood to embrace his son.
"I was just as surprised as you are, Terry," Sheila said with a laugh, turning back to the meal she was preparing over the stove.
Nick and his dad sat at the table, catching up while his mom finished making supper. He explained his reasons for returning home and, like his mom, his dad was equally supportive.
