Chapter 7: New neighbour

Hurry up!

"Give me the duct tape. I don't want to hear any more noises."

"All things are ready!" a guy wearing a black tuxedo with a cigar in his mouth said.

"Rush up! Set the cargo ready. We have to deliver these things by tonight. I don't know if the buyers might like them or not. If not—"

"Then I know how to sell them at low cost."

(Guns firing.)

"Boss!" someone shouted. "Hey, guys, don't damage my products!"

The firing continued.

"Didn't I tell you to stop? Hey, you! Hurry up and see what's going on."

A bullet hit the man's head, splattering it into pieces. The boss covered in blood.

"Take cover! Cover me!" the boss shouted, using the dead man as a shield.

"What's happening?"

"Sir, it's the police."

"Aren't we done with them yet?"

"I don't know, sir. They seem to have crossed the deal."

(Firing stopped.)

"What are you doing?" The assistant grabbed the boss's neck and threw him in the middle of the warehouse.

"You treacherous bas**rd!"

"Hey, hey! Easy. He didn't do anything." A policeman approached with a dead body in his hand.

"I think you and I had agreed on something," boss said.

"I know, I know, but hey! It's just... things get out of hand, you know. We needed some extra favors, and you just wouldn't hand us so simply, so there are other ways too."

"Like your assistant came up with. I have to say, you have some really genius people here."

"You have disgraced the buyers. Now they will come after you," the boss said with a cunning tone.

"No, no, no, not if I sell them better products at a much lesser rate. By the way, I'm handing over the business to someone else from now on. But first, as you were saying, I have to sell these low-standard products."

"Boy! Yes, you, the genius one. You're the manager from now on."

The police officer drew a magnum from his holster and shot the boss right between his legs.

"Come, come with me. Ssh! Make no noise."

"Who's there? Come out now. I said, come out now!"

The officer fired with a submachine gun.

(RAT-A-TAT-TAT)

(Dust everywhere.) (Sounds of coughing.)

"Sara! Sara! Put those AirPods out. How many times do I have to tell you not to beat the dusty sofa but to clean it by rubbing?"

"Sorry, Mom!" Sara said, twisting her lips.

"Now go get the clothes from the laundry shop."

"My AirPods!" Sara plugged in her AirPods, grabbed her skateboard, and went out.

"Someday, I'll break those AirPods!" Sara's mom grunted.

(Stayin' Alive by Bee Gees playing.)

"Good morning, Uncle Caleb!"

"Good morning, sweetheart."

"Here's your laundry."

"Oh, thank you, Sara."

The old man mumbled, "Am I getting old, Sara? Yesterday I had three teeth in my mouth; now I have two."

"No, Uncle Caleb, you're so young! You just need some exercise. Try pulling your stick up and down. I'm sure it'll help."

Sara noticed a nice aroma in the doorway.

"Do you have any guests here? You haven't had anyone for years, and neither do you give your upper portion for rent because you don't like anyone."

"That's not true. I like you!" The old man pointed at Sara with his stick.

"Okay then, bye, Uncle Caleb. See you next week."

"Now, what's the chores list? Laundry—done. Sanitary items—done. Grocery!"

(Ting.)

(The mart door opened.)

"Welcome, ma'am," the cashier greeted Sara.

Sara nodded. "Let's see. Skimmed milk, some dry milk, some yogurt, cereals, cheese... Why is it all milk-related stuff? Why doesn't Mom add some spice to our lives?"

"Miss, step aside, please. You can't have that milk and cheese."

"Why?"

"Mam, it's already bought by a customer."

"But you're supposed to take these things away, not just decorate them in their place."

"Manager, please let me handle this," a girl in her teenage years with long blonde hair and black round glasses stepped forward.

"Mam, I'm so sorry. Please, if you don't mind, keep this. The thing is, I have some guests coming to my house, so I need that urgently. So I bought it in advance. Please, it's just for today."

"Fine!" Sara said in a grumpy way.

"Why don't you take your favorite spices you were mentioning earlier?"

(Sara stared at the girl and angrily left the mart.)

"Ugh!" Sara stretched her hair. "Why does my day have to start this badly? People are becoming more annoying day by day. I wish I had just stayed in that wooden cabin all day long. I should visit Langster. Maybe he has some jokes to cheer me up."

(Sara entered the coffee shop.)

"As I expected, at 10 a.m., you're here. By the way, why are you so punctual?"

"Because I got a job!" Langster said in a teasing tone.

"Here, have these chapters and make my day worse."

"Let's see. First, you're not dedicating proper time to your novel. Giving only chunks every day isn't a good idea. Do you think so? Yes, you!"

"I think it's fine as long as the audience is enjoying it."

"But... the audience is not enjoying it. I know what you're going to say next."

"Let's just dumb this up, Sara. I have good news for you."

"Here it comes."

"Hey, Langster!"

"Hey, sweetheart. Meet my new friend, Sara."

Sara glanced at them in surprise.

"You, the girl from the mart!"

"You two know each other?" Langster asked.

"No, we just met in the mart," the girl replied, sitting closer to Langster.

"Sara, she's my friend. You could say an old customer. She also writes webnovels just like you, but I have to say, why doesn't she want me to put any effort into her work? I mean, she's too good."

"I just shifted to your town. From now on, I'll live here, close to you, Langster."

"So nice of you," Langster said, sipping his coffee.

"Where are you going, Sara?"

"I just have some chores pending. I need to get them done."

(Sara leaves the coffee shop.)

"What's going on here? First in the mart, then in the coffee shop!"

Sara plugged in her AirPods and ran toward her house on her skateboard.

"Sara! Sara!"

"Not now, Uncle Caleb. I have to hurry home."

"I forgot to tell you something. I just rented the upper floor to a girl. Her name is Elaine. I don't know why I keep forgetting things," the old man muttered to himself.