Hiker in the Path

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KM

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The morning air was crisp with a cold breeze blowing through the trees. The vibrant leaves rustled with the wind, showing off the beautiful colors of fall. Fall was one of my favorite seasons. I had never enjoyed the heat in the summer or coldness the winter brings. The fall always brought the perfect temperature around, along with a ray of colors.

Closing the front door to the house, I moved to the sidewalk along the house. I knew from driving around the town, that it was only a five minute walk to head into town.

Walking along the sidewalk, I listened to the sounds of leaves that have fallen crunching while I walked. I could see the town a short distance away.

When heading into town, I was surprised not to see anyone also walking along the town sidewalks. Most of the houses were spread out amongst each other, a short distance away from each. They all ran on the outskirts of were all the shops were.

The shops were all clumped together, each one not very far from each one. The school was about another five minute walk from all the shops.

It was different from the city life, but it was a good change.

Looking around at there weren't many shops around. One shop that caught my eye was a local bookstore. Excited to see there was a bookstore, I immediately wanted to check that out first. Reading had always been a passion on mine. I enjoyed non-fiction, filling my brain with information on real events or real people. I read very few fiction books, they weren't my things. I never saw how people had an interest in the supernatural or fantasy. For me it was hard to read something that wasn't even true. It is just a made up story from someone's mind, I would never understand the appeal.

Strolling into the bookstore, the bell chimed as I entered. The check out desk was right at the front of the store. Along the walls of the store were shelves of books, while behind the check out desk more rows. The store was vacant with no one inside, that I could see. It was a small bookstore, a faint musty scent hung in the air. There were signs showing each of the genres for the books; mysteries, romance, thrillers, science fiction, history and fantasy.

I headed over to the history section, scanning the titles of the books.

"Hello! I am sorry I didn't know I had a customer," I heard from someone behind me. I turned around to see a short old women. With slightly greying hair, she had a soft smile, making her blue eyes twinkle. The women was probably around her upper sixties. She was dressed in a long dark blue dress, with a cream cardigan to go over it.

I smiled at her. "You are alright, I was just coming into town when I saw the store, and I couldn't resist stopping in," I replied.

"I don't get a lot of customers coming in here anymore. It is always nice to see a nice young face coming in to look at the books. Did you just move into town, dear?" The women questioned.

"Is it that obvious?" I chuckled.

"We don't get many new faces around here. It's a small town, dear," she responded looking amused.

"Ah, well yes," I rubbed the back of my neck. "Well I am Angelica Wolland," I said while holding out my hand for her to shake. " I just got a job as the fourth grade teacher at Hues Elementary School."

Smiling she shook my hand, "Eva Reed, dear. It's always good to see a new person move into town. Do you need any help finding a book?"

"Um, actually I was wondering if you had a trail map of some sort, so I can see what trails are around here?" I inquired.