Chariness - Tumblr Posts

"Just passing through?” the Rooster asks, wary of your intentions. Nobody has moved to this town in twelve years, not since the mine was worked barren. The Rooster knows everybody here, working as he does in the gas station on what passes for a main street, and he does not recognize you. He also knows the sort of trouble a body can cause when they’ve no ties that bind to a location, and the silence following his question grows deafening. 

"Yeah, uh, yes sir,” you stammer, wholly unprepared for the distrust palpable in what would be otherwise an innocent question, “I’m on my way to ████████ and thought it might be best to fill the tank up now so i can head straight home after.” 

Two slips of paper are slid across the counter: the merchant’s copy of the credit card transaction for you to sign and a copy for you to keep. You autograph quick as you can; the silence again attacking your eardrums is broken only when you hand over your signature. “I reckon you’re right,” the Rooster says, “It’d be best you not stop in here again.”

You leave.