Walk up the hill
“Oh! Yeah, I’m fine. I just…” Jared played it off by pointing over his shoulder with his thumb. “Just need to walk up that hill more often, I guess.” He cringed on the inside. I probably walk it every day.
That only seemed to confuse him. “You didn’t fly?”
Jared came close to stuffing his face in with his palm. Dumbass! Of course you can fly! I saw that Pidgeot and it still didn’t cross my mind to try. “Ah! You know, it helps to work out the legs sometimes. Can’t rely on your wings all the time.”
Fortunately, the villager seemed to buy it. “Yeah! I guess you’re right. Are you headed back to the office?”
I’ll have to find out where that is. “Not yet. As a matter of fact, I’m just walking around town. Thought I’d… You know, see how everyone was doing.”
“Aw, well we appreciate it. Come around my place sometime and we’ll have dinner.”
Such a lovely suggestion made Jared’s gut twist. I still don’t know this guy’s name. Is he someone I know in another realm? Probably not. I don’t recognize his voice. “Of course. That sounds great. I’ll… have to take you up on that sometime. And repay you! By, uh… having dinner at my place.” Making promises already. I really am a politician here.
The Charmeleon beamed brightly and nodded. “Awesome! Just let me know. You know where to find me. See you later!” Then he trailed off, lugging his supplies with him.
Jared waved goodbye. No, I don’t know where to find you. “Yeah, see you later.” He rolled his jaw anxiously. <i>If I’m going to make it a whole week, I’m going to have to learn how to fit in. He reminded himself that he wasn’t someone’s captive anymore and that fitting in here was not a matter of life and death, or so he hoped. The village lived on in front of him, a hive of individuals, families, friends and fiends meandering and milling through their allotments as casually and kindly as their temperaments would allow them. He was not only among them but one of them, their appointed leader whose job it was- at least in his eyes -to keep them happy and safe. For the rest of the week at least he was going to get to know them, but he wasn’t going to do that just standing around.
Written by TheGreatJaceyGee on 01 September 2025
The end (for now)