While she played with some kids in the trailer park, she never made any lasting friendships. Most families moved after a couple of years. Some bought homes in Cedar Bluff. Other families just left never to be heard from again. However, there were a few people that had been there since her mom and her arrived sixteen years ago.
Two trailers down was Miss Trudy, a southern sweetheart originally from Georgia with the accent to prove it. She was probably in her fifties. Through the years many men had come in and out her door. Some for a night, some stayed longer. There were rumors of prostitution but Sadie never bought into it. Even if the rumors were true, she wouldn’t have cared. Miss Trudy had always been nice to her. She took Sadie in a few times and fed her when her mom forgot to leave the key for Sadie. She baked cookies at Christmas and dropped them off every Christmas Eve. She even made a special cake for Sadie on her ninth birthday.
Her mom didn’t like Miss Trudy and that was being kind. Truthfully, her mom hated her, said she was trash. She would be pleasant enough to Miss Trudy in public but as soon as they were alone, she would go on a rant. She hated when Sadie spent any time with her. She would say, “You stay away from that woman, Sadie. She’s no good, whoring herself for any man that gives her a bit of attention. I don’t need her teaching you any of her tricks.” Her mom didn’t like Miss Trudy because deep down inside she knew she was just like her. Although, Sadie’s mom wasn’t nearly as nice as Miss Trudy.
Sadie was reading her newest “dirty girl” book when Miss Trudy walked over. She was bundled up with a scarf and winter coat. It was cold and the weather people were calling for snow in the next few days. November in Nebraska was usually too cold to be sitting outside but they were experiencing record breaking temperatures. It hadn’t been that warm in Nebraska during November in sixty-two years. It was about forty-five degrees but the sun made it feel warmer.
Sadie was bundled up on the Adirondack chair in her yard. The two chairs she had were in good condition. They were Lenny’s, her old neighbor. When he moved, he put them in the trash. Sadie swiped them, cleaned them up, and set up a little sitting area in her fifteen-by-fifteen-foot yard. She also had a small plastic table separating the chairs.
She waved at Miss Trudy as she entered.
“Hi, Miss Trudy! How about this weather, it’s a Nebraska Indian summer!”
She laughed as she made her way toward Sadie. For an older woman, she was very attractive. Bleach blonde hair to her shoulders, full face of makeup, and heels. She was the only woman Sadie knew who could pull off that look.
“Warm as it may be, it’s still too cold for this Georgia peach, Miss Sadie!”
She’d always called her Miss Sadie. When Sadie was younger, she called her Little Miss Sadie. She dropped the “little” a few years back.
Miss Trudy took a seat in the empty chair next to the table. Sadie dropped her book on the table and bundled up tighter under the blanket as a cool gust of wind blew in. Although it was unseasonably warm, it was definitely getting too cold for more than an hour of reading outside.
“How’s it going?” Sadie asked.
Miss Trudy sniffed. “It’s all right. Damn this weather, my nose always runs.” She proceeded to blow her nose.
“You want some coffee; it’s fresh, just brewed it.”
“No, thanks, sweetheart, I just came over for a favor.”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“Can you bring me home some Danish from your next shift?” she said with a disgusted look on her face. This made Sadie laugh. She started laughing, too.
“Harry?” Sadie asked, although she already knew the answer. Harry, her new man, loved the Danish at Bernie’s. Miss Trudy, being an amazing baker, was slightly offended by this.
“Yeah. Men are stupid creatures, Sadie. My goods are better than any diner Danish. But Harry wants some for when he comes home. The things we do to keep our men happy.” She sighed as she adjusted her jacket.
“No problem. I’m working tonight; I’ll drop them on your porch when I get home.” Sadie smiled.
She smiled back as a gust of wind blew her hair in her face. She moved the hair behind her ear and opened her mouth to speak but stopped. Something beyond had her attention. Sadie looked over her shoulder and watched a sleek shiny Porsche drive down the road. It was a beautiful champagne color. It slowed down and finally stopped in front of her trailer. The driver was probably lost.
“Oh my Lord!” Miss Trudy whistled.
They watched as the driver got out of the car. He was tall with dark hair. He had a pair of expensive looking sunglasses on so she couldn’t really see his face. He looked down the road from where he came in and down to the other end. Yeah, he was lost. It happened a lot. People thought there was a cut-through to the other side of town but there wasn’t. There was only one way in and one way out.
He’d checked out his surroundings. Sadie would too she thought, if she was driving a car like that through a trailer park. He didn’t look worried though. He looked confident, like he was exactly where he was supposed to be. Silently, Miss Trudy and Sadie were still watching him. He glanced across the street and turned fully around to them. He stopped moving when he realized he was being watched.
He moved around the front of his car and it beeped. He must have locked it, smart
