Hell in Hemsdale

In the town of Hemsdale many refused to stay for long periods of time, rather the locals wouldn’t allow anyone to stay. It wasn’t that the town was ever too busy, nor was it that the population ever got too high. The population usually stayed around 15 000. Stores on the main street were mainly locally owned by residents. The sole residents had been there for nearly 20 or more years. Everyone in Hemsdale knew one another They made sure any passers-by were clearly informed of this fact. 

“Just put that box near the couch please.” Sarah’s soft and delicate voice instructed the mover. She took a drink of her water and set it on the marble island counter that separated the kitchen from the dining room and living room. She and her girlfriend Naomi were moving into their first place together.  It was a small flat that they worked towards saving for. After a couple of years they finally left the big city for a change. 

Naomi came in carrying a box in her black jean overalls and black and red horizontal striped shirt. She took it past the other movers and Sarah, placing it in the bedroom near the closet.

 “Sarah, love, should I hang clothes now or later?” She didn’t need to raise her voice much for it to travel down the small hall. 

“That’s okay, we’ll just do it later once we feel a bit more settled in.” Sarah’s voice seemed to get closer as she entered the room and smiled at Naomi. 

Naomi turned and returned the warm smile. “That sounds good to me. I think we should go out tonight and go have a nice dinner and some drinks in celebration.” She admired Sarah for her choice to wear colours. Sarah was in a beautiful flowy light blue sundress and had her blonde hair down her shoulders where Naomi told her she liked it best. 

Naomi worked her thick dark hair up into a bun. “We only have a few boxes left, then we can get ready to go out.” She gave Sarah a quick peck on the cheek and went outside to the moving truck. 

On her way out there were no neighbours outside, at first she thought it was odd, but she figured many families were working, at school and generally busy. Across the street she saw movement of curtains in what seemed to be the living room of the small brown house that had the numbers “448” in bold black font for everyone to see. She tried looking beyond the rims of her glasses, not to seem nosy, that’s when she saw the curtain move faster, as if someone hadn’t wanted to be seen. 

Upon her arrival back inside the movers had taken their payment and bidded them a good evening. Naomi set the last box that read “Books” near where she imagined a bookshelf. “That does it. I’m just going to have a quick shower and we can head to this small thai place I saw on the way in.” She unboxed towels and bathroom essentials and got ready. Her melodic voice was heard over the sound of running water. 

In the car, Sarah looked around curiously as Naomi drove. They found a little parking lot around the side of the restaurant. They walked hand-in-hand to the entrance doors, a bell went off when they entered the building. 

A man walked out from around the counter and didn’t do well at hiding the fact he rolled his eyes. “Al, we’ve got newcomers!” The older man yelled into the back. Everyone who had been seated looked up at the two women and began asking for containers to take their food home. The man seated the two girls, not even asking if they had wanted a drink or anything to start. 

Naomi and Sarah exchanged a look of worry mixed with uncertainty. Naomi leaned over the table a little and whispered to Sarah. “I guess we’ll just have water.” She tried to lighten the mood. “Why is everyone leaving so suddenly?” Sarah asked as her eyes wandered over to the families that were packing up. She thought it was possible they moved to a town that didn’t support same-sex relationships, but she noticed two men arose from a table and left their tips on the table. 

Not before long they were alone in the restaurant and they patiently waited for the man to return. He came back with two glasses of water. Then he returned with two plates of pad thai. Naomi blinked a few times and furrowed her brows when the steaming food was set before them. “Uh, sir, sorry, Paul..” She squinted to read his nametag as she left her glasses at home. “We didn’t get a menu or any time to decide.” Naomi attempted to sound as polite as she could. Her green eyes looked at Sarah for support. 

“Yeah, well we only serve the regulars here. So if you’re gonna be a regular, you’ll eat and drink the regular.” He bluntly said. And with that he left them to eat and returned to the back where Naomi was sure she could overhear Paul and Al talking about them. 

Sarah chirped in after Paul left. “Regulars? As in residents? We are now living here, that was really weird.” She frowned a little and began eating. She wiped her face with a napkin. “Everyone will be more welcoming once we settle in and they realize we are just like them.” She tried to sound more hopeful. Naomi looked around, as she finished her meal. “Do you fancy a walk afterwards?” She cleaned up her dishes and left them respectfully in the middle of the table. Sarah was just dabbing the edge of her mouth with her napkin when Naomi posed the idea of a walk. “Yes, I want to see more of this cute little quaint place.” She smiled before taking a last drink of water and Paul came back with their bill. 

A few blocks away Naomi and Sarah found a park. It had a nice stone path, all of the stones lining the sides were painted by artists. Big full trees stood parallel on each side until the middle of the park where a monumental statue stood in the center of a fountain. It looked to be of an elderly man who held a paintbrush in one hand and a palette in the other, hugging it to his chest. Underneath on a plaque read: “Henry Hemsdale”. 

“This is nice, we can come here on nightly walks.” Sarah said excitedly. Naomi nodded and gave her a bright white wide smile. “Maybe Henry here will keep us company, seeing as everyone else is leaving.” She noted a boy and his mother who looked almost in horror at the two when they made their way closer to the fountain, the mother whispered something to the boy and she got up and left, pulling his hand as his head remained turned in curiosity. 

Sarah and Naomi let out a simultaneous yawn and chuckled at one another. “Well that answers my next question.” Naomi joked as she began leading them back to the car. Even on the way back to the car, shop owners were closing their shops early and awkwardly closing their blinds slowly as their eyes peered through the small openings. 

Naomi drove the short drive back and they got settled in for the night. Sarah and her layed in bed both reading before they eventually fell asleep. 

The following morning Naomi was off at her first day working at a florist shop on the corner of the main street intersection. That intersection was the only one in Hemsdale. She was there early and her boss, Robyn seemed uninterested in even answering any of her questions and getting her started. “You can actually leave early if you want today, I don’t think many people will stop by with a new face.” Robyn said in a monotone. 

Back at home, Sarah had woken up a bit later. Naomi left her with a pot of coffee so she could get back to her writing as soon as she could. Sarah, for her usual morning routine would walk out and get the paper. They finally had their own little mailbox at the end of their driveway and it made Sarah gush. She opened the mailbox and put the red flag down on the side. In her hand was the newspaper, a letter, and random flyers. She closed the box and headed back inside, prepping her coffee and sitting down to open the letter. 

Dear #449,

Here at the Rendolph’s, we don’t do well with change. We rather be upfront and blunt because no one here is kind to newcomers. We say that with the utmost respect, including when we tell you kindly to leave. This town doesn’t need any new change or change in our perfect routine. We all work, live and breathe Hemsdale, meaning there’s no more room for you here. It would throw off the balance of how we have the neighbourhood and all surrounding activities. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. 

The Rendolph’s.

Sarah pulled out her phone and tried to call Naomi. When she finally picked up she made sure she was clear in her words so they didn’t come across as panicked or fear filled. “Hey, I just wanted to let you know we received a letter, it almost seems like a warning, but there was no room to rebuttal.” Sarah said and then took a sip of coffee. 

“Hey, it’s okay, I’ll actually be home sooner than I originally told you. Robyn mentioned something about losing customers because I’m not a familiar face. I guess the people here really are only comfortable with who and what they know.” Naomi tried once again to calm Sarah before they both hung up as she was on her way home. 

In the driveway Naomi noticed her car had been keyed, another note was stuffed in her muffler and it read the same as the Rendolph’s, exact wording, only with another neighbourhood family name. 

“This was in my muffler and my car has been keyed on both sides. I don’t understand what is going on..” Naomi handed the note over to Sarah and she skimmed it as she just read the same thing not twenty minutes prior. “I don’t want to stay in a place where we are shunned and disregarded completely. It’s ridiculous that these people can’t accept anyone trying to relocate their place of residence.” She shook her head. 

“Do you think we could stick it out? That eventually we could be as happy as them, to live in time with them, and share the space?” Sarah asked, her voice was laced with hope and wonder. 

“We can, but if anyone threatens us again, or comes near you, we’re heading back.” Naomi projected protectively. 

Sarah finished her coffee and began pouring another for herself along with another for Naomi. “I don’t want it to come to that, but of course.” She hummed while she added the sugar and cream to the coffees. 

An explosion was heard outside as Naomi’s car burst into flames. Spray painted on the windshield was a clear message reading “LEAVE”. Naomi and Sarah both ran out the door, Sarah was still in one of Naomi’s button ups and underwear, she gasped and cupped her own face. Naomi swore and put her arm out to stop Sarah from getting any closer to the hazard. A group of teenagers scattered down the street wearing paper bags over their heads as they ran with spray paint into the garage of a few houses down. In each window of every house, people stood watching and nodding in agreeance with the action performed. Hemsdale would remain inhabited by the usuals. 

“Okay. That’s it. Go inside and pack everything up. We’re on the road again..” Naomi said defeated. She followed Sarah back inside, keeping a hand on the small of her back while Sarah wept.