Priscilla Chapter Two

Aubrey tries to adjust to her new life on Miller farms despite the isolation (First Draft)

Aubrey always knew that she was attracted to women ever since she was a wee little egg. There was just something so sensually comforting about them, especially girls much older than she. And as she herself got older, it seemed to grow even more intense as she came to understand her own budding sexuality and what it was specifically she desired in a woman. One who was very healthily hefty, who moved about elegantly with effortless grace, a smile as sweet as syrup to draw in all the salivating eager admirers, and one who had been blessed enough by Nature to be molded in Aphrodite’s image once her body had fully matured. Unfortunately, this description fit Priscilla, the Farmer’s Wife—her cousin’s wife— to a tee. Aubrey knew that being around a woman as tantalizing as she could eventually lead to disaster, dire consequences between her and her remaining family member that could never be reversed. Which was why the young Miller had concluded that she needed to leave this chapter behind as soon as she was able.

Unfortunately for Aubrey, only two days had passed since her arrival. So she was not going anywhere anytime soon with the little money she had on her. Aside from that, she believed she was starting to feel like she was getting used to the environment…somewhat. The nippy early twilight dawns were brutal. Aubrey had to get up at hours when even the sun had not awoken yet and equip the proper farming attire. A makeshift woven straw hat, a pair of layered cloth gloves, a white t shirt, a pair of patched up denim overalls, and ebony rubber boots. There was a tight schedule that blob Kevin wanted her to follow on their working days. Start with fetching the water for the house and leaving at the door for Priscilla to complete her household activities. Whether Priscilla needed water to cook or clean, it needed to be fetched every single day. Then, head to the barn and let the animals out to graze. Calves and other baby animals must be nursed and bottle fed to ensure that they’re getting all of their nutrients and calories. While the animals are eating, go inside the barn and clean up all of their waste. Each animal must be thoroughly cleaned and groomed in order to maintain their health. If the cows need to be milked or the sheep need to be sheered, that comes afterwards. When that’s all done and taken care of, wrangle the animals back inside. Once the animals are taken care of, Aubrey either makes more mulch or helps prepare the freshly picked Miller crops. Kevin’s main and favorite crop to grow was corn. Sweet, golden maize. And lots of it. He grew other crops and vegetables as well like carrots, cabbage, and potatoes. And then at the very end of the day, once the day star finally began to fall, Aubrey would fetch water from the well once again. Only then was Aubrey able to take her bath and wash the day away. Even on Sunday’s. Their only off day.

And speaking of Sunday, Aubrey woke up bright and early that morning to get ready for Sunday service. Aubrey already knew how important attending church was to Kevin. She was told that the only time they ever missed church was to attend the farmer’s market every third Sunday of the month, so Aubrey already knew that there was no way to get out of this. The pious bastard. Aubrey got out of her creaky bed and walked across the room to look out the window. The sleepy sun had just started to rear her brilliant head above the horizon, only illuminating a corner of the royal blue sky with a lovely pinks, oranges, and pastel blue hues. But the darkness of the previous night still permeated across the Miller’s many acres of land. Nothing to really see anyways but grass, crops, and a couple of trees scattered across the plain-land here and there. Still…it looked so eerie…how dark it got. Aubrey was so used to welcoming streetlights of Suburbia or the glow coming from other houses, this pitch blackness almost looked unnatural. This was the reason for the work days normally ending no later than 6:30 pm. There would be no way for Miller cousins to see what they were doing with such obstructed visibility. With nary a neighbor in sight. And working with a flashlight in hand was just not practical. Wanting to get it over with as soon as possible, Aubrey grabbed her fluffy white bathing towel—fresh and clean thanks to the courtesy of dear Mrs. Miller—and left her room in a hushed hurry for this holy day’s morning sermon.

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The Millers pulled up to St. Matthew’s Baptist church at around seven that morning. The sky was, once again, a cool gray from the heavy overcast with multicolored automobiles saturating the church’s graveled parking lot. Despite the colorful variety, the amount of people in attendance of today’s service was small. The building—also diminutive— had become frail with time, and much like the Miller’s house, was shedding its decades old paint job. The number of attendees appropriate for the church’s size. The Millers climbed out of that vintage Ford truck and entered the minuscule church house. Kevin, in his usual denim overalls and white t shirt combo. The enchanting Priscilla in a white Sunday dress laced with laces. It reminded Aubrey of that light-blue and white gingham dress that she had grown to adore, except the Sunday dress was not as tight and form fitting as its counterpart. It was also just a bit higher to avoid dirtying it’s milky lace ends. With this dress hiked slightly higher, Mrs. Miller’s tan pumps underneath, that nicely matched her hat on top, were visible as she strolled across the crunching gravel-rock. Today, a face full of make up. Her fluttering eyelashes caked in mascara batter and her plush lips coated in a thin coat of a red tinted gloss. As lovely as she still was, Aubrey personally preferred Priscilla’s idiosyncratic natural glow. Face dewy and bare. As for the first cousin once removed, Olivia, wearing a light brown dress instead of her usual midnight ebony attire. The lightest color the macabre teen was willing to let anyone see her wear. Still shivering from the freezing dawn bath, Aubrey followed behind the other Millers, wearing a cleaner, neater replica of her cousin’s outfit. Once inside, the young Miller scanned the room to get a good look at the patrons. Just as she suspected. It was a single room building with two rows of four wooden benches. They were scarcely occupied, church goers scattered here and there, most of them being of an antiqued generation. Only one young couple with their one young child and baby sat at the front of the room right near the altar, where the priest stood and the pianist sat at their instrument. The building was so old, the wood in the walls, floors, and benches had started their overdue decay. The room smelled earthy, of moss and wet oak. Mixed with the humidity and the varying smells from the other people in the room, it didn’t smell all too pleasant to the suburban Aubrey Miller. The few church goers stared as the Millers claimed their seats towards the back of the room. Not being able to help but notice the fresh face they had brought along with them this week. Aubrey sat on the end of the bench next to Olivia.

Today the priest— Father Hank he was called—spoke about the supposed impending apocalypse. He spoke passionately about how all of the sinners will be left behind to die a horrible death while only the most devote followers of Christ shall be whisked away by the angels and live happily ever after, enjoying the rest of eternity in Gods kingdom. He spoke very intensely about the horrors that awaited the ill-fated nonbelievers. Disease, war, famine, agony, betrayal, any other terrible thing man could think of and more. Every horror the human mind could comprehend, it was waiting for the sinners on Judgment Day. The church patrons called out during the service in bouts of agreement and enthusiasm. Practically cheering for the eternal damnation of the accused sinners.

“Those left behind shall only know pain!” Father Hank continued in a bellowing voice. “They shall only know misery!”

“I know that’s right.” A patron spoke.

“But even worse! They will spend the rest of eternity with a deep and heavy regret in their hearts as their flesh melts and burns away forevermore…for they had the opportunity to be saved…accept the Lord into their hearts. But, they foolishly refused! Time and time again! They’ve refused!!”

Aubrey’s eyes slowly wandered over to their cousin, his wife, and their offspring next to her. Kevin, looking like a sweating pig, was using the service pamphlet as a fan to try and keep cool in the suffocating humidity; Priscilla was lost in deep, intense prayer, rubbing her rosary between her becoming hands and Olivia was sitting perfectly still. Moving only to blink on occasion. Aubrey wondered if she was actually listening or if she was off somewhere else in her head in the middle of a daydream of her creation. Regardless, she wished that she was as good at tuning things out as Olivia seemed to be. Aubrey turned her attention back to the priest.

“Repent!” Hank shouted with impassioned spit flying out from between his crisp thin lips. “Repent now and you too shall be saved in the End!!!”

More patrons continued to enthusiastically shout in agreement.

“Yeah!” Someone shouted.

“You tell ‘em.” An older lady with snow white hair agreed as she nodded.

“Go now with peace my brothers and sisters.” The priest said, finally calming down. He pulled a cream colored handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabbed it across his forehead decorated in salty sweat droplets. “And may be the Lord be with you. Amen.”

“Amen.” The patrons responded in harmonious unison.

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“Father Hank is right you know.” Kevin said on the drive back home. “With the direction this nation is headed, before we know it, the apocalypse will be upon us all!”

“Oh, stop that.” Priscilla huffed in an impatient tone. “You’re making the girls anxious.”

“What? It’s true!” Kevin protested, raising his voice in his God fearing fit. “Everybody needs to open their eyes before it’s too late!! Judgment day will be upon us ALL before we know it!! Maybe we need to get another cross for the house. I’ll be damned if I’m not saved from God’s Wrath in the end.”

“Mom.” Olivia suddenly spoke up.

“Yes, baby?” Priscilla answered softly, perking up and turning to gaze upon her babe in the backseat.

“What’s for brunch…today?”

“Hmm…How does chicken and waffles sound?” Olivia nodded in satisfaction before turning her attention back to watching the plains and other cars fly by.

Priscilla turned back around in her seat.

“We’re having chicken and waffles for brunch, dear.” She repeated to Kevin. The Farmer just grunted in response.

Once back at the house, Priscilla instantly set her sights on her kitchen to get the mid morning brunch prepared. Kevin the Blob flopped onto the worn couch to watch some mindless public access TV, while Olivia and Aubrey resigned to their respective bedrooms. For the first time in a while, there was nothing for Aubrey Miller to do. Absolutely nothing to do around here. She could venture out to the barn and check up on the animals, but who wants to work on their off day? Her only off day. She could go and see what Olivia is up to, but she didn’t seem like the type to want to be bothered at all. Aubrey didn’t even think she would open the door if she knocked. Olivia was like a mute recluse—to a certain extent—it was surprising she even spoke up to ask her mom what they were going to eat. In hindsight, it was probably just to get her father to shut up with all that Apocalypse talk. Aubrey could watch TV with that Blob…but who knows what kind of nutty religious programming he was watching right now. Besides, she knew she was at risk of being subjected to that apocalypse conversation again. Aubrey did not have the energy for that. And then there was Priscilla. Mind meltingly sweet Priscilla. She was busy in the kitchen getting brunch ready for the family as she had promised and Aubrey worried about getting in her way…but watching her couldn’t hurt. Aubrey needed to learn how to cook something for herself other than frozen TV dinners anyways.

After laying in her powder white bed for a few more moments, Aubrey willed herself up and headed back down the stairs. Peering over the mahogany railing, Kevin was already knocked out, like they haven’t been home for less than half an hour. She strolled over beside the couch to catch a glimpse of what was playing on the TV. Just as she thought. Sunday service public access drivel. Aubrey lightly shook her head as she continued on into the kitchen. The diligent Priscilla was already hard at work preparing the chicken, her white lightly stained apron tied tightly around her bijou waist. Quietly humming a tune to herself that was strangely familiar, but Aubrey could not quite place. If siren songs were to sound like anything, Priscilla’s soft humming would be the pure genesis of sea-maiden hymns. Aubrey carefully pulled a seat at the dinner table back and sat down. Enjoying the way Mrs. Miller’s voice delicately filled the room with an inexplicable homely warmth that was hard to find anywhere else throughout the house.

Priscilla glanced over her shoulder as she heard the screech of the chair legs against the sheeted kitchen floor.

“How can I help you, Aubrey?” she asked, turning her attention back to the meat.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” she replied with a shrug. “Just waiting for brunch to be ready.”

“Well it’s gonna be minute.” Priscilla replied, turning around. The church makeup lingered on her godly features. “I haven’t even started on the waffle batter yet.”

“That’s okay.” Aubrey said, bashfully concentrating her gaze on the warm brown dining table she leaned against. “I don’t mind. I need to learn how to cook anyways. I’m a visual learner.”

Priscilla smiled her Cherubic smile before continuing to chop up the chicken. The sound of the sharp blade slicing through the soft meat and colliding with the chopping board at a rapid pace echoed throughout the kitchen in a pleasing way. Once Mother Miller was done with the protein, she washed her hands thoroughly and walked over to the icebox to grab a few more somethings.

“…Oh, shoot.” she huffed, rummaging items around within the metal box.

“What’s wrong…?” Aubrey asked, lifting her head off of her hand.

“We don’t have anymore eggs.” Priscilla said, taking an empty carton that once held the precious eggs in question out of the icebox. Shortly followed by a lightweight milk carton. “Or milk. Kevin!”

Aubrey watched as the Deity of Homemakers created harsh thunder throughout the home as she stomped past her and into the living room, that soft milky scent left in her wake. Her patience for the husband Blob now extremely thin.

“Kevin, wake up!”

“Ughh, What…?” Kevin responded in a groggy state.

“I’m out of milk. Do we have any pasteurized milk I can use for brunch today?”

“Uhh…yeah. But I’m saving that for the farmer’s market in a couple of weeks.”

“You can’t even spare one bottle for me…? I already told you I was running low on a few items last week.”

“I just said, no dammit!” Kevin snapped, clearly cranky from having his nap interrupted. “Don’t you see me trying to sleep here?!”

“Well, someone has to drive me back into town to pick up a couple of things.” Priscilla protested, crossing her arms in frustration. Even with her face twisted in anger, Aubrey felt the blood rush to her full cheeks as she watched Priscilla make these new and interesting expressions. “Because you never got those chickens you promised me.”

“Okay well, tell Aubrey to take you. Shit.”

Priscilla calmly walked back into the kitchen, thunder now subsided, and stood in the open doorway.

“Aubrey, do you, by any chance, know how to drive?” She asked in a suddenly gentle tone.

Aubrey nodded obediently.

“Yes, ma’am.” she croaked out.

The Farmer’s wife walked back into the living room and approached her gelatinous husband. “Fine. Where are the truck keys?”

“Where I always put them.” Kevin replied, his beady eyes closed once again. “Where else?”

Fury still running hot in her veins, Priscilla snatched the keys and Kevin’s wallet from the top of the TV set and headed out the door.

“Come on, Aubrey! I want to make it back before noon.” she called in a commanding voice as she shut the door behind her.

Aubrey immediately hopped up from her wooded seat and followed Priscilla out the house like an eager pup. Only now, as Aubrey Miller walked down the graveled path to the truck waiting patiently among the billowing grass, did she realize how isolating it had been on the farm with not even a week under her belt. No roads. No stores. No neighbors. No nothing but endless grass and the maddening quiet of countryside nature. That abominably isolating realm that harbored Priscilla’s entire reality.