The Inside of the Outside

The house sat a little back from the road, its leaning porch and sagging roof giving it a slump-shouldered look. In the front yard, the rusted shell of a pickup perched on blocks amid an ocean of weeds.

Connor pulled his rented Acura off the road and studied the house for a while. Aside from a couple of hens scratching in the dirt, nothing moved.

He climbed out, picked his way along the overgrown path to the front door. It stood slightly ajar, revealing only darkness inside.

“Hello? Anyone home?”

A minute passed, and then he heard the soft slap of bare feet on board. The door opened.

The girl looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, lank dark hair framing a pale face, faded dungarees revealing thin arms dusted with freckles. They studied each other in silence.

“I’m looking for Jacob Hutchings,” Connor said at last.

The girl pulled the door a little wider. “Hutch!” she called into the darkness.