Page 28 - HEF Pen & Ink 2020
P. 28

SHADOWS
by Ella Rowland
 CEDARMOOR
by Natalia Kelly
the inside is heavily vandalized. When you see the lights on and a person leaving with a brown paper bag, do not question them, and do not stare.
There is a town far outside of Occoquan, Vir- ginia that the locals will take the dirt roads to avoid. The one-lane streets that get you just far enough away from the sight of the city that people can feel comfortable driving away, even when they have to veer off the gravel to let other cars pass them. This town has a population of one-hundred-and-twenty- two. Cedarmoor.
Always go the speeding limit. The Sheriff can catch you even if you do not think so.
Cedarmoor has a code of conduct for if you pass through, which most people try not to, so long as they know. Strangers driving in from out of state, or out of Occoquan, usually fail to recognize these rules. They are as follows:
The bay is behind The Sheriff’s office. There is not a lifeguard on duty, so act with caution.
When passing by the single K-12 school, do not linger near the parking lot. The staff require the space, and will phone in to have you removed.
There are two cafes, the Red Bird and the Smokehouse. Never order a London fog from the Red Bird and never order espresso from either.
A building painted red is a sign that they will never be open when you find it convenient. Come back on accident and try again.
Sometimes the people are watching. They are standing at their window, or watching from a store or a restaurant. They are looking from the street corners and the red lights. They are looking at you from the
26
The liquor store has been closed for years, and
There is a local pool where the swimming team goes to practice. They are always there when you are. Do not watch or follow along in their drills. Stay away from the drain and filter.
The hotel is not safe for more than a one- night visit. People caught staying for more than a day have to deal with room service.


















































































   26   27   28   29   30