Runaway: Stories

Carla lives in a mobile home in Canada. She hears a car pull up outside; she’s concerned that it may belong to Mrs. Sylvia Jamieson, her neighbor, who has been on vacation in Greece. Spotting Sylvia, Carla worries about an expression on the woman’s face. She recoils, thinking to herself whether Clark, Carla’s husband, knows that Sylvia is back. If he doesn’t know, she wonders when he’ll find out. Carla expects her neighbor to call.

Later, Carla will teach a riding lesson. She ventures out to inspect the ground, even though she’s sure that her student won’t turn up. This July, she thinks, has reflected the wet summer. Nearby trails have flooded, and the grass around the mobile home is sodden. Last summer, many tourists came to Carla for horseback riding lessons. This summer, fewer have come. The riding ring is damaged, but repairs require time and money.

Sitting at the computer, Clark searches for materials to fix the roof. He would go to the local store, but he owes the proprietor money. He fought with them. Carla dislikes how many of Clark’s friendships “suddenly turn sour” (6). Many relationships with the local townspeople have soured, making their lives more difficult. A woman named Joy Tucker pays Carla to board her bad-tempered horse (named Lizzie Borden), but Clark fought with Joy, so now Carla must take care of the horse.