The first village passed through seemed hauntingly still. Sheddan, though it has working streetlights, a park, church and grocery store, no one is around, all buildings and houses dark. Knowing it was the rhubarb capital didn't make the place sound any sweeter.

It wasn't long before the road came close enough to see the lake, allowing for a mental distraction. At the distance the water seems calm, but rarely is, usually choppy. Nearing the village of Eagle the lake is close enough many little waves catch reflections from the moonlight.

Catching it Arlene turns about to study it. "Wow, the Lake looks really nice like that. It almost seems to be shimmering. You say its about two hundred feet to the bottom?"

"Yeah, there's the occasional valley, crack or drop in the landscape you can see closer to the bottom but it's higher than it seems. Oddly when you look up from the bottom it doesn't seem so high."

Thinking two hundred feet may be enough to soil one's undies, she also thinks of the stuffed garbage bags in the back. "Do you have a washer and dryer at your place?"

"No." Pointing uselessly ahead. "We'll pass by my favorite Laundromat outside Wheatley. They even have television there. But if you need stuff done, take it into Leamington with us tomorrow. You can get a few loads done while getting anything else you might want - like a bed."

"Oh good. I think most of it needs to be done." Now wondering about the two towns, queries, "which one is closer and which one has more shopping?"

"Leamington, in both respects. It has most stores needed. Even a Wal-Mart."

"Oh a Wal-Mart pretty snazzy." She jokes but is content to know shopping is nearby.

"Leamington also has some nice waterfront parks including a ferry. Wheatley is a village built around fishing. There's a family restaurant and a couple places to get gas and snacks. Their Laundromat is usually quieter though. Not far from there is a protected woodlot that has wooden walkways through out. On nicer days take Sheena for a walk while waiting for the laundry to dry."

"Oh sounds okay maybe be able to find work in Leamington than - at least as a cashier or waitress."

"If you don't mind picking produce many greenhouses there too. The area dream job is Heinz Ketchup. Leamington is also the tomato capital of Canada. They even got a giant tomato downtown."

"Tomatoes eh? Some sort of tourist attraction tomato or just a really big one?"

"It's big enough to get a few people into. They use it as their information booth. Also big on bell peppers and 'cukes' down here. Cucumber to you and me, better warn you so don't look as foolish as I did when I asked. Hey what are cukes anyway? Have to take you on the highway to Kingsville. So many tomato and cuke stands along the way. You'll wonder how they can compete with each other."

Certainly okay with going for a drive she wonders what's the fascination with produce. "You mean like road side markets?"

"Them too. No, people set up roadside stands about ever half kilometer. Couldn't believe the local Wendy's one year. A shortage of tomatoes in Florida so they are telling customers there are none. I said to the guy, I don't like tomatoes myself but you'd think with how many stands one passes to get here and no one could just buy a basket or two?"

"Like, really eh what the fuck." Arlene's negative thoughts slow up, things are sounding good and not being touched, hit on or even leered at, is also helping. Maybe, maybe this could be a good move.

"Ah corporations and the kids working for them." Pointing out a glow ahead in the distance. "That's Ridgetown ahead. If you remember the Liverances, they did some growing up there. In about ten minutes we'll come into Blenheim, my place is less than an hour from there."

Cutting through Blenheim is another relief for her seeing a few open businesses other cars on the road even people walking on sidewalks. "Was starting to wonder if this was all a dream. Hadn't seen anybody for what, an hour. How many little towns did we go through? Seemed like none of them had a living sole in them"

"Like I said pretty quiet road. The next fifty kilometers we'll pass a few. I doubt more. But you'll love the next village I get to." Then snicker to myself.

"Why is it real dead or really vacant?"

"Dealtown." I look over with a sly grin. "This lakeside community is built around a psychiatric facility that houses about two thousand."

That creeps her out and starts praying I'm not about to drop her off there as a hazard to her own well-being or danger to others. "Your kidding right?"

"Nope. With the job, I got to go in there once. Has this really long hallway. The kind you see in horror movies you can never get to the end of."

"Is it still a working facility?"

"Yeah. But they only have people that really can't handle life on their own. Only a hundred or so patients there now. They may be closing it soon. The neat thing, it has an indoor pool, theater room and couple of bowling lanes."

That almost sounds nice her. "And this place over looks the lake?"

"Not really its on your side and set pretty far back."

It's not long into the black before she gets to see it. The building with many lights on, in and out, makes it easy to spot. "Is that the crazy house you mentioned?"

"Yup, good eye." Dealtown even to me seems a strange place, out on the southern edge of Canada. The village is comprised of a dozen or so houses, the facility with a water pumping station. There is a restaurant with long missing gas pumps, which rarely seems to be open. Beside it a couple small three floor apartment buildings.

"What a weird spot. For all this. What kind of people are in there? To be kept way away from everyone out here." She gives the apartment buildings an odd look over. "Is that for people who work over there?"

"Maybe, wondered myself. I think the patients that remain just can't handle being in society. Not sure if any are real dangerous. Been times I think I should admit myself."

Agreeing mutters under her breath. "Yeah." She turns to study my face, having mentioned bouts of depression, wonders about it. "Do you really have depression?"

Looking over I see a face that might not judge harshly on the answer. "Not right now. But I've been dealing with bouts since my twenties."

The teenage mind going straight to intoxicants she's been battling similarly and maybe longer. "Really? Do you mind talking about it?"

Shrugging, give her a smile, "I guess. Is there something you want to know?"

"Oh okay." She stumbles to ask, "have you ever? Or how close have you come? To you know, taking your life."

The scene is still fresh in the mind having happened within a year. "Oh man. Yeah I came close, real close once. Normally I just try and keep myself busy to ignore those thoughts. The other problem not wanting to do anything when depressed. How about you? Just to let you know Tammy suffers from depression too. Len says he has PTSD - from what I'm not sure. And for years we've known something was wrong with Chad."

That she didn't know about her old friends, making her both surprised and comforted in an odd way. "Yeah, I think it's the reason I had to jump at your offer. After the visit with Tammy and Michelle I was feeling knee high to an ant."

"I thought so. Sorry." Felt like a moment where a comforting hug was needed, almost pulled over to do so.

"Not your fault. I was already wanting out of there before you arrived but I kind of wanted to see how you looked before taking off." The dark cab hides slight embarrassment from admitting the last part.

The darkness hides my flushed face as well. "You did? Wanted to see me? Did I hold up okay?"

"Yes. Almost didn't think it was you, filled out a little and the moustache." Curious to how she was seen, fishes for a compliment, "I know I look terrible these days. Haven't slept right in years."

"Oh I still see the pretty girl I remember."

She has a hard time believing me, "That's nice of you to say, NOW. But come-on Rob you didn't even recognize me. Did you?"

"No, honestly I didn't a first. But I knew you were somebody I knew. Just couldn't come to me. It has been ten years and these days I work with so many women. I did still see a pretty woman, but of course can't show interest in front of Tammy."

Despite the backpedaling she appreciates the compliment. Thinking of Tammy points to the coffee bought for her, "you say you think about Tammy, guess she isn't getting her coffee. What are you going to tell her?"

Neither one of us, want to tell her what's going on, but also feel bad knowing what a huge deception it is. "Well if you don't mind the sweetener in it, looks like you have a morning coffee. Ah but, yeah, Tammy? Well I'll call her tomorrow - tell her the partial truth, I gave you a ride home. Which is about to change location. And if she's still mad about it, I may have to make a more drastic decision."

"No Rob you wouldn't, and shouldn't have to end your relationship over me. Just don't tell her I'm living with you. Besides I promise I'll find a job and after I get enough money together find somewhere else to live."

"It's something else than that. If she's going to have that kind of trust issue with me, it may lead to problems down the road. And between you, me and Sheena. I was not impressed with how they treated you earlier. I'm actually disappointed in Tammy."

Not wanting too much blame put on Tammy, "it was mainly Michelle."

"Michelle, yeah well it wasn't necessary. As far as when you have to go - when you're ready. And if it's because you don't want to live in a shack, I will certainly understand." Pointing ahead. "That section where we get close to the lake is coming up after that bend. You should be able to see the point, sticking out in water. About halfway out is where your new hideout is."

The lake was already visible but coming through the bend it looks wonderful and scary. About fifty meters to the cliff and at this perspective she believes we're hundreds of feet above the water. The water's mainly a dark blue fading to black, highlighted with many small, ever flowing waves. Off to the distance the land curves far into the lake, right to the horizon point. Little spots of yellow and white lights mark the sparse roads along the point. "Wow that's something. You weren't kidding it gets close. Not right at the edge, but close enough, how fast have you driven through there?"

"One twenty for sure, tires start to make noise any faster. Not in the winter though, be taking care on the bad days. Should be another fifteen, twenty minutes before we get to the shack."

Needing a bathroom stop hopes it'll be a quick fifteen. "Alright. You keep calling it a shack. Are you just kidding around with me, or is it like really bad?"

Sounding like second thoughts my gut reaction was, oh, too bad. Followed by, oh, I hope I am doing the right thing here, for the right reasons. "It's not pretty. The rooms are small, complete with low ceilings. However the roof don't leak, the bills are cheap and no nighttime street noise. Just do me a favor. If you don't want to live there, can we do something about that tomorrow?"

Expressing her last concerns, "of course, I think I'll be okay. Just trying to picture where you've been living. Just tell me one thing. It's not like, literally crawling with bugs. I get this is the country, and there are bugs and all."

"No, pretty much the same as you'd find in the average place. A few more spiders around the doors and windows though."

"That's fine, at least they eat the other bugs." Spiders weren't on the worry list.

"Feel the same way." Mentally we were both shuddering to the thought of places seen over flowing with cockroaches.

Closing in on Wheatley I know the variety store there is last chance for supplies. "We're coming into Wheatley. If you need anything, their store should still be open."

Thinking only about something else to drink asks, "what's your water like? Can you drink it?"

I give her the basics, "depends on the week. I have bottled water. There's juice and a couple cans of pop in the fridge."

"If you've got water at home that's fine, we don't need to stop. Something wrong with your water? Is it well water?"

"I wish it was well water. It's pumped out of Lake Erie and Heinz controls the water so there's very little chemicals added to it. In the summer mainly, we get boil water advisories. Which usually come after I've been drinking it. So finally decided to stop risking stomach-ache and buy the jugs. It's fine for washing with, thankfully doesn't smell like the lake."

"Oh you've drank bad water before?"

"Pretty sure."

"How sick did it make you?"

"Not sick like spewing out both ends. More like indigestion." Passing the store inform her, "turn left here it takes you down to the harbor and a road we'll connect with ahead. Have to show you my favorite Laundromat up on the left there."

Only seeing a roadside Laundromat with car-wash she really isn't impressed. "Oh how nice. That's you're favorite eh?"

"Yeah." Rounding the big bend Sheena starts to sit up knowing the ride is soon to be over. "Getting close now, just a whole bunch of turns. You are going to wonder where I'm going. Better let you know now."

Trying to keep uplifted half jokes, "been wondering where we are going - since we left London. Still not sure."

Slowing to make a signaled left turn speak to Sheena as she's standing on the seat, "hold on, turning."

At first thinking that was a warning the next corner might be taken way too quickly, Arlene was relieved and amused to see the dog was being warned. "Have you trained Sheena? Noticed she sat down right away."

Completing the turn I lightly laugh thinking of the many times poor Sheena slid off the old pick-up truck seat into the foot space, from me braking or turning too hard. "Not really, Just found words that made her respond the way I wanted. Her first few rides she had to learn to sit still or hold on. So for her benefit I warn of turns if she's standing. By the way I'll let you know, if Sheena takes off, you need to say, bye."

"Bye? Why bye?"

Hearing us Sheena stands again stretching her nose out to sniff me. "Basically she'll think you're going somewhere and won't want to be left behind. While walking her unleashed, if she wasn't paying attention to me, I might hide on her and yell bye. Did it in play at first, but it works."

"That's too funny." She looks at Sheena and strokes the fur on her neck, "that true Sheena? Does he hide on you?" Sheena seems to nod once before giving Arlene a better sniff. "Hah you see she heard me and agreed. What a good girl."

"Yeah, she seems to understand. Had a job where I worked out of town a few nights a week. My parents would look after Sheena. Come home one time, they tell me Sheena got away. They kept calling her but she wasn't listening. I forgot to tell them about saying bye, but did then. My mom thought that was cute."

"I bet she did." Watching the odd patchwork of roads working down realizes why the warning. Rounding a bend over a small bridge gets a nighttime glimpse at another local nature conservatory. On both sides an open marsh winding out of sight. To the south the prettiest view with the distant silhouettes of trees marking Lake Erie. On the opposite side of the bridge there's an entrance to a parking lot for the marsh with large sign. Right beside two similar churches the furthest one boarded up. As the van slows to turn south between the two churches she inquires. "What is this place?"

"The church on our left they use on Sundays, not sure what they do with the other. But that waterway we went over is called the Hillman Marsh. David Suzuki use to hang out there as a kid."

"Really? David Suzuki? You're just making that up."

"It's what I've been told and he did live around here once." Pointing ahead, "there's a stupid jog a have to make on the road ahead. If we could go straight we'd drive onto the property."

Just seeing flat fields and trees in the dark hasn't noticed the deep and wide ditches we've been following. "Ah it's okay with me if you keep going straight."

"Well what we both can't see right now is the few ditches this vans not going to make it through and the old water filled quarry across from the shack."

Slowing at the next corner she sees the ditches around us are wide and deep. "Yeah we aren't just driving through those. Holy Fuck, why so deep?"

"We're part of the natural water shed, spring time they get filled up pretty good. You can even find fish in them. Sheena has. Haven't yah, girl. Caught her burying half a fish in the yard one day."

"Really." She sees the dog looking more excited, watching me turn the next close right. "Some jog alright. Barely worth stepping on the gas eh?"

"Nope, almost there though." Pointing ahead. "Past those trees and little hills. Sheena, yeah, not only fish but quite the hunter. Has a few kills to be proud of, including two squirrels, while chained."

"Nooo, no way. Two squirrels and tied up?" She looks to the dog for the truth. "Is that so?" Again Sheena seems to nod happily getting Arlene to laugh. "She's something."

"Yeah she is. I think she learned that squirrels sometimes fall out of trees when scrambling away. I see when in the parks once the squirrel runs up a tree, Sheena goes past and circles back."

"Smart dog."