Naomi Finds a Friend

Naomi Fisher sat on a rise near the road looking at the falls giving the village its name her school bag by her side. This was her favourite diversion after school and the drop off point for the bus in this rural community called Silver Cascade. She’d been dropped off by the school bus along with other students bussed those fifteen miles too school in mornings and from the nearby town of Parkerville afternoons when classes and sports events were over. The other kids had rushed home to deposit their bags and run out to play ball. Some were swimming in the pool beneath those falls that formed a small river flowing through Parkerville. Her father Richie Fisher worked as a department store general manager in Parkerville and didn’t get home from work usually until 7pm unless there was a meeting scheduled for evening he couldn’t control.

They’d originally lived in town a few miles from grandparents on her mother’s side and been quite well-off living in a home equal to the best of the affluent citizens in town. But it took the income of both parents to support their lifestyle, and Naomi had come into that world of affluence when her parents Richard who everyone called Richie and Eva were in their prime.

Eva was with a law firm. Her parents owned a noted law firm in Parkerville, and she’d been sent to law school in the capital city to complete her degree and internship. As soon as the internship had completed, she moved back to join her parents law practice.  It was in Parkerville Richard Fisher and Eva Goldburg had met, courted and wed. The Goldbergs felt she’d married below her status and there’d been heated arguments about the relationship developing between their daughter and this Mr. Fisher until Eva their only daughter drew a line in the sand and threatened to quit the firm and go into practice on her own. This would have been a major loss of face for the Goldbergs, so they reluctantly agreed to the wedding but relations between Richie and his in laws remained strained. The Goldbergs were further upset when a daughter Naomi was born to their daughter Eva. They were hoping for a grandson to wean toward their law firm in the long term, and this baby girl was not of their preference.

 Richie had worked his way up the ladder in the Shoppers Paradise conglomerate of department stores nationwide until he was a general manager now. The department store in Parkerville was one of that group of department stores belonging to Shoppers Paradise overseen at a higher corporate level to which Richie as the local manager in Parkerville was responsible for local profitability. Richie was from the mid-west where his parents had owned rural property. They’d sacrificed to put Richie through to a degree in marketing and he’d been successful applying for an internship with Shoppers Paradise flagship department store in New York where he caught the attention of management there as one who could be trained at higher management level. He’d been moved around their stores eventually to be tried out in Parkerville as store general manager. He’d greatly increased their business and top management were happy with him marking him as a potential candidate to join them in future at the corporate level of management.

But tragically when Naomi was just thirteen years old her mother Eva lost her life in a shooting when a criminal, she was arguing the case against put out a hit on her life. The shooter was identified and put away for life but that was no compensation to Richie and his daughter for loss of their precious wife and mother. Somehow Richie was able to survive in his job despite his grief and see that he was there for his daughter who retreated into herself in grief at the loss of her mother. To add to their grief grandparents Goldberg cut off all communication with them, and it was only with the sternest discipline Richie was able to conduct his work effectively and be both father and mother to his daughter. Naomi had been close to her father before but now he was her only source of comfort. Counsellors at school had interviewed Richie expressing concern about Naomi being withdrawn from necessary social action with other students and this was an additional grief for Richie to deal with.

Richie soon realized that without Eva’s income they’d soon be in difficulties servicing their mortgage on his mansion in Parkerville and knew he’d have to downsize substantially in their lifestyle to survive so he could give Naomi the kind of educational opportunities he and Eva had enjoyed. He became aware one of the department store employees was moving to another state and he owned a home in an ideal village out of town with a fabulous view and within reasonable commute to the department store in town. This retiring employee was looking for a buyer. Richie asked to see the property, and he and Naomi fell in love with it immediately.

There were a few facilities available in the small settlement such as a store, diner, community hall and even a small medical clinic with pharmacy attached. It was a place largely inhabited by people attached to the arts and tucked in among the major service facilities were hairdressers operating out of their homes and hobby farmers as well as ceramic works and art studios. Some residents commuted to town for their work. It was a place the people of Parkerville retreated to on weekends to enjoy picnics and hikes around mountain tracks so small businesses there were quite affluent. Naomi was captivated by the restful atmosphere and friendly residents scattered around the hills who were often around the shopping area evenings looking to chat or do business.

Naomi was beginning to thaw out in her social interactions with people of this community now and looked at those swimming in the pool with envy. She’d love to be one of the happy groups there splashing around and talking animatedly. They’d tried to make friends with Naomi on the bus and wondered why she was so inward focused until their parents told them Naomi’s mother Eva had died, and she was still very sad and missing her mother. It wouldn’t have mattered to the school kids based in Parkerville who considered themselves better than these villagers so that ensured the Silver Cascade kids bonded closely knowing town kids were unfriendly to them.

Naomi had been staring at the falls wishing she had the talents to capture their beauty on canvass. She’d enjoyed life skills class which included introduction to art and had mentioned this to Richie her dad who’d since been mulling that over in his mind. Perhaps an after-school interest like that could take her mind off her grief. He’d heard there was an art teacher in the village who took in students after school and ran a workshop for stay-at-home moms during the day and did counselling. He needed to check her out.

He found workouts in his basement gym before an early start to work helped his mind and he rejoiced in spending evenings with his daughter reading or playing games together. He always saw she did her homework first and it was only when Naomi had gone to bed, he took to the home office to do his own homework. It was tough being a single father to a child emerging in teen years and eventually adulthood and he wanted to do it right not only for his sake but as a sacred duty to Eva who he’d loved with a passion. It bothered him he was getting used to being without Eva now spending all his spare time with his daughter. Sometimes he wondered if he should find another form of occupation so he could be there for his daughter during her terrible teens years as it was a more difficult world to grow up in for kids than in his day.

He was glad they were out of Parkerville now as things unheard about in former years were beginning to be found there to corrupt school kids. The internet now opened forbidden areas of knowledge and all kids these days carried smart phones with them as a safety feature, but it had its downside too. It was a huge stress relief to not have a home mortgage over his head on one salary package. The sale in Parkerville had covered the mortgage and provided enough funds to cover his present spacious home in Silver Cascade. Being so far out of town houses had poor resale value so Richie had bought this place at rock bottom sale price much less than the original cost of construction. He was delighted with his bargain and could begin to set aside funds for Naomi’s future education and hopefully enough for eventual retirement.

Naomi had been concentrating so much on the beauty of the falls that the voice at her side startled her.

“Mind if we sit with you for a while as this is our favourite place to sit and watch the falls too.”

Naomi turned surprised to focus on the voice and recognized kids that went on the bus with her to school each day. She smiled and nodded indicating a place beside her. The two girls towelled themselves off again and put their towels on the grass to sit on. The one who spoke was Stephanie Miles and the other her sister Carolyn. Steph as everyone called her spoke again after sitting.

“Why don’t you come swimming with us in the afternoons Naomi. It’s so much fun ganging up on the boys and showing them whose boss.”

Naomi laughed.

“All boys are brats except my dad. The boys at our school give me a hard time because I like to read during recess instead of taking part in their crazy games.”

Steph nodded.

“Well, I don’t have a dad as he was killed when sent overseas to fight so I wouldn’t know what dads are like as we rarely saw him when he was in the army except on his leaves. No point in us having quarters on an army base as he being one of the officers was always somewhere else on this earth but at least, he produced me and my sister for which we are thankful, and we have the best mom in the world. Mom found this wonderful place Silver Cascade where we could afford to buy a home, and she earns enough to keep us comfortable. We love it here.”

Naomi quickly turned the conversation over in her mind and decided to try to be more outgoing the people here were friendly and she was lonely.

“I think I’d like to join you swimming if you’ll look after me in the pool. I’ve only swam in the school pool with lifeguards there and there’s no lifeguards here. I’ve forgotten what your mom does for a living.”

Carolyn finding Naomi was willing to be friendly then joined the conversation.

“Our mom is the art therapist and counsellor in the village. She teaches art and sells her paintings and ceramics to tourists who come into the settlement on weekends and to art shops in larger cities. Do you want to meet her on the way home? She loves our village kids and there’s always a snack at our home for the kids who call in for lessons each afternoon. You won’t be sorry after tasting her food,”

Tears came to Naomi’s eyes as she recalled the cookies and drinks waiting for her at home when she came home when Eva was alive. It would be nice to recall those memories by calling in on the girl’s mom that afternoon. She always delayed going home after school because dad was not there and she didn’t like the elderly woman who cleaned house and cared for the maintenance and meals. Her food was delicious, but it was not a mom’s cooking. Naomi shrugged and got up to collect her bag.

“OK, I’d like to meet your mom and taste these cookies you have my mouth watering over. But I must be home by 6pm as our housekeeper leaves at that time and I don’t want to leave the home open.”

So, they sped up the hill and through the short main street past Naomi’s home to a lovely home on the hill Naomi had seen before but didn’t know who lived there. Steph spoke as they sped over the deck looking out over the heavily wooded mountains toward Parkerville in the distance. It was a delightful setting, but Naomi was very satisfied with the view from her own home too. They headed for the kitchen where Ms. Miles presided over a noisy bunch of kids from the village many of whom were known to Naomi from bus trips to school. Ms. Miles was handing out cookies while the kids poured drinks, but she looked up as her daughters approached. She spoke.

“Steph who is this beautiful new friend you’ve bought to see me this afternoon?”

“This is Naomi Fisher from just down the road. They’ve been here in Silver Cascade about a year now. We told her about your cookies the kids around the village all love and convinced her to come try them.”

Alyson Miles smiled a welcome and put out her arms for a hug. Naomi went forward eagerly and almost teared up as she remembered the liberal hugging from her mom when Eva was alive because Aly as she was known gave her a welcome hug. Steph plied her with cookies and got her a drink.

To be continued.

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