Chapter 3: It's Actually My Spirit

“Stephanie, wake up.” I hear a voice say next to my ear and immediately I place it as my Grandma Nancy’s because she’s the only person who insists on calling me that.

“No.” I mutter, pulling my cover over my head.

“Yes, get up.”

“Go away.” I whine, trying to ignore her voice.

I hear her footsteps retreat and smile to myself. I begin to fall back into my peaceful sleep and I’m almost back to it when I hear my grandmother coming back into the room. “I’m going to give you until the count of five to get out of bed before I have to do this.”

I peak an eye open, and look towards my window. I see that the sky is still black; the sun nowhere in sight. My grandma has lost her mind if she thinks this girl is getting up before the sun does. I close my eye again and ignore her warning. Like her counting scares me or something. Oh Grandmother, so amateur.

“…three…four…This is your last chance, Stephanie…five.” She doesn’t say anything after that and then suddenly I hear a heart shattering loud blaring noise, causing me to jump up in startle, falling off of the stupid tiny bed. And to make it even worse, I hit my head on the side of the nightstand on the way down.

“What the hel-heck was that for?” I shout, censoring my language. I don’t exactly mean to shout at my grandma, but she just fired an air horn like two centimeters from my ear, nearly deafening and killing me in the process.

“I use it for safety purposes. And now I’m gonna be using it when you’re being difficult.” She explains.

I climb to my feet from the floor, grabbing my cell phone from the bed. I unlock it and narrow my eyes at my horrid grandmother when I see what time it is. “Why on Earth would you wake me up at 4:45 in the morning?” I ask, trying to keep my composure.

“Because, Daisy and Betsy need to be milked and fed.”

I run my hand through my hair, making it stay down and send a wicked look towards the evil lady. “I don’t know who this Daisy and Betsy are, but I’m not milking nor feeding anything on this stupid farm that you call a home.” I tell her.

“I know it’s been a while since you’ve seen me, Stephanie, but surely you’ve not forgotten that I don’t tolerate children disrespecting adults. You are a child, and while you’re living here that’s how you’re going to be treated. You’re going to respect and you’re going to do what I ask you to do, because I am your grandmother and that’s that. Do you understand?”

“You’re insane.” I mutter, crawling back into my bed.

“Fine, stay asleep. But you have to be leaving for school at about 8:00, so you better allot yourself enough time to do your chores.” She says, leaving my room.

“School?” I repeat, opening my eyes.

“You didn’t think you’d just sit around here all day long doing nothing, did ya?” She calls back.

Of course I didn’t. I just didn’t think I’d be going to a new school this early. I mean, we just got here! Literally like twelve hours ago.

I get out of my bed, and walk out of my room, barging into my parents room without knocking. “Mom?!” I say loudly, trying waking her up.

“Yes, Steffy?” She mutters, still half asleep.

“I’m not going to school today, am I?”

“Why wouldn’t you be?” She wonders.

“Because we just got there. Have you even registered me?”

She’s quiet for a minute and I’m thinking she’s gone back to sleep but then she says, “Of course I registered you. I did it yesterday after we got here. You just have to go to the office once you get there and get your schedule and all of that stuff.”

“But today? Can’t I just wait until tomorrow?”

“No, you’re going today.”

“I’m not even settled!” I whine.

“Then I suggest you get settled today after school. Is it still early?”

“It’s four in the morning.” I retort, crossing my arms. “Your crazy mom woke me up.”

“Steffy,” She scowls. “Don’t call your grandmother crazy.”

“She blew an air horn to wake me up. How could you not have heard it? And then she said that Daisy and Betsy need to milked and fed. Like, what does that even mean?”

“Betsy and Daisy are your grandma’s cows. Two of them. She evidently wants you to milk them. And feed them.”

“B-but why me? Why can’t she do it? Or Spencer?”

“Because she wants you too. And we’re guests in her home, so just do what she asks.”

“I don’t know the first thing about milking a cow, mom.”

“I’m sure she’ll help you.” She retorts. “Just do it Steffy, or you’re grounded.”

It’s not like I have anywhere to go anyway, but being stuck in his shoebox of a house all day would definitely kill me. I groan out loud, leaving the room and shutting the door behind me. Going back into my room, I pull on a pair of Toms and yank a hoodie over my head, pulling my hair up into a messy bun before sliding my phone in my pocket and grumpily leaving my room. I walk down the corridor and find my grandma on the couch, drinking something from a little white mug, intently watching the news.

“What am I supposed to be doing?” I ask her, putting my hands on my hips.

“First, you’re supposed to be dropping that attitude. And second you’re supposed to be milking and feeding Daisy and Betsy.”

I sigh, “Well if your cows end up dead from improper milking, don’t blame me.” I tell her, leaving out of the stupid, squeaky front door, letting it shut loudly behind me.

I do know where the barn is where she keeps all of the animals, simply because when I was a kid and we’d use to visit, my parents would always take me around back to the stables and let me ride the horses. I fell off of Butterscotch though, when I was like seven, and I haven’t rode since. It’s not like a physical fear I have a horses, it’s more like a mental fear. It’s just that my mind thinks that if I climb on another horse I’m going to fall off. And that’s why I haven’t rode again. And honestly, I don’t plan on riding again, ever.

I walk down the dirt sidewalk of her property towards the barn. When I reach the barn - a good ten, maybe fifteen minute walk from the house - I’m a bit winded. I push the door open, walking in and closing it behind me. The barn is pitch black dark, which kinda freaks me out because I don’t know where the light is. Now, I’m not scared of the dark or anything; it’s the one thousand plus pound animals that are in here that I’m scared of. Sexually rubbing on the wall, I eventually find the light and flip it on, illuminating the barn. I let out a small shriek when I see a figure sitting in a chair across the barn, and throw my hand over my heart.

“Damn Steffy, stop shouting.” Spencer reprimands me, standing up from the chair.

“God Spencer, you scared me.” I tell him. “What are you doing out here?”

“Same thing you are. Grandma Nancy woke me up and told me to come out here to feed Raven and Barbara.”

“Are those cows too?” I wonder.

Spencer nods, “Yeah, those two over there.” He replies, gesturing his head towards two cows that are awake.

The other two, which I assume are Daisy and Betsy, are still asleep. Being that they’re cows, they’re huge and I don’t wanna be the one to disturb them from their sleep.

“So did you feed them?”

“I put food in the things, but they haven’t eaten yet. I guess I’m supposed to milk them too, which I don’t know how to do, so this should be interesting.”

“That makes two of us.” I assure him, looking at the one I think is Daisy, “Do you just…squeeze the udder things?”

“I guess so.” Spencer says, shrugging. “Here, I’ll Google it.” He says, pulling his phone from his pocket. Spencer does something on his phone and a frown appears on his face. “Shit.”

“What’s wrong?”

“My internet isn’t working; I have no service in here.”

“Really? What about in the house? Do you have service there?”

“Yeah, check your phone.”

I pull my own phone out of my pocket and once I try to get on the Internet, I’m prompted with an error message. Apparently, I don’t have service in here either. Stupid barn. Stupid grandma. Stupid Tennessee.

“I’m out too.” I say, sighing and pushing the phone back down in my pocket. “Okay, what’s the worst that can happen? I’m pretty sure all you have to do is pull the udder.”

“I guess so. I’ll come back later and do it. She also said I have to spread feed out to the chickens in the coop.” Spencer says, walking towards the door.

“I still don’t understand why we have to get up before dawn to do this. It makes no sense.” I murmur as Spencer leaves.

I go over to the spot in the barn where I see at least twelve big bags labeled ‘Cattle Feeding’. Leaning down, I try to lift one, but find it way too heavy. It must way like fifty pounds. I groan, dropping it and stand up straight, putting my hands on my hips. If I can’t pick the dang bag up, how am I supposed to feed her stupid cows? I try to kick it but stub my toe in the process, whimpering out in pain. Being grounded is looking better and better by the second. I finally get the idea that I’m supposed to use the bucket next to the bags and fill the cow’s feeding trays, but that’s extremely too much work.

So I drop down on my knees, and push my arms out in front of me, exerting all of my energy on pushing the bag. It moves about a fraction of an inch, which is kind of a slap in the face, considering the fact that Daisy and Betsy are on the other side of the barn.

✈✈✈✈

Thirty minutes later, I’m finished loading both Betsy and Daisy’s feeding tray up to the top. I don’t think I’m supposed to fill it up all the way - the feed is like falling out of the sides - but I’m going to anyway, and hopefully these cows are smart and will eat some now and save the rest for later, because I’m planning on not coming back out here today. Or any other day for that matter. Out of breath and a disgusting, sweaty mess, I tiredly lie back on the dirt ground - I’m already dirty since I’ve been just pushing the stupid bag all this time. I breathe heavily, staring up at the ceiling as I wait for my breathing to return to normal.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I check it and see that it’s already 5:50. And I haven’t even milked the cows yet. Not that I would know how to, but I guess I’ll try. I raise my arm, wiping the thin layer of sweat from my face and then hear the barn door open. I’m too exhausted to actually raise my head and see who it even is.

“Steffy, are you alright?” Spencer wonders, walking back into the barn and closing the door behind him.

“No.” I deadpan.

“What’s wrong? Why are you on the floor?” He wonders.

“I’m dead.”

“Oh, is that why you’re talking to me right now?”

“It’s actually my spirit.”

“I bet.” He says, stepping over me. “Uh Stef?”

“Hmm?”

“You didn’t push that bag of feed all the way over here did you?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You do know that you’re supposed to get it in the bucket and take it to the tray, right?”

“Well, yeah, but that would have been like four hundred trips.” I defend.

“I guess so.” He says, sighing. “Do you know how long it’s been since I got up at six o’clock? A really long time.”

“I’ve never gotten up this early; like unless it was a legit reason. Like when we went to Spain last year? Good, good times. Great times, actually.” I reply, sighing sadly at the beautiful memory of Spain.

Visiting the Canary Islands, going to the top of Mount Teide, eating paella’s to my heart’s content. Damn, I miss Spain. Oh and paella’s are like these rice dishes with chicken, sausage, shrimp and a whole lot of other stuff. They’re like, the bomb.com though, I can tell you that much.

“Well, it’s nearly 6, and we still have to attempt to milk those things.” Spencer says, gesturing to Daisy and Betsy. “Unless you already have?”

I scoff, “Definitely not.”

He rolls up the sleeves on his shirt and walks over to where Barbara and Raven, two of the four cows, are now eating their food peaceful. He grabs a stool from off to the side along with a pail and sits down on the stool next to Raven. I know it’s Raven because Grandma Nancy is weird and has a board at the front of the barn with the cows names on there and where they are in the barn. Spencer awkwardly reaches underneath Raven and grabs two of her udders, placing the bucket underneath them.

“This can go one of two ways. Either, really well or really bad.” He says, squeezing the udders.

Swiping my arm across my face, I wipe away some more sweat - man, it’s hot in this barn - and push a lock of my hair behind my ear. I cross my arms over my chest, and raise my eyebrows, inspecting Spencer’s technic.

“Aye, look at that, Stef, I’m doing it.” He says, proud of himself as milk freely flows from Raven’s udders.

“How is it?” I wonder, curious.

“It’s what I imagine it feels like to touch a brain.” Spencer retorts bluntly.

I shiver involuntarily, “Spencer, ew, that’s gross.”

“It also kinda feels like ground beef.”

I wrinkle my forehead, “What’s ground beef?”

“This thing.” He replies, nodding his head towards Raven.

“A cow?!” I shriek.

“Well, the meat. You didn’t know that?”

“I mean, I’ve eaten ground beef, like in Salisbury steak, but, I never really thought about it, I guess.” I reason.

“Oh Stef, you’re so…undermined.”

“Don’t use your salutatorian words on me, mister.” I reply, walking over to the opposite side of the barn where Betsy and Daisy are.

I guess the quicker I milk them, the quicker I can get out of here. I grab the pail and stool and position them as Spencer did. I decide to milk Betsy first because Daisy is still asleep and if she’s anything like me, she doesn’t like being woken up. Then again, Daisy is like 1,400 pounds and I weigh exactly 115.32. But who’s keeping up? I sit down on the stool, and carelessly grab onto one of Daisy’s udders, and start yanking on it, but nothing comes out.

“Okay, what am I doing wrong?” I call over to Spencer who’s really working Raven.

“I think you have to hold two at the same time, that’s what I’m doing.” He retorts.

So I follow his instructions, grabbing another udder and yanking down on them. This seems to not be the right thing to do because no milk comes out into the pail. I roll my eyes, getting frustrated and start pulling down on the udders again. By the way, it feels gross. Ever played with wet Play-do? That’s kinda how it feels. I think I make Daisy mad because she does that thing, like blows air through her huge nose and looks at me. I know she’s a cow and all, but I could swear she has a look of rage in her eyes.

“Erm, Spence?”

“Yeah?”

“I think I hurt Daisy.” I say nervously as the cow turns her head, lifting her big cow feet from the dirt ground and taking a step close to me.

He raises an eyebrow and then looks at us, “You didn’t hurt her, I don’t think. She looks just fine.”

I laugh uncomfortably and say, “N-no, actually, no I don’t think so.” I tell him as Daisy’s shoulder touches my hand. I’m really internally freaking out because this cow is touching me. Touching me. Like legit, there is a cow touching my hand. I gulp and stand up from the chair, running over to Spencer. “It’s trying to kill me.”

He laughs - this is no time for laughing! - And shakes his head, “No it isn’t, Steffy, you’re being difficult.”

“I am not.” I pout. “The cow doesn’t like me and I don’t like it, so why should I milk it? It feels like I’m raping it anyways.” I mutter.

“Raping it?” Spencer echoes, looking up at me. “What?”

I shrug, “I just feel like the cows udders are private and touching them makes me feel like I’m raping them.” I explain.

“Steffy Vandergeld, you are something else.”

I watch Daisy for a minute and seconds later she reverts to her food, slopping it up. “So, how are we getting to school?” I wonder.

“I don’t know how you’re getting to school, but I bet Grandma does.”

“You didn’t say ‘we’re’, you said ‘you’re’, what are you saying? You aren’t coming to the new school?”

“Stef, I graduate in two months, there’s no point in me starting a new school.”

“So I’m going alone?” I ask surprised.

I mean, I knew Spencer was graduating of course, but I thought he’d finish out the last two months at our new school. I think it’s called Elm East High or something stupid like that. Home of the wallabies. Such a ferocious mascot.

He nods, “Yeah, sorry kiddo.”

I sigh, running my hands through my hair, pulling the messy bun out. “This sucks.”

“Hey, how about you head on back up to the house? Go on and get ready for your first day. I guess I can try to hold this down.”

“Really?” I ask skeptically.

“Sure, I mean, it’s bad enough we’re living here, but you’re starting a new school today and you don’t need to be in a glumly mood while doing it.”

Crossing my arms, I say, “I’m gonna be glumly until we move away from this stupid state away from stupid grandma.”

Spencer laughs, “Believe me, I agree.”

“You’ll be out soon though, the fall when you go to college.”

A smile spreads across his face, “That’s true, isn’t it?”

“It sure is.” I remind him. “Lucky Spencer. Unlucky Steffy.” I groan.

“Alright, alright, enough about how unfair life is. Go get ready for school, and take a shower. You smell like cow.”

“Gee, I wonder why. Thanks big brother.” I turn, hurrying out of the barn, inhaling the clean air around me.

The air in the barn is just so stuffy and suffocating. I wonder if I can convince my parents to let me just…skip out these last few months of school. I mean, honestly, who needs school? It’s only two months left, we already took the major tests in California, so really, there’s no need for me to. Suddenly I involuntarily stop walking as I hear a squish beneath me. I snap my eyes closed, quietly praying to a God I’m not even sure exists or not that that wasn’t what I think it was. Looking down dreadfully, I see that my left shoe is now covered in icky, gross cow manure. Suppressing the urge to cry, I roll my eyes, pulling my foot out of my shoe and leaving it there. A brand new pair of Toms ruined. Well, one ruined, but obviously I can’t wear one without the other! I pull my phone from my pocket, see that it’s nearly 6:30 and sigh heavily. Then I hop - totally on one leg - back up to my grandmother’s house.

I haven’t even been here a full twenty-four hours and I’ve already experienced terrible things I’d never have to go through in California. 

Author's Note: I wasn't really happy with the chapter I uploaded yesterday, so I'm posting this today as a sort of...consolation, if you will. I know up to now it hasn't been super eventful, but that's gonna change, I can promise you that. The next chapter is Steffy's first day of school and a certain someone may pop up! That's all I'll say! So, please, please, please comment and vote! I really love reading your comments and votes are awesome! I love to know what you think of the chapters, so please comment! So, I'll see you guys on Friday, [4/26], and don't forget to vote and comment. In case you haven't noticed, people who regularly comment and vote get the dedications. *hint, hint*! I love you all more than you'll ever know! Oh, and that's Leighton Meester over there, who plays Steffy! ♥