Gracie has been talking non-stop about the new family that moved into the old Thompson place. Mrs. Olsen told her that they bought the house in cash and made her promise not to tell anyone. Asking Gracie not to tell anybody in Jericho is the equivalent of taking out a full page ad in the paper. The Thompson place isnt all that great, but still I imagine that its pretty expensive. Who buys real estate in cash, anyway? Drug dealers? Millionaires? Why anyone with that kind of cash would move to Jericho is beyond me. They seem normal enough. Hawkins is the name, I think. Bob, Rob, something Hawkins. Married with children. Must be successful at something, because there are only a couple of places for sale in Jericho, and two of them are in the trailer park. Mr. Hawkins didnt even look at those.

Mom has been the acting manager of the trailer park since Mrs. McCleary died. There isnt much to the job, just listening to people bitching about their neighbors. But her vacation is coming up and since shes going away, I guess that leaves me in charge. Skylars parents are out of town again, too. That means shell probably have another party. Maybe I should have a party, too. Get really stupid and run around Somehow I just dont see the appeal. Most of Skylars crowd are already pretty dumb. I guess that makes me the resident genius.

Dale

I thought you might... I got stuck in summer school. Exciting, right? I had to take some classes to make up for some crappy grades I got last term. Plus, theres my job to consider. I didnt want to leave Gracie without some help.

So, between classes and work, I tried to squeeze in as much couch potato time as humanly possible. Yeah, thats it! I was a lazy bum this summer. But I did catch up on Deadwood, so that was great. I also watched Meerkat Manor, which is fascinating. I normally hate reality shows, but meerkats dont count, right? Of course, Chappelles Show: The Lost Episodes was a major bonus!

Regular classes started this week. Normally, that would be fine, but somehow I let the summer escape from me. I wish I could go on this trip with my Mom. I still feel like I need a vacation! Oh, well. The one thing I am really excited about is that I will finally get my drivers license. Of course, I dont have a car and have practically no hope of getting one any time soon, but still Gracie has this old beat-up green station wagon. Maybe she will let me drive that sometimes. I can just imagine what Skylar would say if she saw me in that! Ive actually been driving for a while though, shhh Dont tell, okay?

Dale

As in gossip. Dont think youre exempt from it, no matter who you are. People talk and they love to talk about other people. I never say much, so they assume that I dont hear much. They are wrong. Boy, are they wrong Being almost invisible, I can sneak right up, stealth-like and eavesdrop on all their opinions. Its mostly of little intrigue, but sometimes it gets really interesting.

Today was warm and sunny. Whats that? You dont want to hear about the weather? Did you think I was going to tell you all the juicy details? Why would I do a thing like that? Oh, right. I promised you dirt. Dirt. What a strange word for gossip. So, in an attempt to deliver and also keep myself somewhat clean, I offer you this:

Someone in Jericho is unfaithful to their spouse. (Big surprise, right?)

Someone drinks WAY too much.

Someone is living beyond their means.

Someone has no idea Im in love with them.

Have I said too much? Not enough, I suspect. I guess Im just not in a dirt dishing mood. In other news, I havent been sleeping that great. My mind fills with random thoughts I cannot shut off. I feel anxious about something, but I cant put my finger on it.

Dale

Im in the greatest mood today, which is strange. I dont really know why. My usual brooding self has taken a vacation. One thing that probably helped was Bonnie.

Bonnie is the closest thing I have to a best friend. Sometimes I feel like shes the only person in this town who really sees me, which is slightly ironic since she cannot hear me. Bonnie is hearing impaired, and I dont know a whole lot of sign language. That puts a strain on our relationship, communication-wise. But she always seems to know whats going on with me. She has a great since of humor and makes me laugh.

Like today at the store, Bonnie came in just after Skylar and her friends, who were all giggly over some dumb tabloid. I was sweeping up, trying to avoid the venom of Skylar, when I saw Bonnie openly mocking them from across the store. She totally had them down, flipping her hair and acting all shocked at the magazine! I busted out laughing and couldnt stop. Skylar whips around to see what I was laughing at and Bonnie casually flips the page, looks up at Skylar and waves hello. I didnt hear what Skylar said to me as they all stormed out of the store, and I didnt care. Bonnie is the best!

Bonnie left the store. She smiled at me as she set the magazine she had been reading on a shelf near me. I couldnt help but smile back. That girl is pretty amazing.

Dale

People tend to look down on you if you happen to live in a trailer park. Thats just one of those sucky facts of life. I dont understand whats so awful about it. I have seen many houses that are a lot dirtier, uglier, and more shameful than our trailer. It is the stereotype associated with it, I guess. That whole trailer trash thing is so far from what I know as home. For as long as I can remember, Mom and I have lived in the park. To us, its our own little utopian universe. Along with our fellow residents, we could care less about what people say.

God, I wish I believed that. I guess it is pretty bad. Especially after seeing the FEMA trailer parks for the displaced Gulf Coast residents, it makes me want to get out of here so bad. I never want to be a charity case. I never want to have to depend on anyone but myself. I have learned enough about the world here in Jericho to know that you can only count on yourself.

Yeah, I live in a trailer. But so do movie stars, when they arent working, so how bad can it be? And like those movie stars, I know that its only temporary. Anyway, they need me back on set.

Later,
Dale

 

The whole town is buzzing about this guy, Jake Green. Apparently, hes back in town after disappearing five years ago. No one knows where hes been, though there are a bunch of rumors about why he left. Gracie told me that he used to go out with my favorite teacher, Miss Sullivan. Hes going to be as disappointed as the rest of us when he finds out shes getting married. Or maybe she wont get married now that Jake is back. Who knows?

 

Jake is the Mayors son, I mean, besides Eric. Gracie said that Jake was always the wild one. He used to get in all kinds of trouble when he lived here and that was probably why he left. I can see that. Of course, something could have happened with Miss S, too I dont know. The Greens are all really nice, so I was surprised to learn about this bad seed coming back to town.

 

What puzzles me is where he has been and why he would come back here Someone told Gracie, he had joined the army and was off fighting in Iraq. That  seems to be the leading theory, right now. Maybe he heard about Miss S getting engaged and came back to stop her. One thing is for sure, Jake Green is crazy to come back to Jericho.

 

Dale

I got my job at Gracies Store because I hung out there so much. I think Gracie (I added her picture for you to see) felt sorry for me, but didnt approve of loitering, so she handed me a broom. She knew why I wasnt anxious to go home. At the time, Mom was dating this guy named Joe, who she met after he lost his job and came into the bar where Mom works. I have no idea what she was thinking when she brought him home. Once he was there, he made it clear that he wasnt going anywhere. He just sat around all day, drinking and watching TV. Total loser. When Mom suggested that he try to find a job, he would get really defensive and mean. A couple times, I was worried that he was going to hurt her. Or me. Or both. He just tore up the place and yelled a lot, mostly.

Unfortunately, this was a fairly typical relationship for Mom. She could never seem to find a guy who wasnt a complete mess. I think she thought she could save them somehow, but it never worked out that way. More than once, I came home to find her alone again. In the end, we are all weve got. But I am going to
be on my own for a while, since shes going on vacation next month with the loser shes seeing now. I will be glad to be rid of him, I just hope Mom has a decent time. He is such an ass sometimes, I dont want to worry about her but I know that I will. She promised to call me everyday.

I wish there was something more exciting happening to write about, but theres not. I have a Math test on Thursday, it doesnt get more exciting than that. Summer school sucks.


Dale

My name is Dale and I am 16. I live in a trailer park in Jericho, Kansas, with my mom. My father left her a long time ago, left us here. I dont remember him and I guess its better that way. Mom does the best she can. Im not telling you this so that you will feel sorry for me. Please, dont. Ive gotten enough pity to last a lifetime. Im telling you because I want you to know. Thats all. Mom hasnt had the easiest time, raising me by herself. She never remarried, but she has tried to find someone, which hasnt made my life any easier. Im pretty sure that happiness cant be found at the bottom of a bottle. Once the fighting starts, I try to stay away as much as I can. Moms new boyfriend is a drunk and a loser. He
keeps talking about some big business deal in the city, says hes going to take
Mom with him, but I dont believe a thing he says. Hes a liar and a jerk.

I dont really like school. I know Im smarter than most kids my age, but you wouldnt know it from looking at my grades. I spend tons of time in the library (where I like to have lunch), on the computer, doing my own thing. I read a lot. But I think that Im going to do much better this year. I have a really good teacher, Miss Sullivan, who seems to get me. She is the best teacher I have ever had. I dont play sports because I think they are stupid. Im not in the debate club, or drama, or band. I wanted to take band class because I love music, but Mom said she couldnt afford it. Maybe next year. For now, my paycheck goes towards the bills.

I guess I like my job. I work over at Gracies Grocery Store, which is great because its so close to school. I take the bus in the morning and usually have to walk home. Im not complaining, though. I like walking. It gives me a chance to clear my head, not to mention, spying on everyone in town. I try to take a different route everyday, to cover as much ground and collect as much information as possible. So many secrets, and no one to share them with. But now I have you to tell my secrets to. You wont tell anyone, right?

Dale