Demon (Book 1: Old Version)

Chapter five Cleaning Duty

Chapter five

Cleaning Duty

My dad threw open the bathroom door, and the smell of rotting sewage hit me.

I covered my mouth. "You've got to be kidding me." Flies were buzzing around inside, and a strand of toilet paper danged over the seat. 

"Everything you need is in that shed across the street. There's a hand pump over there. Mop it and be sure to wipe everything down. Fill up the toilet paper container, and you're good." He gave me an optimistic smile. 

"This is disgusting."

"It's not that bad Aden. There are five of these, and I want them all cleaned." He let the door swing shut and started back toward his truck.

"Yes sir," I muttered, following along behind him.

"After you're done with the bathrooms, get a garbage bag and walk around the lake and pick up any trash you see. Also if a campground is empty, clean out the fire pit. People are always leaving cans in them." He opened his truck door and got inside. "They haven't figured out yet that they don't burn." The engine started up, and my dad rolled down his window. "I can trust you not to mess around and actually work."

"Yes dad," I breathed. "Your toilets will be cleaned by the time you get back."

"That's what I wanted to hear. I'll be back around four." He dropped a ring of keys in my hand. After slipping on his sunglasses, he put the truck in reverse. "Be good and don't be wandering off into the woods."

"I'm not five," I stated. "I can handle it."

"Good to hear. Be careful." He looked over his shoulder and pulled out of the parking spot. 

I watched him leave before trudged over to the shed and grabbing out a bucket and mop. Dragging everything over to the pump, I filled the bucket with water and hauled it to the first restroom. Holding open the door, I put my shirt over my nose and entered the wasteland. I really hate my life.

***

A little after noon, I finished my second lap around the lake. After tying off the half-filled garbage bag, I tossed it by a tree and plopped down on one of the beaches by the lake. I was tired and the bathroom smell still lingered on my clothes. The thought of having to do this all summer had really put me in a bad mood. I just hoped summer would be over quickly.

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket to find out I had no service and another two hour to wait for my dad. It didn't take five hours to clean a bunch of toilets and pick up some garbage. I couldn't even text anyone to make the time go by faster. Not that I had anyone to text anyways. With my luck, no one would reply even if they weren't busy. 

My stomach started to growl, reminding me I had left my lunch in the truck. Wanting to get my mind off it, I took out my pocket knife and grabbed a stick laying in the sand. After peeling off the bark, I started carving in little design like my grandpa had shown me when he lived in Harper's Creeks.

I worked on it for about an hour, and it started to look like a snake curled around a twig. I thought it looked pretty cool, and I think my grandpa would have been proud.  

The bushes rustled behind me. I turned around just as a German Shepard came barreling out of them straight at me. I swore under breath and scrambled to my feet. I was up and out of there in a matter of seconds. Thankfully the dog didn't chase after me and instead went to jump in the lake. I felt kind of stupid when I saw a ball floating in the water, and the animal swimming out to retrieve it. 

I sat down on a nearby log to let my heart settle. I'd never understand dog lovers, and how they could let a potentially man-eating animal live with them.