“Padded Envelopes,” Twin Peaks Week, Part 6/8
(See Twin Peaks, Video 6)
Setting: Thea’s standing in front of trash dumpster, behind Coffee Shop diner, her mouth open. (Continued from The Giant Tells, 1-5.)
I was standing behind Coffee Shop, near the dumpsters. I don’t know why, really. Just that I like to stay away from the road anymore, because you never know, you know. Like the last thing I needed was to see Foley driving by.
I heard the bell of the front door open, and just as I turned, I saw the white stencil on the blue dumpster. The scissors again. Didn’t say anything, just that, a spray paint stencil of a large, old-fashioned pair of scissors. I heard someone take a few steps, like they were looking for someone, and I knew it was Sharon, and I was afraid she’d see the stencil—or maybe she had, I didn’t know. So I walked over, and we almost ran into each other, both turning the corner at the same time.
Oh, there you are, sweetheart, she said. You ran off so fast, I didn’t have a chance to tell you.
Tell me what?
Something came for you. In the mail, she said.
What is it?
I don’t know. It’s a padded envelope.
Where is it?
I put in the office, she said, heading back inside, so I followed her. I’d never been in her office before. I didn’t even she had an office.
All this time, I’d never been in the kitchen, and it felt…it felt sort of like, I don’t know, like a special privilege or something to be walking straight through the Coffee Shop diner kitchen.
In here, Thea, she said, and I walked in. The office was tiny, with fake wood paneling and some kitschy things, but I tried not to look around too much.
Here it is, she said, handing me this large yellow padded envelope, just like she said.
It’s not marked, I said.
No. I saw that, she said. You want to open here or wait?
I don’t know, I said, looking at the handwriting. It wasn’t Cam’s.
Well, then, sit down, she said, nodding at a tiny couch on the opposite side of the office, I’ll let you have a little privacy, all right.
Thank you.
Get you something to drink?
No, thank you.
Sure?
Yes, I said, smiling. She was so kind. She looked kind of hot in her little outfit, too. God, Cam would die, he’d just die if he could see Sharon in her blue uniform, I thought, and then the hairs on my arm stood on end.
All right, I’ll be out front if you need, she said.
I sat down on the couch, and I felt the envelope, and it was soft. So soft, too, I was just like, What could it be? Clothing? My hands were shaking, but I couldn’t wait until I got home, so I tore it open, peaking inside.