SHAPESHIFTERS
Part 2

The water boiled over the furnace, it was already boiling.

Water vapor that forces out of the end of the kettle, produces a loud squeaking sound, and quite disturbing hearing.

Marco lifted the kettle from the fire, and poured some water into a large cup of unsweetened coffee.

Two eggs, a few pieces of bacon, and a handful of sliced potatoes, are fried alternately in a flat frying pan, which has been heated on the stove.

All of this is a menu for breakfast.

Marco hasn't had time to shop for groceries, for the contents of his fridge.

Whatever is left in there, will be the lunch menu this afternoon, without needing to think too much about it.

Marco had to eat something, to replace the energy he put out, when he flew for a long time.

Each time Marco changed shape, becoming an eagle, was the animal form that drained his energy the most.

With greed, Marco spent the food that was ripe, and served in a plate.

After eating, Marco will go shopping for his food.

Although the corn of his garden was plentiful, there was no way Marco would just eat it every day.

Just looking at him, Marco's throat already felt full, even though his stomach was still shaking violently.

Building materials, ranging from pieces of board and beams, are still scattered on the floor.

Renovation of the house still takes a long time, until the maximum repair.

Just pushing him by the foot, Marco put away a few pieces of the beam, which interrupted his path, to enter out of the door of his house.

The old semi-truck car he bought, with his savings last year, still looks good even though the paint has now begun to fade, and looks a bit dull.

Using his old car, Marco drove on the road at medium speed.

Minimarket is the destination, not too far from his home, and he also plans to stop at a wholesale store that provides fresh food.

Soap, and all the toiletries and washing, were already in the basket, now left behind some canned and instant groceries, for the emergency that Marco would take off the display.

Some elderly minimarket visitors, most of whom are residents of the city, appear to whisper when they see Marco.

Marco knew what they were talking about, though he remained indifferent to their movements there.

The story of humans who can turn into animals, it had horrendous city.

Although none of the townspeople, who could confirm that it was Marco, the conjectures leading to him, still appeared on the surface.

Looking at one of the old women, having trouble picking things up from the top of the display, Marco walked over, and approached them there.

"Can I help you?"

As much as possible, Marco tried to stay friendly, and reduce bad talk about him.

The faces of those women changed drastically, and now they looked timid, as if they had just been caught off guard, while committing a crime.

"Oh, yes...! Help me! Get me that shampoo bottle!" the woman replied, pointing with her wrinkled fingers and weakly trembling, to the top of the shop display.

Marco extended his hand up there, took the thing the old woman meant, and handed it to her.

"I'm sorry! But, I want to know something... Are you the son of Greg Belmont?" The woman looked very curious Dimata Marco.

The wrinkles on his face grew more and more as he scrunched his eyebrows, and pursed his lips, as if he was fixing the position of his false teeth.

Marco smiled, then said,

"Yes. I'm Greg Belmont's son!"

Slowly Marco reached out his hand to shake hands, with the old woman, and was greeted with a cool soft grip on his fingertips.

"You all know my Daddy and Mommy well!" said Marco.

"Perhaps, there are still people who remember me when I was in school here" Marco continued.

"I'm sorry! For old age, our memory has begun to deteriorate." One of the old women who shook Marco's hand, said with a visibly riled up face.

Marco took his hand out of the old woman's grasp, slowly.

"It's okay. I understand... I went with Daddy too long, to continue school. Then, when I came back here, I had never joined the city's event" said Marco, who remained friendly with them.

"Tomorrow night, this town's birthday party! You better come! Don't just be busy with work at home!" said the woman who now seems to have been affected by Marco's hospitality.

"Good! I must have come. Is the activity still as it used to be? The townspeople bring food to the town hall?" ask Marco.

"Yes... But, if it can't bring anything, there's no problem. Usually, all the food and drinks there are more than enough" said the old woman.

Goody!

Until Marco came out of the minimarket, the old women could smile, without looking as if they were still suspicious, or gossiping behind Marco.

Marco waved his hand at them, and was replied with a wave of his hand, and their smile was wide.

After the conversation with the old women, Marco finally realized that, during this time, he was the one who kept quiet more in his house, and only often went out to go to the forest, did make a big mistake with his attitude, who never joined the townspeople.

Inevitably, Marco must try to blend in with the other citizens, if he does not want to be the talk again.

Actually not without reason, Marco never participated in events or activities that took place in the city.

While he was not working in his home, taking care of his cattle and his garden, or going out of shape in the woods, Marco often spent his time reading articles printed in old newspapers, what he can see on his computer.

Marco is still hoping that he can get something, even if only a little information is related, that can help him find his biological parents.

But, with time missed over the past few years without a clue, like Marco should change his lifestyle.

For sure, Marco will be a gossip forever, if he still insists on only seeking information, which has no development at all, and ignores the relationship between himself and the citizens of the city.

Marco took a deep breath, and exhaled it violently.

A few plastic bags had filled the back of his car, and it seemed that everything he needed was already bought.

Marco drove his car, drove down a deserted road in the middle of town, and returned home.

The fire in the fireplace had already died, while the day had started late in the afternoon, and the temperature had dropped drastically, making him feel cold, even though he was already inside the house.

Before arranging his groceries, Marco rekindles a fire in the fireplace.