by Kathy Stranberg

Created on: October 02, 2008

A Helpful Stranger

Chapter One

Driving into town, I couldn't get over the small size of the place. The sign outside the city limits said population 4500. Compared to Chicago, that's pretty small. It really did have a lot of buildings that lined the road. It must be around lunchtime because there are a lot of people walking on the sidewalks. Nervously I looked around. People were giving me strange looks. You would think they had never seen a teenage boy riding a motorcycle before. At least I looked normal for Chicago; all my friends dressed in black. I can just hear my sister, Cindy, saying "If you won't wear brighter colors so people can see you then at least dress for safety; wear your helmet, jacket, chaps, boots and gloves." I did listen to some of what she said. I was wearing my helmet and chaps over my black jeans. I also wore my black motorcycle boots. But it was too hot for the jacket and gloves. Instead I had on my solid black t-shirt. I looked up at the bright sun. It sure was a nice day. My summer had just begun, and I was on a mission to get the answers.

"Come on Jimmy, concentrate. You have to figure out what to do." I said to myself.

I can't believe it! Next to that park bench in that empty lot there is actually a telephone booth. Maybe that will help me get my answer. Maybe, just maybe she was listed under a name I knew. I drove into the empty lot and parked. My legs really hurt as I swung my long legs off my bike. I stretched my arms and glanced at my watch. Two o'clock, past lunch time. I guess I've been driving about six hours. Not good for my body even with a couple of breaks. Sixteen and already feeling the pain of a long drive, my football coach would give me a hard time about that. He would say "Brantcan get your string bean body over here; what's this about you feeling sore? Tough! Life is tough!"

"Yeah, life is tough alright. That's why I'm in this stupid little town." I muttered to myself as I opened the door to the telephone booth.

I wonder if there is any good place to eat in this place. Maybe after I find where she lives I can get something to eat. Opening the door of the booth, I couldn't help but flashback to when I was younger. Wasn't it "Superman" that changed costumes in a booth very much like this one? I came back to reality; I wasn't planning on changing into a super hero costume. I was just going to use the telephone book. I took the book out and started looking under the B's, when I was startled by someone yelling and kicking the

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