When I sat up, I estimated I was about five miles away from home, and had absolutely no idea how to get back

When I sat up, I estimated I was about five miles away from home, and had absolutely no idea how to get back. I was new to Flordia after all, and hardly knew where her neighborhood was from school. The boy in the corner was still watching me, and I was beginning to get creeped out by him. I stood up, determined to find my way back.

“Whoah, mon. Come on back here, girl. You look lost. Can I help you, den?” The boy’s dark face was cast in the shawdows, and his hair was messy, all piled in dreads. I decided not to trust him.

“No I’m ok.” I spoke in a hushed tone, and looked around to see if there was anybody that could help me.

“But, girl, you look terribly fightened, mon.”

“I’m fine!” I said through clenched teeth. Despite my rude voice, he still stretched out a hand, touching my elbow in an attempt to calm her.

“I’m Charlie, girl. I can help you. Alright den?”

I sighed, hating that I was allowing myself to let my guard down around him.

“Fine,” I sighed, “I need to get home.”

“I can help with dat, den. Alright, den, girl, where you headed to?”

I spread out my hands, “Not really sure,” “Home.” I said helplessly.

“Where’s home fo you, girl?”

“About five miles away from here. I ran. I was upset.”

He bobbed his head, bouncing his hair with him. “Yes, mon. I saw you, come tearing in here, you was terrible upset, den, huh?”

“Yea. I’m ok now. I just need to get home.”

“Ya, ya. You know where you live, den?”

“Silver Town. I can find my way from there.”

He scratched his head, looking thoughtful. “Dey terrible rich over there, ya know?”

A smile crept across my face. Yes, they were. He was absolutely right. I pretended to look exasperated, “Can you just help me get home?”

Ya, ya. I can do that.” He nodded his head again.

He helped me up, and they walked into the sunlight together. Now I was able to get a good look at him. He was very dark, I decided. Both his skin and hair were dirty, and his tie-dye t-shirt was stained.

They walked in silence for a bit, and then all of a sudden he started singing a little. Shocked, I gazed at him. He had a beautiful voice, and I listened to him sing for quite a while.

“Do you mind, you know?” I gestured towards the direction they were headed.

“Nothing else to do, mon.” he raised his hands to the sun and clouds and started singing again. Suddenly I didn’t want to go home anymore. It was ridiculous but I just wanted to listen to Charlie sing, and walk on forever. Reaching a destination would just be sad. It would be yet another good-bye, and another person leaving her life.

They walked all day purposefully slow. Charlie was walking slowly next to me; it was as if he realized I didn’t really want to leave at all. I recognized my town more than I thought I would. I snuck a look at Charlie, “How come you know your way around so well?” I really was curious to know. He seemed to know where he was going, even though this was so far away from where I had found him.

He grinned, his white teeth gleaming, “Ya know, mon. You got to get acquainted with your land, eh?”

I smiled in spite of myself, “I guess so.”

It was odd, I had expected for him to go his way when they had reached Silver Town, but still he walked with me, and for that I was grateful. Once we reached my house, and spotted policemen, I groaned.

“Enough of this!” I spoke with outrage. Charlie gazed at me curiously. “I just want some sleep,” I said meekly.

He grinned at me, “Ya, mon, I hear ya.”

When I was about to walk inside, a beefy man in a blue police suit stopped me. He had a pen wedged behind his ear and he was about the last person I wanted to talk to.

“Shannon?” he asked pointing at me roughly. His face looked like it was about to explode; every bit of it was red and blotchy.

I started to giggle so that she could share her funny moment with Charlie, but when I turned to where he had been seconds before, I found he was gone. And just like that, he had vanished from my life.

“Jim,” he said, grabbing her hand and shaking it.

“Nice to meet you,” she faltered. But her mind wasn’t on Jim. And no matter how hard she tried to stay on task, it wouldn’t be for the rest of the night.