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long time to wait and he was so handsome and

friendly. Why not? I decided and stood up.

"Great. I just took a friend to the station and

was on my way back," he explained as he led me out.

"The circus ain't far from here. It's only goin' to be

here another two days and then it's off for

Jacksonville."

"Sounds like a lot of traveling," I remarked. He

walked so straight and assured through the train

station. I admired him for being so confident at his

age. Unlike the boys I knew, even Joshua, Luke had a

maturity about him. I expected he had grown quickly

because he was on his own.

When we stepped out of the station, he turned

me toward the parking lot and indicated a beat-up,

light brown pickup truck.

"That's my Rolls-Royce," he said. "Ain't much,

but it gets me where I gotta go. I bet you're

accustomed to finer vehicles," he added, winking. I

didn't reply. He opened the door for me and I got in.

There were three empty beer bottles on the floor. He

scooped them up quickly and dropped them in the

back of the truck. The seat was ripped and there were

wires dangling from the dashboard. He got in quickly

and started the engine. It spurted and stalled. "Come

on, Lulu Belle, you should be impressin' our passenger, not bein' stubborn. Just like most women," he

said, "she's moody."

"Men are just as moody," I retorted. He

laughed. The truck started and we were on our way to

his circus.