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  ,judd--,! ,runaway
  ,judd ,?ompson ,jr4 _h alw hat$ hav+ ! same "n z 8 "f4 ,until n{4
  ,e "t ! ph"o rang & "s"o ask$ = ,judd1 x 0 8,: "o8 ,big ,judd or ,ll ,judd80 ,! funny ?+ was1 ,ll ,judd 0 alr tall} ?an 8 "f4 ,he _h j gott5 8 driv}'s lic5se1 &! :isk}s on 8 *9 =m$ a ?9 goatee4 ,he 0 tir$ ( 2+ call$ junior1 & if he 7 n"e call$ ,ll ,judd ag =! re/ ( 8 life1 x wd 2 too soon4
  ,b n{1 = once1 2+ ,judd ,?ompson ,jr4 0 "w+ 9 ,judd's favor4
  ,? br1k 0 m1nt 6be1 ,judd decid$4 ,af "ds ( fi<t+ ) 8 p>5ts ab ": he 0 go+1 :o he 0 )1 :at he 0 do+1 & h{ late he wd 2 in1 he _h j happ5$ 6be home "o afn4 & 8 "m pick$ t "d 6ask hm 6br+ 9 ! mail4 ,if t didn't prove ? 0 m1nt 6be1 ,judd didn't "k :at did4
  ,judd si<$ l|dly at 8 "m's reque/4 ,%e sd he act$ l any small *ore or favor 0 ! bi7e/ burd5 9 ! _w4 ,t 0 exactly h{ he felt4 ,he didn't want 6be told 6d any?+4 8,:y c't y get x80 he ask$ h}4
  8,2c ,i ask$ y to10 %e sd4
  8,:y d ,i h 6d "ey?+80
  8,wd y l 6-p>e :at y d >.d "h ) :at ,i d80 %e ask$1 & t 2gan ! usual >gu;t4 ,only :5 8 "m ?r1t5$ 6gr.d hm did he /omp | 6! mailbox4 ,he 0 glad he did4
  ,on ! way back 6! h|se1 idly flipp+ "? catalogs & lrs & magaz9es1 he _h f.d x--an 5velope a4ress$ 6hm4 ,x 0 cle>ly a mistake--obvi|sly 9t5d$ = 8 "f4 ,he knew t z soon z he saw x4 ,x 0 busi;s mail4 ,he didn't recognize ! return a4ress4
  ,j 6be orn}y1 he slipp$ x 9side 8 jacket & gave ! re/ (! mail 6his "m4 ,well1 he didn't actu,y give x 6h}4 ,he toss$ x onto ! kit*5 ta# 9 front ( h}1 & half ( x slid 6! floor4 ,he h1d$ 6his room4
  8,j a m9ute1 "y man10 %e sd1 us+ ano!r ( 8 l1/ favorite "ns4
  8,get back "h & give me ? mail prop}ly40
  8,9 a m9ute10 he sd1 jo7+ up ! /eps4 8,oh1 n"e m9d10 %e sd4 8,0! "t y get back "h1 ,i'll h x pick$ up1 r1d1 & answ}$40
  8,y're welcome60 he holl}$4
  8,a job n f9i%$ is n wor?y (a ?ank-y10 %e sd4 8,b ?anks anyway40
  ,judd took (f 8 jacket1 crank$ up 8 music1 & lay on 8 b$1 op5+ ! 5velope4 ,onto 8 *e/ dropp$ a cr$it c>d 9 8 "n1 ,judd ,?ompson ,jr4 ,a /ick} on x told hm 6call a toll-free numb} & answ} a few "qs s he cd 2g9 us+ ! c>d4 ,! lr told hm !y _h honor$ 8 reque/4 ,he cd sp5d t5s ( ?|s&s ( doll>s us+ t c>d al"o4
  ,judd cdn't 2lieve 8 luck4 ,he dial$ ! numb} & 0 ask$ 8 "m's maid5 "n & 8 date ( bir?4 ,he knew 5 6use 8 gr&"m's maid5 "n & 8 "f's bir?"d4 ,? was1 af all1 re,y 8 "f's c>d1 wr;g "n or n4 ,! automat$ voice told ,judd he cd 2g9 us+ ! c>d immly4
  ,x 0 !n t he plann$ 8 escape4 ,judd felt desp}ate 6get away4 ,he wasn't sure :at _h happ5$ or :y1 b he 0 sure 8 family 0 ! pro#m4
  ,judd's "f {n$ a busi;s 9 ,*icago & 0 w1l?y4 ,8 "m _h n"e _h 6"w |tside ! home4 ,judd's ll bro!r & si/}1 n9e-ye>-old tw9s ,m>c & ,m>cie1 7 "y 5 6/ay | ( 8 hair4 ,!y 7 ,,ok1 he guess$4
  ,m>c's & ,m>cie's rooms 7 full ( trophies f *ur*1 ! same z ,judd's _h once be54 ,he _h re,y be5 96t /uff1 memoriz+ ,bi# v}ses1 go+ 6camp e summ}1 all t4
  ,b :5 ,judd _h g"o f ! junior hi< 6! s5ior hi< y|? gr|p at ,new ,hope ,village ,*ur* 9 ,m.t ,prospect1 ,ill9iois1 he seem$ 6lose 9t}e/ ov}ni<t4 ,he us$ 69vite 8 frs 6*ur* & y|? gr|p4 ,n{ he 0 emb>rass$ 6say 8 p>5ts made hm g4
  ,judd felt he _h |tgr{n *ur*4 ,x _h be5 ,,ok :5 he 0 a kid1 b n{ nobody want$ 6dress l he did1 li/5 6his k9d ( music1 or h a ll fun4 ,at s*ool he hung ) kids :o got 6make _! {n deci.ns & d :at !y want$ 6d4 ,t 0 all he want$4 ,a ll freedom4
  ,ev5 ?|< !y cd af=d x1 ,judd's p>5ts reftis$ 6buy hm 8 {n c>4 ,h{ _m o!r hi< s*ool juniors / rode ! bus 6s*ool8 ,:5 ,judd did get 6drive "o ( 8 p>5ts' c>s1 "o ( !m told hm ": he cd g1 :om he cd g )1 :at he cd d1 & :5 he _h 6be back4
  ,if only 8 p>5ts knew :at he 0 do+ :5 !y ?"| he 0 8j | )! guys10 ,judd ?"|4 ,h{ he hat$ 8 curfew1 8 p>5ts' 3/ant wat* ov} 8 s*ool"w1 _! criticiz+ 8 hair1 8 clo!s1 & 8 frs4
  ,wor/ ( all1 he 0 gr.d$ if he didn't get up = ,sun"d s*ool & *ur* e ,sun"d4 ,j ! ,sun"d 2f1 he _h put up s* a fuss t 8 "m _h -e 96his room & sat on 8 b$4 8,don't y love ,jesus anymore80 %e ask$4
  ,:at a /upid "q1 ,judd ?"|4 ,he didn't rememb} "e re,y lov+ ,jesus4 ,oh1 he _h lik$ all ! /ories & knew a lot ( v}ses4 ,b lov+ ,jesus8 ,lov+ ,god8 ,t 0 = ll kids & old ladies4 ,b :at cd he say 6his "m8 8,if y want ! tru?1 ,i only g 6*ur* s ,i c g | on week5ds & use ! c>40
  ,t 0 cle>ly n :at %e _h want$ 6he>4 8,all "r !n1 j =get x60 %e sd4
  8,i c /ay home f *ur*80
  8,if y don't want 6g any": =a week40
  ,judd swore "u 8 br1?4 ,x 0 a gd ?+ 8 "m _hn't he>d t4 ,he'd h be5 gr.d$ = life4
  ,9 ,sun"d s*ool1 ,judd copp$ an attitude4 ,he wore clo!s 8 p>5ts only b>ely approv$ (1& he /ay$ z f> away z possi# f ! 8gd0 kids4 ,:at los}s6 ,!y n"e _h any fun4 ,judd didn't smile1 didn't c>ry a ,bi#1 didn't look at ! t1*}1 didn't say any?+41 ,:5 ! t1*} ask$ 8 op9ion ( "s?+1 he %ru7$4 ,he want$ "ey"o 6"k he 0 "! only 2c he _h 6be4
  ,9 *ur*1 he sl|*$ :5 8 "f wasn't look+4 ,he want$ 6burr{ )9 hmf & j make x "? 6! 5d (! s}vice4 ,he didn't s+ al;g1 he didn't b{ 8 h1d dur+ pray}1 he didn't %ut 8 eyes4 ,no "o _h "e sd ~? 7 rules2 ,judd 0 simply try+ 6be di6}5t f "ey"o else4 ,he 0 way too cool = ? /uff
  ,z usual1 ,pa/lor ,v}non ,bill+s got (f on 8 kick ab :at he call$ ! ,rapture4 8,"s"d10 he sd1 8,jesus w return 6take 8 foll{}s 6h1v54 ,~? :o h rcvd hm w 4appe> 9 ! "t x takes 6bl9k yr eye4 ,we w 4appe> "r 9 front ( 4believ+ p4 ,won't t 2 a grt "d = u &a horrify+ "o = !m80
  ,! k9dly old pa/or talk$ ab h{ important x 0 = "ey"o 6be sure ( 8 {n /&+ 2f ,god & 6?9k & pray ab frs & lov$ "os :o mi<t n 2 r1dy4 ,judd's ll secret 0 t he _h n"e re,y 2liev$ any ( t4
  ,he'd _h 5 *.es4 ,at vac,n ,bi# s*ool1 8 frs _h pray$ & rcvd ,*ri/4 ,he 0 emb>rass$4 ,he told !m he _h alr d"o t at home4 ,at camp a few ye>s lat}1 ,judd felt guilty & s9;l :5 a "y sp1k} talk$ ab *ur* kids :o w}5't re,y ,*ri/ian 2liev}s4 ,he _h want$ 6g =w>d2 he 1re,y _h4 ,b he _h al j be5 "nd ,camp} (! ,week = memoriz+ a bun* ( ,bi# v}ses & 2+ ! fa/e/ 6look up "s o!rs4 ,:at wd p say8
  ,judd knew he didn't h 6g =w>d or talk ) any"o 6rcv ,*ri/4 ,he knew he cd d x 0hmf4 ,he cd pray s9c}ely & ask ,god 6=give 8 s9s & make ,jesus ! ,"l ( 8 life4 ,b lat}1 :5 ! meet+ 0 ov} &! emo;n wore (f1 he told hmf t 0 "s?+ he cd d any"t4
  ,judd felt ! mo/ guilty :5 he 0 twelve ye>s old & _m ( 8 ,sun"d s*ool classmates sign$ up 6be baptiz$4 ,_! t1*} & ,pa/or ,bill+s made cle> 6!m t ? 0 an act ( obey+ ,*ri/1 a /ep tak5 0,*ri/ians 6dcl !mvs foll{}s ( ,jesus4
  ,z ! /ud5ts 7 baptiz$1 !y 7 ask$ 6tell ab :5 !y _h rcvd ,*ri/4 ,judd _h d"o ! un?9ka#4 ,he _h quot$ ,scripture & made up a /ory ab :5 he _h 2come a ,*ri/ian once 80myf at camp40
  ,he felt guilty ab t = weeks1 n"e hav+ ! guts 6tell 8 p>5ts or 8 ,sun"d s*ool t1*}4 ,yet "s?+ kept hm f 3fess+ 6,god & gett+ ?+s "r ) ,*ri/4 ,n{ he 0 sixte5 & _h feel+s & ?"|s he 2liev$ no "o wd "u/&4 ,he 0 bor$ ) 8 *ur*1 fru/rat$ ) 8 p>5ts1 & secretly pr|d t he wasn't re,y "p (! *ur* cr{d4 ,he w5t 2c he _h to1 b "s"d soon he wd make 8 {n deci.ns4
  ,)! small }ror on t cr$it c>d1 ,judd ,?ompson ,jr4 _h 8 ticket 6freedom4 ,he _h se5 8 dad get ca% ) 8 cr$it c>d at ! bank & at ! automatic tell} ma*9es4 ,& he knew t alm any?+ cd 2 pd =) t magic c>d4
  ,( c|rse1 "o "d ! bill wd -e & 8 p>5ts wd 2 a# 6trace ": he _h be54 ,b he cd put a lot ( miles 2t hmf & !m 9 ! m1n"t4
  ,= s"eal "ds1 ,judd sav$ ca%1 )draw+ z m* z he cd ea* "d f ! automatic tell} ma*9e4 ,he hid ! m"oy )! passport he _h gott5 ! ye> 2f :5 8 "f took hm al;g on a busi;s trip 6,asia4 ,he _h be5 mis}a# on t trip & let 8 dad "k x e *.e he got4 ,judd ,sr4 _h f9,y giv5 up try+ 63v9ce ,judd ,jr4 t ? 0 8! opportun;y (a life"t40
  ,secretly ,judd _h 6admit t he 5joy$ ! hotels1 ! m1ls1 & ev5 le>n+ h{ 6get >.d 9 =eign cities ) di6}5t cultures & languages4 ,b he wasn't ab 6tell 8 dad t4 ,judd knew ,dad _h dra7$ hm al;g only 6get hm away f 8 new frs1 ! "os 8 "m call$ ! 8evil 9flu;es40 ,x 0 al suppos$ 6be a "t = hm & 8 dad 6bond--:at"e t m1nt4 ,dad _h tri$1 ,judd _h 6give hm t1 b "! _h be5 no bond+4 ,mo/ly x 0 j ,judd sc{l+1 -pla9+1 >gu+1 & be7+ 6g home4
  ,at l1/ he got a passport | (! d1l4 ,t1 al;g ) 8 new driv}'s lic5se &! cr$it c>d1 gave hm :at he ?"| 0 -plete freedom4 ,a fr _h told hm he look$ old 5 6pass = tw5ty-"o1 & t he %d get a fake id5tific,n c>d t wd all{ hm 6buy liquor 9 ,ill9ois4 ,x 0 *1p} & easi} ?an he ?"| 6get bo? 8 driv}'s lic5se & 8 passport copi$ )a new bir? date4
  ,8 plan 0 6take 8 /a% ( ca% & g 6,o,h>e ,9t}n,nal ,airport "s ni<t4 ,he wd take ! f/ fli<t he cd get 6ano!r ,5gli%-sp1k+ c.try4 ,2y t1 8 plan 0 n cle>4 ,"o ?+ 0 sure3 ,he wasn't go+ 6bum >.d be7+ =a place 6/ay4 ,he wd live f/-class all ! way4
  ,n{ ,judd 0 a crim9al4 ,he told hmf he wasn't sc>$4 ,br1k+ ! law only made hm bold} ab 8 plan1 & he 2gan mak+ up r1sons :y he _h 6get away f home z soon z possi#4
  ,z he made 8 plans1 ,judd 2came m & m angry4 ,he 4agre$ ) "ey?+ 8 p>5ts did or sd4 ,he 0 m1n & s>ca/ic4
  ,"o "d af s*ool 8 ll bro!r came 96his room4 8,:at d y want80 ,judd ask$ ,m>c4
  8,i j want$ 6ask y a "q4 ,>e y / a ,*ri/ian80
  ,judd li$4 8,( c|rse10 he sd4 8,:at's x 6y80
  8,i 0 j wond}9' 2c x doesn't seem l y're happy or act+ l "o40
  8,:y don't y get | ( "h & m9d yr {n busi;s60
  8,w y 2 mad at me if ,i pray = y80
  8,don't wa/e yr br1?40
  8,y're mak9',mom cry1 y "k t80
  8,%e %dn't wa/e h} te>s ei40
  8,judd1 :at's ! matt}8 ,y us$ 6c>e--0
  8,|6,get |60
  ,m>c look$ pale & te>;l z he left4 ,judd %ook 8 h1d1 4gu/$1 & told hmf ,m>c wd 2 a lot bett} (f :5 he |tgrew 8 /upid;y4 ,i us$ 6be j l t1 ,judd ?"|4 ,:at a wuss6
  ,judd /u6$ "s ( 8 favorite clo!s 9 8 book bag & jo7$ d{n/airs4
  8,& ": d y ?9k y're go+1 mi/}80 8 "m sd4
  ,did %e alw h 6talk l t8 ,cdn't %e j ask a simple "q8 8,i'm go+ 6! libr>y 6/udy10 ,judd sd4 8,i'll 2 "! till clos+1 s don't wait up = me40
  8,s9ce :5 did y get 9t}e/$ 9 /udy+80 8 "m ask$4
  8,y sd y want$ my grades 6improve40
  8,y don't ne$ 6g 6! libr>y 6/udy1 ,judd4 ,:y don't y /ay "h &--0
  8,i ne$ "s p1ce & quiet1 all "r80
  8,:at w y d = d9n}80
  8,i'll get "s?+ |40
  8,d y ne$ "s m"oy80
  8,no6 ,n{ l1ve me al"o60
  8,all "r6 ,j g6 ,b don't 2 late60
  8,mom6 ,i alr told y6 ,i'm /ay+ till clos1 s--0
  8,don't wait up1 y1h1 ,i "k4 ,>e y meet+ "s"o "!80
  8,no60
  8,i'd bett} n f9d | y've be5 | ) yr frs1 "y man'''0
  ,b ,judd 0 alr | ! door4
  ,at ,o',h>e1 ,judd f.d a fli<t on ,pan-,3ct95tal ,airl9es t left e>ly 9 ! ev5+ & 0 s*$ul$ 6>rive 9 ,london ! foll{+ morn+4 ,8 phony id5tific,n c>ds "w$ p}fectly1 & he 5joy$ 2+ ref}r$ 6z ,mr4 ,?ompson4 ,8 f/-class ticket 0 v exp5sive1 b x 0 ! only s1t left on ! #gdg4
  ,judd knew x wdn't 2 l;g 2f 8 p>5ts />t$ look+ = hm4 ,!y wd 4cov} 8 c> at ! airport1 & !y wd qkly f9d 8 "n on ! pass5g} li/ (! ,pan-,con fli<t4 ,he'd bett} 5joy ? freedom :ile he cd1 he decid$4 ,he wd try 6hide 9 ,5gl& = z l;g z possi#1 b ev5 if he 0 f.d & haul$ back 6! ,unit$ ,/ates1 he hop$ he wd h made 8 po9t4
  ,:at 0 8 po9t1 exactly1 he wond}$4 ,t he ne$$ 8 freedom4 ,y1h1 t 0 x4 ,he ne$$ 6be a# 6make "s deci.ns on 8 {n1 6be tr1t$ l an adult4 ,he didn't want 6be told :at 6d all ! "t4 ,he want$ ! ,?ompson family 6"k t he 0 a# 6get al;g 9 ! _w on 8 {n4 ,go+ 6,london 0hmf1 bas$ on 8 {n plans1 "| 6prove t4
  ,judd sat on ! aisle4 ,on ! o!r side (! aisle sat a mi4le-ag$ man :o _h ?ree dr9ks set 2f hm4 ,2y hm1 9 ! w9d{ s1t1 a "y} man sat hun*$ ov} 8 laptop -put}4
  ,judd 0 /unn$ at ! b1uty (! fli<t att5dant1 ~: "n badge r1d 8,hattie40 ,he'd n"e "kn any"o ) t "n1 b he cdn't "w up ! c|rage 6say s4 ,he 0 excit$ & pl1s$ ) hmf :5 %e didn't ev5 ask 6see any id5tific,n :5 %e (f}$ hm *ampagne4
  8,h{ m*80 he ask$4
  8,x's free 9 f/ class1 ,mr4 ,?ompson10 %e sd4
  ,he _h tri$ *ampagne a few "ts & didn't l x1 b he lik$ ! idea ( xs sitt+ on ! tray ta# 9 front ( hm4 ,he wd pret5d 6be on busi;s1 on 8 way 6,london = important meet+s4
  ,capta9 ,ray=d ,/eele came ov} ! 9t}com1 ann|nc+ _! fli<t pa? & altitude & say+ he expect$ 6>rive at ,h1?r{ ,airport at six 9 ! morn+4
  ,judd ,?ompson ,jr4 cdn't wait4 ,? 0 alr ! mo/ excit+ ni<t ( 8 life4
