
     ,,two
  ,vicki's ,j|rney
  ,if "! 0 "o ?+ ,vicki ,byrne 0 sure ( :5 %e left ,new ,hope ,village ,*ur* t "d1 x 0 :at %e 0 feel+4 ,no way >.d x1 %e decid$4 ,%e felt guilty4
  ,%e /opp$ at ! door & look$ back 6see ,bruce ,b>nes sitt+ we>ily1 h&s atop 8 h1d1 f+}s 5tw9$4 ,he 0 alm imp}ceptibly %ak+ 8 h1d4 8,i'm go+ 6g look = t ll kid10 ,lionel sd1 excus+ hmf z he slipp$ pa/ h} & | (! *ur*4
  8,we'll 2 back1 ,i'm sure10 ,judd ,?ompson 0 tell+ ,bruce4 ,vicki 0 c}ta9 ( t too1 & %e felt bad 2c %e "u/ood h{ m* ,bruce ,b>nes c>$ & h{ urg5t he felt x 0 t !y make _! deci.ns = ,*ri/ n{4
  ,vicki />t$ t{>d home1 ?|< x 0 ! la/ place %e want$ 6g4 ,t empty trail} wd only rem9d h} h{ truly al"o %e was4 ,%e hesitat$ on ! sidewalk1 notic+ ! small bicycle "s"o _h left | front4 ,%e assum$ x 0 ,ryan's4 ,"! 0 no": else 6g1 no?+ else 6d4 ,%e h1d$ on foot =! trail} p>k4
  ,judd ,?ompson call$ 6h} f ! door (! *ur*4 8,s1 :at >e y go+ 6d80 he sd4
  8,same z y10 %e sd4 8,?9k x ov}4 ,d ! "r ?+4 ,we bo? "k :at t m1ns4 ,i j don't want 6d x :5 ,i'm s exhau/$ & key$ up at ! same "t40
  8,,i "k :at y m1n10 ,judd sd4 8,b ,i m1nt :at >e y go+ 6d "r n{80
  8,j g home ,i guess10 %e sd4 8,y want 6g "s": ) me80
  8,l ":80
  8,i've got 6g get my "f's c>4 ,i left x at ,o',h>e40
  ,vicki %ru7$4 8,:y n8 ,h{ >e we gett+ "!8 ,we gonna ride d|# on ,ryan's bike80
  8,t's my ll bro!r's bike4 ,i'm go+ 6see if ,bruce w let me l1ve t "h4 ,i 0 ?9k+ ( tak+ a cab40
  8,y m/ h a lot m m"oy ?an ,i d10 ,vicki sd4
  8,t's "o ?+ ,i'm n %ort (10 ,judd sd4 8,b ,i'd trade x all 6be 9 h1v5 "r n{40
  8,i "k10 ,vicki sd4 8,? is aw;l40
  ,a few m9utes lat}1 ,m>c ,?ompson's bike 0 /or$ j 9side ! front door (! *ur* & ,judd 0 on ! ph"o 6a cab -pany4 ,x took ="e "6get a 3nec;n & !n = "s"o 6answ}4 ,he 0 told "! wd 2 a premium on ! f>e4 8,:at does t m1n80 he ask$4
  8,t x's go+ 6co/ y triple ! normal am.t4 ,& we don't recomm5d try+ 6get 96,o',h>e4 ,x's / a mess40
  8,i ne$ 6get my c> | ( "!10 ,judd sd4
  8,t p>k+ g>age is a 4a/}4 ,a bun* ( p 4appe>$ :ile driv+ | ( "!1 & _! cra%$ c>s left a gridlock t's go+ 6take "ds 6untangle40
  8,i / h 6try10 ,judd sd4 8,i want 6make sure x's ,,ok & get x 2f "s"o /1ls x40
  8,suit yrf4 ,"sbody %d 2 "! = y )9 ! h|r40
  ,vicki & ,judd sat on ! curb1 wait+4 ,%e didn't recall hav+ se5 ? boy 2f4 ,despite 8 scru6y look1 x 0 de> 6h} ,judd 0 a ri* kid4 ,_! pa?s wd n h cross$ = l;g1 _h !y "e met4 ,vicki felt an unexpla9$ ne$ 6keep "s sort ( 3v}s,n go+4 ,?|< %e hat$ ! idea ( fac+ t trail}1 :at %e re,y want$ 0 6get home 6h} {n b$ & bury h} face 9 ! pill{ & cry ov} all t %e _h lo/4 ,:at a wa/e h} life _h be51 %e decid$4
  ,/1 %e 0 grate;l = "s?+ 6d1 "s": 6g1 "s"o 6be )4 ,%e ask$ ,judd 6tell h} m ab 8 family4 ,he cri$ z he told h}1 & t made h} cry too4 8,we're bo? go+ 6h 6d ! "r ?+ "h soon1 >5't we80 %e sd4
  8,i "k10 ,judd sd4
  ,! cab >riv$ ne>ly two h|rs lat}4
  8,sorry x took me s l;g10 ! ca2y sd4 ,he 0 a burly man 9 a sleeve.s ;,t-%irt4 ,he look$ z if he cd use "s sleep4 8,x's h>d = u 6get 6|r call-9s 2c we're n all{$ 6pass 0any"o :o's try+ 6flag u d{n on ! way40
  8,& a lot ( p >e do+ t80 ,vicki sd4
  8,i _h ?ree o!r rides 2f ,i got "h10 ! ca2y sd4 8,& ,i ev5 told ano!r guy 6wait = ano!r cab4 ,he want$ 6pay me 6take hm all ! way 6,wiscons940
  8,w{60
  8,y're tell+ me6 ,i don't ?9k he cd h af=d$ x anyway1 b ,i don't h 6take "sbody t f> :5 ,i've got a call-in4 ,y kids >5't re,y go+ 6,o',h>e1 >e y8 ,y "k "!'s no?+ fly+ | ( "!--0
  8,i'm j go+ 6try 6get my c> | ( "!10 ,judd sd4
  8,t's gonna 2 no picnic ei1 son10 ! ca2y sd4
  8,i "k4 ,b ,i h 6try4 ,i've got no?+ else 6d40
  ,vicki 0 amaz$ 6see s _m fires z ! cab snak$ xs way "? ! rema9s ( c> wrecks1 tra6ic gridlocks1 ev5 fi<ts4 ,x 0 cle> "! wd n"e 2 5 local police 6g >.d4 ,s ? is :at x's l at ! 5d (! _w1 %e ?"|4
  ,": 7 all ~! p go+8 ,all ,vicki _h notic$ ne> ! *ur* 7 sir5s 9 ! 4t.e &! gl{ ( 4tant fires on ! horizon4 ,n{ %e cd see t ~? fires 7 n s 4tant4 08,:y is "ey?+ burn+80 %e ask$4
  8,y don't "k80 ! ca2y sd4 8,nobody "ks yet h{ _m p 4appe>$ late la/ ni<t1 b any ( !m :o _h any?+ on ! /ove j left x "!4 ,y l1ve "s?+ on ! /ove ov}ni<t1 ev5tu,y ! food burns up1 ! wat} turns 6/1m1 ! pan gets hott} ?an blazes1 & 2f y "k x yr kit*5's on fire4 ,) nobody "! 6fi<t x or report x1 boom1 "! goes yr h|se40
  ,vicki saw looks ( j1l|sy on ! faces ( p wav+ at ! cab f /reet corn}s1 4appo9t$ 6see t x 0 alr hir$4 ,:at a mess4 ,7 all ~! p j try+ 6f9d "s":1 any":1 t wasn't turn+ 6rub#8
  ,z ! ni<t grew d>k &! cab sl{ly pick$ xs way "? side /reets & back roads t{>d ,9t}/ate #bid1 ,vicki notic$ t ,judd _h seem$ 6lose 9t}e/ 9 talk+4 ,he sat ) 8 *9 re/+ 9 8 h&s4 ,he _h turn$ away f h} & appe>$ 6/>e | ! w9d{ z !y sl{ly rode al;g4 ,:5 wd x s9k in8 %e wond}$4 ,:5 wd %e feel h} {n fatigue & exhaus;n & f9,y 2 a# 6sleep8 ,& h{ wd all ? feel :5 %e f9,y woke up & r1liz$ x 0 n a dr1m1 n a ni<tm>e1 b r1l;y8 ,h{ d y g f 2+ "p (a family 6becom+ an orphan ov}ni<t8 ,%e si<$4 ,%e _hn't ev5 lik$ 2+ 9 h} family4 ,%e didn't l x :5 h} p>5ts 7 l|d drunks1 & %e lik$ x ev5 less :5 !y 2came ,*ri/ians4
  ,n{ %e r1liz$1 ( c|rse1 t = at l1/ ! la/ two ye>s--s9ce h} p>5ts _h 2come 2liev}s--%e h}f _h be5 ! pro#m4 ,%e _h "sh{ r1liz$ t h} life wd n 2 h} {n if %e 2came a ,*ri/ian l h} p>5ts4 ,!y _h told h} & told h} t %e didn't ne$ 6cl1n up h} life 2f %e came 6,*ri/4 8,jesus a3epts y j ! way y >e10 h} "m _h told h}4 8,he'll />t %{+ y :at ne$s 6be *ang$ & w help y *ange40
  ,! pro#m was1 ,vicki knew h} "m 0 "r4 ,%e simply didn't want 6*ange1 :e!r %e h}f 0 mak+ ! *anges or ,god was4 ,%e _h lik$ h} life j ! way x 0 2c x 0 j t--h} life4 ,:y _h x tak5 ?1 "s?+ s huge1 s cosmic1 s 4a/r|s 6%{ h} h{ fooli% %e _h be58 ,%e _h be5 s* a rebel1 s m1n 6h} p>5ts & ev5 6h} sweet ll si/}1 ,j1nni4
  ,& :at 0 ) ? dolt sitt+ next 6h}8 ,judd ,?ompson seem$ l a nice 5 guy1 hav+ made ! same huge life-&-d1? mistakes %e _h made4 ,b _h he ev5 once ask$ h} ab h}f or h} family8 ,sure1 %e _h told h} /ory 9 ! ll meet+ at ,new ,hope1 j l he _h4 ,b h{ 0 x t %e knew 6ask = m details1 ev5 if j 6be polite1 & he didn't8 ,wasn't t j l a ri* kid 6n c>e ab anybody else8 ,%e _h a bad feel+ t %e wasn't go+ 6l ? guy v m*1 despite :at !y 7 go+ "? tgr4 ,well1 %e 3clud$1 at l1/ he _h ask$ h} 6g ) hm on 8 }r&4 ,t 0 bett} ?an 2+ al"o j n{4
  ,( c|rse1 %e decid$1 t 0 ! r1l r1son he _h 9vit$ h} anyway4 ,he didn't want 6be al"o any m ?an %e did4 ,vicki 0 f9,y do+ a ll "s?+ = "sbody o!r ?an h}f4 ,%e cd s}ve t purpose4 ,%e cd keep ? poor ri* kid f 2+ al"o dur+ ! wor/ ni<t ( 8 life4
  ,! tollway 6,o',h>e 0 /op-&-g :5 x 0 mov+ at all4 ,vicki simply didn't "u/& ": all ~! p 7 go+4 ,b !n1 %e & ,judd 7 go+ "s":1 s :y cdn't "ey"o else8
  ,! ca2y _h fall5 sil5t l;g ago4 ,he kept tak+ huge swigs f a mug ( c(fee & op5$ 8 w9d{ s ! cool ni<t air fill$ ! c>4 ,vicki %iv}$ & wi%$ he wd %ut x1 b didn't say any?+4 ,! way he look$1 he _h probably be5 driv+ = tw5ty-f|r h|rs4 ,%e 0 n ab 64c|rage any?+ t wd keep hm awake4
  ,)9 a c|ple ( miles (! airport1 ! tra6ic /opp$ d1d4 ,) ,judd seem+ly / m 9t}e/$ 9 />+ | ! w9d{ ?an talk+ 6h} &! cab driv} appe>+ 63c5trate on simply /ay+ awake1 ,vicki 0 al"o ) h} ?"|s4 ,x was1 %e knew1 "t 6talk 6,god4 ,x wd 2 ! f/ "t %e _h d"o t 9 z l;g z %e cd rememb}4
  ,z ,vicki re/$ h} face 9 h} h&s1 %e felt move;t next 6h}4 ,%e peek$ at ,judd1 :o 0 / turn$ away f h}4 ,8 %|ld}s h1v$1 & %e knew he 0 so2+1 ?|< he 0 "sh{ a# 6mu6le ! s.ds4
  ,vicki 0 su45ly ov}come ) an emo;n %e _hn't felt 9 ye>s4 ,%e felt desp}ately1 ov}:elm+ly sorry = ? boy4 ,maybe he 0 a ri* kid1 maybe he 0 9s5sitive1 maybe he 0 s selfi% he cdn't ev5 2 polite4 ,b he 0 su6}+ ! way %e 0 su6}+4 ,%e knew exactly h{ he felt4
  ,alm )|t ?9k+1 ,vicki put h} h& g5tly on 8 %|ld}4 ,judd l{}$ 8 h1d 6his h&s & so2$ al|d4 ,vicki saw ! cab driv}'s sympa!tic gl.e "? ! re>view mirror4 ,judd :isp}$ ho>sely1 8,i 0 s /upid4 ,s /upid40 ,judd mov$ sli<tly1 & ,vicki worri$ t he mi<t 2 emb>rass$4 ,%e pull$ h} h& away & retr1t$ 6h} {n ?"|s4
  ,fi<t+ a sob 9 h} {n ?roat1 %e pray$ sil5tly4 8,god10 %e sd1 8,i don't ev5 "k h{ 6talk 6y1 let al"o :at 6say4 ,bruce ,b>nes sd y lov$ u & c>$ ab u & didn't want 6l1ve u 2h4 ,i hope t's true 2c ,i want 6believe 9 y4 ,i'm sorry = hav+ be5 s* a bad p}son1 & ,i'm sorry t x took "s?+ l ? 6make me -e 6y4 ,i wi% ,i cd say ,i wd h d"o ? ev5tu,y anyway1 b ,i c't4 ,i _h 5 *.es1 b ,i didn't want 6give y my life4 ,if y c =give me = t & / a3ept me1 y c h :at"e is left ( my life4
  ,=a l;g "t ,i hop$ y w}5't r1l & t ,i wdn't h 6answ} 6y "s"d1 b ,i alw knew d{n deep y 7 "!4 ,& if no?+ else 3v9c$ me1 ? mess sure has4 ,i "k x c't 2 z gd 6believe n{ :5 ,i h no *oice1 b if y'll a3ept me1 ,i w live = y = z l;g z y let me /ay alive40
  ,vicki & ,judd sat 9 sil;e = alm ano!r two h|rs :ile ! cab sl{ly 9*$ xs way t{>d ! 9t}n,nal airport4 ,su45ly ! ca2y pull$ (f ! road & sat on ! %|ld}1 %ift+ 96p>k4 ,he turn$ 6,judd4 8,i'm sorry1 son1 b y c see if ,i take t exit ramp 6,o',h>e "r "!1 we mi<t n get | ( "! = "ds4 ,y're / a c|ple ( miles f ! p>k+ g>age1 b ,i ?9k ? is z close z ,i c get y40
  ,vicki cd see he 0 "r4 ,no?+ 0 mov+ on t ramp4 ,judd look$ at h}1 & !y bo? %ru7$4 ,judd pd ! driv} & ?ank$ hm4
  ,su45ly ,vicki f.d h}f al"o )a /range boy on a *illy ni<t1 on foot 9 a _w t _h -e a"p at ! s1ms4
  ,x 0 :ile walk+ ) ,judd t fatigue ov}came ,vicki4 ,%e didn't want 6say s1 b %e wond}$ ) ea* /ep if %e cd take ano!r4 ,? _h be5 "o l;g1 gruel+1 horrify+ "d4 ,n{1 %e ?"|1 maybe %e cd f9,y re/ 9 h} {n b$4 ,! memories & h} loss wd / haunt h}1 b %e 2liev$ ,god wd all{ h} 6sleep4 ,%e knew %e didn't des}ve 6h hm 9 h} life1 b %e cd d no?+ less n{ ?an 6tru/ hm & 2lieve 9 hm & dep5d ~u hm4
  ,f9,y1 walk+ 9 ! grass next 6! %|ld} (! road1 : 0 fill$ ) c>s b>ely mov+1 ,judd broke 8 l;g sil;e4 8,vicki1 ,i've be5 ?9k+ & pray+40
  8,me too10 %e sd4
  8,re,y80
  ,%e no4$4
  8,t's gd10 he sd1 82c ,i don't ?9k we're sm>t 6put (f |r deci.n any l;g}4 ,:o "ks :at mi<t happ580
  8,s y alr 2came a ,*ri/ian80 %e ask$4
  ,he no4$4 8,i j figur$ x 0 re,y dumb 6wait any l;g}4 ,n t ,i'm say+ y're dumb1 y "k40
  8,i did ! same ?+ a ll :ile ago1 ,judd4 ,if :at ,bruce sd is true1 !n ,i guess t puts u 9 ! same family4 ,we're bro!r & si/} n{40
  ,judd no4$ ag4 8,i guess we >e10 he sd4 8,i cd use a si/}40
  8,i cd use a bro!r40
  8,y1h1 didn't y say yr big bro!r 0 liv+ 9 ,mi*igan & y ?"| he 0 raptur$ too80
  8,i ?"| y'd n"e ask40
