Introducing John Smith: Street Wiser (Street Smart Series) - Softcover

Rance, Robin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1540854930 ISBN 13: 9781540854933

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016

Synopsis

 Introducing John Smith     I hadn't come into this area at night. I could smell the many different things here. The Puget Sound had a particular fishy odor mixed in with the various food aromas; which now had my stomach grumbling much louder. I decided to check the cans that were closer to the different food vendors first.

     I started down the grassy hill, and in my haste, I tripped and rolled all the way to the bottom. My head was spinning, and I kept my eyes shut to wait for the spinning to cease before I opened them. The first thing I saw was the wizened face of an older woman staring down at me. Her nose was scrunched up causing her mouth to gape open and revealed she was toothless. 

     "You okay, George?" Was she speaking to me? I turned my head from side to side; there was no one on the grass but me.

     "I'm sorry, but you must have mistaken me for someone else. I think I'll be all right once I get this spinning to stop." I pushed myself up and into a sitting position. "Thank you, madam, for checking on me."

     "Are ye hungry? I have enough to share." She held a sack out in front of her which looked almost full. Of what, I wasn't sure yet. 

     "Young lady, I would enjoy that, and your company very much. I'm still a little woozy, would you mind sitting next to me on the grass? I don't think my head will stop spinning enough for me to stand." I took the sack from her and helped her sit next to me. 

    I reached my hand out to shake hers. "I'm John. It's nice having someone to eat with, and it's even better that I didn't have to buy." 

     "I'm Maggie. You look like you could use a friend, John. Where have you been staying? I'll tell you right now, you stink." I tossed my head back and chuckled. 

     "And I thought it was just me who noticed. Thank you, I needed a good laugh. Do you stay close by here?" I watched as her hand shook while she tried to open the bag, and reached out to take it from her. 

     "It's from a hot dog place upstairs in one of those buildings. It's got the works too." The works huh? I handed her a bottle of water, and I took the other one for myself.  

     "I'd love to pay you back, Maggie, but I have nothing right now." She couldn't open her bottle, so I reached over and loosened the cap for her. 

     "John, you can pay me back another time. Friends help friends." I handed her the hot dog, with the works and an order of french fries. After I had pulled mine out of the sack, I ripped the bag in half and set a half for us each on the ground to use as a plate.

     "Thank you, John. This was bought by a couple that was visiting with their kids. It sure is nice to get hot food, when it's supposed to be hot." I took a big bite of my hot dog. Food had never tasted so good, and it was still warm.

     "This is amazing, Maggie." I swallowed, then realized I'd probably taken her meal for the morning.  "You could have used this for breakfast." 

     Her reply was quick. "Eh, don't worry about it. It's tourist season; much easier to get a meal during this time of year." I watched her take a few bites of the hot dog and the fries, then carefully wrapped them back up in the paper they came in.

     "I've messed the whole routine up, haven't I?  I thought I was being a gentleman supplying you with a paper plate, and you needed it for your leftovers." She shook her head and grinned at me.

     "That's what pockets are for. I got plenty of them. Come on, John. You can walk me back home, and if you want, my friends and I can put you up for a few days..."

 

About this title

From the Author:

Introducing John Smith was an emotional ride.I loved his story from the moment I began writing it. John Smith hasbeen inside my head for a few months. This book is an extension ofStreet Wise. It gives the reader a little more insight how John Got where he is, and how he ended up living on the streets of Seattlewith the homeless. My mother was an inspiration to me, and I know that this is a story that she would have loved. She always gave her last dollar to anyone thatshe met on the streets. 

From the Inside Flap:

    "The editor of the paper I work for also has a copy, and if anything, happens to me, it will be turned over to the police."
     "Is that your question, sweetie? No, I don't remember you being there, and do I think you've got any evidence against me? Nope to that question, too. If you did, you would have turned it over to the cops right after your grandparents' little accident."
     I listened to his deranged laugh. The goose bumps rose all over my body. "It was you who killed them! I knew that it wasn't an accident. My grandfather kept his cars all in perfect working condition. You're a murderer, and the police are going to find you as soon as I don't turn up at home. You will never be a free man again!"
     "I'm not a free man now, Miss Howard.  But, unlike you, I've got nothing left to lose. So, you can quit wasting my time and wake up your friend there, or you can kiss him goodbye. You've got five minutes." I watched him turn and walk out of the room. I also noticed that in his hurry to leave, he hadn't closed the door tight.
     "Oh God, oh God, oh God. Wake up, Peter! You've got to wake up!" I still didn't have the use of my hands, so I did the next best thing. I began lightly tapping Peter with my feet. We had to hurry. Five minutes wasn't a lot of time, but it could be enough time to at least leave this room and hide. I decided not to pussyfoot with him anymore.
     I got on top of him and started walking up and down his chest. "Peter, you've got to wake up!"
     "Why? My head hurts, and why in God's name are you walking on me?"  

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1540854930
• ISBN 13: 9781540854933
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 262