Saved

walking home alone

on a gloomy Omaha early evening a

young & handsome man pulled his car into the curb of the

busy street beside me and, looking through the side window,

asked if I’d babysit

for his children that night.

to the naive 11-year-old I was then,

it sounded wonderful – I could make money to

spend however I liked!

I have to ask my folks, I said. we live just across the

street. I’ll be right back.

don’t bother, he said, you can call them from

my house.

no, I have to ask them first, I said. just wait for me.

I started across the street.

he drove away.