A few weeks passed and we finally had settled into our new house in Desertville. I figured Mom didn't take Susan's offer to work at the diner since she was still wearing her same white blouse and black slacks to work every morning. I knew Mom and Dad working for the T.S.I had to be dangerous, considering Dad agreed with Susan that they may have had something to do with Joseph William's disappearance.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctlsgqSUxq
One Monday morning, I decided to pretend to be sick so I wouldn't have to go to school. I didn't feel up to it. I had only been attending Desertville High School for two weeks. When my parents had finally left for work, I got out of bed and stopped pretending to be sick.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7WGh1mUEt
I didn't feel like eating the chicken soup that Mom had made for me, but I was hungry so I took a walk to Grandma's Diner. Before I left, I went back to my room and grabbed some money, ($15). I grabbed my phone off the charger and put it in my pocket, along with my house keys.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fjdo4rn2a
Within 5 minutes of walking to the diner, I was on fire. The sun penetrated my eyeballs and my skin felt like it was being stabbed with a pen. It was starting to make me feel like I wanted to go insane. It was only 10:30 am but I was sure it was 100 degrees out there. I walked down the sidewalk, on the small hill my neighborhood was on, till I got to the main street.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5dLt94Kv6
Luckily the diner was only one more block down and I knew they had AC. I walked in the door and the two bells jingled at the top of it. I saw Susan and that pretty girl whose name I still did not know. The both of them were laughing at something.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ltjzjlBe7
Her hair was in a puffy side ponytail and she was wearing a diner uniform like Susan, a red colored waitress dress with a checkered collar and checkered sleeve trims. I also noticed that her skin was a little pale.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GHlcNa3F8
I sat down in one of the booths.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lh8JYHnYK
"Are you ready to order?" she said. She was closer to me and even more beautiful than before.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLsUaridiY
"Yeah...um...," I forced my eyes to look at the menu. I kept reading over the words "French fries" and "Pancakes".
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoksgmPEw8x
"I'll take a lemonade and your turkey sandwich with extra onions. And um...can I have fries?" I tried to say it as if I was uninterested in her.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQdjov0BLf
"Sure. Did you want any pie with that?"
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPGje88mOY
"Um....I..."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzySwOUM6Kx
"Wait. I'm sorry. We're all out," she said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWdFCIbBAC
I nervously looked up at her.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEgItSpApO
"I'm just kidding! We have tons of blueberry pie in the back. Would you like for me to bring you a slice after your meal."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkjcQQdMzl
"Yeah, yeah that will be fine. Thanks," I chuckled.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsrA58Z23V
"Well I'll be back with your food!" She nodded and walked away.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFPzXnhtxn
I was able to read her name tag before she had walked away. Marley was her name.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGtGCfcqhm
That name fits her well - I thought.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1oGOLs28w
Susan was cleaning counters around the bar area. She waved at me and I waved back.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOLeDeKzBv
After I had eaten my sandwich and fries, Marley came back to my table with two plates of pie.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq17cjp29ro
"Can I sit here?" she asked me boldly.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHXU6dGnRl
I was shocked because a pretty girl like her wanted to sit with a guy like me.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiCE2GcgYR
"Sure..." I said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveiujX8Nwr
"I know this seems weird, but I'm on my lunch break so I figured I'd sit with the new guy in town," she said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Q7UEUTUK
"It must really be obvious?"
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfSILNzBfF
"Desertville is a small town. Everyone knows everyone here." She slid over one of the plates with pie on it to me. "I figured you might have wanted dessert after your sandwich. Where are you from?" She took a bite of her pie.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2s2SIlhoe
"California...and thanks."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07jEeGI2ya
"Hm," she nodded. "I've never been to California before. Must be nice."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakgowCTz0W
"Eh, it's alright. Weird weather though," I took a bite of my pie.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw1QQs9R2j
"I have a feeling we are going to be good friends."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4AqQELr3h
"But we just met each other..."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmyQhXvolD
"I know. I saw you here a few weeks ago. You already met Susan, my grandma, Right?"
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3583ZvGy5
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LG2x1Eck8
"Yeah I did. She's a really nice lady."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jlnxOcU1q
"This place was passed down from my grandmother's mom to her. She and my grandfather pretty much owned the place. He died a few months ago though."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtopqpWLaR
"I'm sorry to hear that. I can't imagine losing my grandfather."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6ZWBJySs5
"It's fine. My grandpa is resting now in heaven. He loved Jesus. Besides, there are much worse things to worry about these days," she said the last part quietly. Whatever she was talking about shook her to the core.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFg0N25VuH
Marley and I chatted a bit more until her watch beeped, alerting her that her lunch break was over.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzKRGhdxJ8
"I'll see you around. I didn't catch your name," she said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMxdrNybet
"It's Benjamin."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcbrpyd2s8
"Nice to meet you, I'm Marley."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ICXmA5prk
~~~
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaLcYCxpWH
A few weeks later in history class, Mrs. Luna was explaining the Constitutional Amendments and the Supreme Court, it was extremely uninteresting. I decided to turn around to see what Marley was doing. She was one row over, in the last desk. She looked at me.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DMBeulL8r
She mouthed the words, "I'm starving."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMWchfT8wt
"You are?" I said silently. Marley nodded.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatYkByJZVi
I turned back around and continuously tapped my pencil on the desk. I looked at the clock and we had about ten minutes till lunch. My focus turned to Mrs. Luna again as she was asking the whole class a question.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUhXIfoLKv
"Now, what do you guys think would have happened if the Supreme Court was not in place?" she asked. Luckily, the bell rang.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSVOh3GKOM
As I was walking to the cafeteria, Marley caught up to me. We walked to the cafeteria together, where we met up with Naomi (Marly's older sister), and Alan (Dr. Clyde's son).
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkA2MZejQs
"So how do you like Desertville so far?," Naomi asked.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iLaGz8ANK
"Well I think it's hot. Quiet. Doesn't seem like too much goes on around here," I said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuypfCO374p
"Well there's more stuff out here that I haven't shown you yet," Marley said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9KcUyCV7z
"Marley, going to that tiny park by our house is not something fun to do. This town is boring," Naomi said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacg1SxsK4L
"Well, Ben hasn't seen anything yet. You may not see it, but I do. People are always doing something. You might find this town interesting."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcILB8iiRh
"Eating all day and going for walks?" Naomi said. Marley didn't respond. "Alan and I are going to go to the diner to cover for Grandma while she takes you to the pharmacy to pick up your prescription."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGFWwatPN9
"Naomi...!" Marley said embarrassed.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXknUsIv0y
"What??"
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43GQ8KXYzv
"So Ben, I've been meaning to ask you something very important. I think you can help us with something." Marley looked down at her tray, and she quickly changed the subject.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ULihC9P1E
"What's up?" I said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YFNDHnLq7
"Our father..."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxM1Q6saca
"We barely know him, Marley!" Naomi said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJVSGzKtfq
I still had no idea what they were talking about.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIr9S5yFTB
"No one else is doing anything to find him... Naomi... please," Marley begged.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5eJ1VfOSE
"No," she said, slamming her hands down on the table.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWq5IRYmv6
I looked around and people were staring at our table. Naomi got up and grabbed her backpack and walked away.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30jIzNnGmn
"I got her," Alan said, as he ran after her.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkJc45b89v
Marley just looked down at the table. It was almost like she was exhausted from her sister's reaction.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI2ekbtL9K
"She always does this...ever since...she's just not the same," her voice was heavy. I felt bad for her.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarzVA9pbX7
"Hey, what was it that you were going to tell me?" I said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTS1OPTIUm
"I was going to tell you about my dad...he's been missing for five years. I know we just met and all," she looked at me,
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcePOvJr95
"But do you think that you can help us find him?"
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE1SiDjhe0
That's when I put two and two together, Joseph Williams, the guy on the News who had disappeared, was Marley's
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoxHjbLmlS
father.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIjLVSuJDO
"It's been 5 years since the disappearance of Joseph Williams. A man who worked for the government agency T.S.I...."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoC7il24h8
"How do you know I can? I'm not much of a detective," I said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZ9Q8394iD
"God told me," Marley said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhPbny04Tu
"God?" I said not believing her.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDYaQpwjlr
"Yes. God."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR3FvXxMgM
I chuckled a little bit. She looked down at the table.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYa6VYCnmD
"I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you, I just never heard of something like that," I said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cwPlvVAoe
"It's fine," she said confidently. "I know it may seem like it doesn't make sense, but you have to trust me. I know God and He speaks to me. He's always right."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrt60EjS07
I thought for a few moments, wondering how it could be that "God" said to Marley that I could help her find her missing father. I figured I would still help her, though I wasn't completely sure about the whole thing.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00pMy28n6o
"I'll help you," I said, even though in my mind I thought she sounded a little crazy.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwXBmoMa2D
"Thank you, you have no idea what this means," she smiled.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb1TZznj5s
"Yeah, no problem."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCe9v8iwCe
"Do you mind meeting us at the diner after school is over tomorrow?" she said.
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LZyoA0I8w
"Yeah, I just have to ask my parents."
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjYCsul3fQ
How was I going to do it? If God had really told Marley that I could help her find her Father, how was I going to find a man who had been missing for five years?
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuknig3CVWS
112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazONb44Hxv
and then Add to home screen.