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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzn7Jv1iMP
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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtX04UfIA4B
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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7lOXodVij
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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkLqlAtpSb
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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwh6qXOjCJ
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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI0Kchr7uc
I sat down in one of the booths.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzx0GMOEFl
"Are you ready to order?" she said. She was closer to me and even more beautiful than before.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvESoLzfKmG
"Yeah...um...," I forced my eyes to look at the menu. I kept reading over the words "French fries" and "Pancakes".
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5yjET2c3v
"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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqVh7sDchl
"Sure. Did you want any pie with that?"
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7eX198hYB
"Um....I..."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZhoXnIpLP
"Wait. I'm sorry. We're all out," she said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8GQTRoCLG
I nervously looked up at her.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IJSxuFEav
"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."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE0p3nEPN2
"Yeah, yeah that will be fine. Thanks," I chuckled.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSJrreqtH3
"Well I'll be back with your food!" She nodded and walked away.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG8dmSAEbT
I was able to read her name tag before she had walked away. Marley was her name.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSbvsd7AaM
That name fits her well - I thought.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWVi9WsDKO
Susan was cleaning counters around the bar area. She waved at me and I waved back.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqRBz47J2i
After I had eaten my sandwich and fries, Marley came back to my table with two plates of pie.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABK3fUHNb1
"Can I sit here?" she asked me boldly.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOcmXLMZk8
I was shocked because a pretty girl like her wanted to sit with a guy like me.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2pRfZjjNS
"Sure..." I said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL79TPmaJ7F
"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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iVvCHNFWo
"It must really be obvious?"
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTOvVcOEx3
"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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvZeyHNKCz
"California...and thanks."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGm6NWtXnw
"Hm," she nodded. "I've never been to California before. Must be nice."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQmiApvgK7
"Eh, it's alright. Weird weather though," I took a bite of my pie.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfldl46IAB
"I have a feeling we are going to be good friends."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlHcjfUaJK
"But we just met each other..."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuziRI6lVA
"I know. I saw you here a few weeks ago. You already met Susan, my grandma, Right?"
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcoGxIssDx
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7nm0K85l1
"Yeah I did. She's a really nice lady."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXWoI2QeeQ
"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."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9InbyGc1NJ
"I'm sorry to hear that. I can't imagine losing my grandfather."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPZU0fkpXC
"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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTJuEdSmB6
Marley and I chatted a bit more until her watch beeped, alerting her that her lunch break was over.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80SEyhctKs
"I'll see you around. I didn't catch your name," she said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTIolOwPog
"It's Benjamin."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBPX8G3r9K
"Nice to meet you, I'm Marley."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXtAnz2CqR
~~~
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyUqfzL4p4
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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlQc8ue456
She mouthed the words, "I'm starving."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNxbZSRSSz
"You are?" I said silently. Marley nodded.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYtO5b6Ioo
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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyiOSolwrd
"Now, what do you guys think would have happened if the Supreme Court was not in place?" she asked. Luckily, the bell rang.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVvseMYCsl
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).
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2ncsBsNyb
"So how do you like Desertville so far?," Naomi asked.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbM00acO0p
"Well I think it's hot. Quiet. Doesn't seem like too much goes on around here," I said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsj35iXGoa
"Well there's more stuff out here that I haven't shown you yet," Marley said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtoGIUbzMs
"Marley, going to that tiny park by our house is not something fun to do. This town is boring," Naomi said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOtLkQ3Ye3
"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."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndZojh3LGf
"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."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxwH88GKn5
"Naomi...!" Marley said embarrassed.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiCBI1w4MD
"What??"
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOTBqaYJA1
"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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxsvKP7NRd
"What's up?" I said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb78qRmsLN
"Our father..."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLdm4khi3b
"We barely know him, Marley!" Naomi said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMgZmA3QpJ
I still had no idea what they were talking about.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjaRFwhMT2
"No one else is doing anything to find him... Naomi... please," Marley begged.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx60rrysrr
"No," she said, slamming her hands down on the table.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ593PRfhyf4
I looked around and people were staring at our table. Naomi got up and grabbed her backpack and walked away.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldBQllpAhY
"I got her," Alan said, as he ran after her.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtumxMl1ufn
Marley just looked down at the table. It was almost like she was exhausted from her sister's reaction.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGMjKG3zz1
"She always does this...ever since...she's just not the same," her voice was heavy. I felt bad for her.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNLrXluPiT
"Hey, what was it that you were going to tell me?" I said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtIO0DrEua
"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,
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8uEeBBW2C
"But do you think that you can help us find him?"
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R1l5DIHeW
That's when I put two and two together, Joseph Williams, the guy on the News who had disappeared, was Marley's
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNecI2zwK7
father.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0ArydgbQA
"It's been 5 years since the disappearance of Joseph Williams. A man who worked for the government agency T.S.I...."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6Xy0hv4tg
"How do you know I can? I'm not much of a detective," I said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zyTwP2xkA
"God told me," Marley said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIMiycWekw
"God?" I said not believing her.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RU19WmEgV
"Yes. God."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvXNdRn506
I chuckled a little bit. She looked down at the table.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3B4yAl3WVb
"I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you, I just never heard of something like that," I said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnkBMQjJuV
"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."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDsX1ZuWaW
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.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfsclf21dV
"I'll help you," I said, even though in my mind I thought she sounded a little crazy.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuZ3fg9eAY
"Thank you, you have no idea what this means," she smiled.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBOM8DGuKm
"Yeah, no problem."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHhhZ6QNBI
"Do you mind meeting us at the diner after school is over tomorrow?" she said.
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewp1ZSLJPD
"Yeah, I just have to ask my parents."
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T8ECiJuBT
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?
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDVmfHldkj
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FgywUL35n
and then Add to home screen.