Runaway Thursday Part III; Gus

I stood on the platform for a split second not knowing what to do. But as soon as i spotted the police i knew i had to route. I found the quickest way to level ground and ducked in a bathroom at the station. My thoughts were a missing person's report may have already been called in, so avoiding law enforcements would be for my benefit.

There was only one other person in the restroom, some homely looking white lady. I asked her how much a train ticket to New York would cost. The price she gave me was out of my budget. I only had a dollar and some change that really didnt add up to much. I knew I could probably beg for some change near some establishment or road. But then I'd have to subtract the cost of every day meals. I figured it would take days to get up enough money. But I wasnt discouraged.

The bathroom wouldnt be open twenty-four-seven and it was going to get dark soon. I left the station and headed right. Then kept walking straight until I couldnt anymore, so i turned left. I noticed that i landed in the Hispanic part of Trenton. Somehow that made me uncomfortable. While walking I passed some a dirty looking fella. We started talking and found that we had a lot in common.

His name was Gus, and he was also without a home. But he did say he had a place to stay, some near by church that took in people, he said they could give me a place to sleep and i could eat there too. It sounded kinda sketchy, but what else was i to do? He grabbed a fourty at some store and we sat under a tree in the park.



Gus started telling me his whole life story. He ran away when he was thirteen and ended up in some Hardcore Hispanic gang. He told me how they used to shoot up people and throw up their signs and walk all funny. Gus said he can tell from a distance if someone was in the gang by the way they wlaked and their tats. This all seemed surreal to me. Hispanic gangs and tatoos and guns. Crap like that happens on screen, not before my eyes.



Anyway, he continued. Gus became a freelance carpenter, thats how hes able to find money when he travels. And thats another thing. This man traveled homeless all the way from the other side of the country. I've only jumped the next state and was on my own for eight hours. His stories made me unsure of my journey. I didnt tell him that though.

As the liquor seemed to disapear, Gus started getting touching. I wasnt at all comfortable then. Especially when he sorta sucked my faced in an attempt to kiss me. He asked again for a kiss, but before i could really say no he leaned in. I backed up and said "I dont want to kiss you. I dont kiss strangers." He wasnt at all nice with his response. "So I hook you up with a place to stay, and you cant even give me a little kiss?" I was scared. I didnt like Gus when he was all liqoured up. And his advances didnt stop.

We finished the last bit that was in the bottle and headed towards the church. By then it was maybe ten something, and the church doors closed at i think nine. He said we'll find a way in and that everything will be ok. I had a feeling it wouldnt. So i said my goodbyes. He begged for me to stay, he really liked me he said. I told him maybe id run into him tomarow. He said probably not. Gus moves too fast to be caught up with.

We hugged. And waved. And I never saw Gus again.