She stepped down off the bus,slinging her bookbag over her shoulder. She took a nervous look around,and spotted a grocery store across the street. Hurrying past the cars and weaving through the crowded sidewalk, she hesitated for one second before ducking into the store.
Brian gave AJ a playful shove as they walked into the store. AJ grabbed a
shopping cart,and began humming as they walked.
"Okay...what are we here for?," Brian asked, grabbing two packs of cookies
from the rack. AJ popped a piece of gum in his mouth,and placed a handful
of macaroni and cheese boxes into the buggy.They walked down the aisles,
browsing around. A young girl,around 13,approached them in a panic.Brian
took a deep breath as AJ smiled politely.
"Hi there," he said. She shrieked,and thrusted a piece of paper and a pen
in their direction.Brian laughed softly and signed it for her,then handed
it to AJ.
"You guys....oh man,you guys are awesome!," she breathed. Brian
smiled,and quietly told her,"thank you."
AJ handed her the paper and she thanked them as she hurried away."Wow,"
Brian said. AJ laughed as they continued down the aisles."Don't worry...
maybe she's the only one," he said,teasingly. Brian pretended to look
angry and then they both laughed.
Brian looked behind them to see a terrified little girl rushing down the
aisle. AJ caught site of some groceries sticking out of her bag. He looked
at Brian and they both took off running after her.
Brian caught her by the arm and she screamed, fighting him to let her go.
AJ grabbed the bag,and opened it to expose over twenty dollars worth of
groceries. The manager of the store came hurrying down the aisle,and pointed
at her."The little brat! I saw her take off with my stuff!," he said. Brian
looked down at her. Her eyes filled with tears and he loosened his grip on
her arm.Kneeling down,he look at her eyes.
"You know you can get into a lot of trouble for doing something like this,
don't you? What would your mom and dad say?," he asked.Ashamed,she dropped
her eyes to the ground.Then she looked back up,wiping tears from her eyes.
"I'm sorry...please don't turn me in.I won't do it again.I promise," he
nodded,and stood up. He handed the bag to the manager, who sighed.
"I think she's harmless. Can we just take her home,and we'll make sure
that this won't happen again.There's really no need to involve the cops,"
he said.The manager nodded,and looked down at the little girl.
"You're lucky these fellas are here to save you from alot of trouble. Now
get home,and don't let me catch you stealing my stuff again," she nodded,
and as Brian and AJ left the store with her,Brian reached down to take her
hand.
When they reached AJ's car, he asked her where she lived."I'm not from
around here.I don't live anywhere," she said.
"Okay,look.We helped you out in there.Don't make us regret what we did
by being so smart about it," he said. She shrugged, and looked at him as
she said,"I don't live here,I mean it.I ran away."
He tossed up his hands and sighed as Brian turned to her again,"Why would
you run away from home?Do you realize how dangerous it can be out here
all by yourself?," he asked.
"Why don't we take you home and try to get in touch with your parents?
They're probably really worried about you," he said. She relunctantly
climbed into the back of the car and they drove away.
Who is this girl,and where is she from? what can Brian do to help her?