Chapter 1
I had finally reached my last house of the day. I just needed to get some information from them and I could finally get off the hot streets of Garner, North Carolina and into some air conditioning. As I walked up to the house I noticed a brown truck sitting in the drive way and baseballs littering the front yard, at least someone appeared to me home. As I neared the door I tried to muster up my most charming smile I could manage after going door to door all day asking people these ridiculous questions for my boss. Once I got to the door I sent up a quick prayer and rang the doorbell. Once I heard the door open I immediately started into my pre-determined speech.
"Hello sir, My name is Rhiannon Freed and I'm with Recovery Rehab in Raleigh-"
As I looked up I noticed that the man I thought had answered the door was actually just a kid. Not just any kid though, but a very, very familiar kid.
"I'm sorry but I need to speak with the head of the household, are your parents home?" I asked him.
"No, they won't be back for a little bit." His deep southern drawl answered me. Great, I thought, this is the last house I need and I can't even get the information I need. He must have noticed the look of defeat on my face because he quickly followed up his response.
"They should be back here in a little bit if you really need to speak with them."
"I do, actually," I responded to him, "I just have to ask them a few questions about y'alls family for my job."
"Are you selling something?" he asked.
"No" I answered back. He seemed to be summing me up when he said, "Alright, come on in. You can wait for them here. You look exhausted anyways; I'll get you a glass of sweet tea."
I just stared at him for a second, not actually believing that him, of all people, was inviting me, a perfect stranger, into his house. Finally composing myself I stepped over the threshold. As he shut the door he said, "My name is Scotty, by the way, Scotty McCreery."