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Band practice ended later than usual that afternoon. Amy quickly gathered her things thinking that she was ready for a nice long nap. She was so eager to get home that she almost collided with a figure who she noticed was dressed completely in black.
"Whoa, where's the fire", he asked.
"I'm sorry. I didn't see you." She looked up into the man's face. He was smiling. Well, it might have been a smile but to Amy it seemed more like a sneer. He had a cold look in his eyes which caused a shiver to run up her spine. Something about this man seemed familiar.
"It's okay. Maybe you can help me? I'm looking for my son. He's in the band."
"We're all just now getting out. Practice ran late today."
The man's smile faded, "I was hoping I'd find him here."
"Well, you can see if he's inside."
He shrugged, "I wouldn't know where to begin."
"I'd try the band room. It's really easy to find."
"Ok, where is it? I'm not exactly familiar with this place."
"It's the big room next to the gym. I'd help you, but my ride will be here soon."
"It's okay. I'm pretty sure I can find a gym. I'm glad you crashed into me miss...", he held out his hand.
She stared at it uneasily for a second, but decided to shake his hand anyway. "Amy", she said, "Amy Juergens."
"Amy", said a voice that clearly belonged to her little sister.
"Ashley! What are you doing here?"
"Uh, we're here to take you home. We've been waiting for you forever."
"You must be Amy's little sister", the man said offering his hand to Ashley.
"What am I supposed to do with that?" she asked staring at his hand as if it was infected with a disease.
"Ashley", her sister said in a reprimanding tone, "that was rude."
"It's okay", said the man, "Your sister and I have been getting acquainted."
"Not too acquainted I hope."
"Ashley!"
"That's my cue to leave. Thanks again Amy. Ashley...it was nice meeting you."
"Yeah..Who are you?" Ashley asked.
"Oh you can just call me Bob", the man said and continued up the steps.
"I could probably tell you where your son is if I knew his name", Amy called after him.
"It's okay. I think I found what I need", he gave her a big grin and walked off towards the school.
"Okay he's a freak", Ashley said.
"No he's not. He was really nice." Something about the man did seem creepy, but Amy wasn't going to admit to her sister that she was right.
"Didn't mom and dad ever tell you not to talk to strangers?"
Amy rolled her eyes, "shut up." They walked down the steps to their mother's van and got inside.
"Hey", Anne greeted, "what took you so long?"
"We got out of band practice late", Amy said buckling her seat belt.
"And then she chatted up old man weirdo", Ashley added.
"That is so gross. I was not chatting him up. I was trying to help him find his son because unlike you I'm not rude to everyone I meet."
"And unlike you my body won't be on the six o' clock news one day."
"Enough you two", Anne scolded and then started the car. The girls remained quiet for the rest of the drive home. The image of the stranger immediately faded from their thoughts.
