It took me a week and a half to get through Maine. Once I got into New
Hampshire I
found a map of America. It was an old one, of when it was still called the United States,
but it was still good. Just past the sector point that led into the state, I found an old park. I
spread my map out on a picnic table with only one bench and tried my best to figure out
where I was. I had a long way to go, and it looked like I had no choice but to go through
New York State unless I went back up into Canada. Right now it would take me almost a
week to get back up to Canada, and it would put me into Quebec. I had never been there
before, that I remembered. Maybe it would be a nice place to see. It would be easier to
travel in Canada, and I could take a train or bus part of the way, if I remembered right, I
could take one around the Lakes, from Montreal or Ottawa to Thunder Bay in Ontario. It
would take me over a month to walk around the Lakes, but I would have to go through
New York. I pitched my tent and decided to sleep on it.
~~
"If you're Canadian, kid, then what are you doing in America?"
"My father, he lives in America, and my mom lives in Canada. I was just visiting him,
and now I'm going home. Can I go now? I have to be home in two days, and I have to
take the bus."
"Just a minute. Says here your name is Max Alexander. Got any proof of that?"
"No, all I have is this sector pass issued to me when I went into America."
"What's the 'N' mean?"
"Nicolas. My name is Max Nicolas Alexander."
"And you're Canadian."
"Yes, that's why there is a maple leaf on my sector pass, because it was issued in
Canada!"
"All right, calm down, kid, I'll let you by. But next time, have some better ID."
"Thanks. I'll try."
Once I got past the cranky lady at the border, I found myself in a small city. While I was
walking back to Canada, I realized I still had money in an emergency account mom had
set up for each of us years ago. She put twenty dollars in both bank accounts each month,
mine must have thousands of dollars in it by now. I had a debit card for that account, just
in case, and mom said I could take some of the money if I was ever in a bind. I didn't
want to change my money back over to Canadian; I knew I would lose some, so I decided
to try the account. It was easy to find a bank; there was one on every corner. I went in to
one of the machines, I didn't want to risk talking to one of the tellers, and had no
problems withdrawing two hundred dollars, praying that mom hadn't put a trace on the
account.
~~
found a map of America. It was an old one, of when it was still called the United States,
but it was still good. Just past the sector point that led into the state, I found an old park. I
spread my map out on a picnic table with only one bench and tried my best to figure out
where I was. I had a long way to go, and it looked like I had no choice but to go through
New York State unless I went back up into Canada. Right now it would take me almost a
week to get back up to Canada, and it would put me into Quebec. I had never been there
before, that I remembered. Maybe it would be a nice place to see. It would be easier to
travel in Canada, and I could take a train or bus part of the way, if I remembered right, I
could take one around the Lakes, from Montreal or Ottawa to Thunder Bay in Ontario. It
would take me over a month to walk around the Lakes, but I would have to go through
New York. I pitched my tent and decided to sleep on it.
~~
"If you're Canadian, kid, then what are you doing in America?"
"My father, he lives in America, and my mom lives in Canada. I was just visiting him,
and now I'm going home. Can I go now? I have to be home in two days, and I have to
take the bus."
"Just a minute. Says here your name is Max Alexander. Got any proof of that?"
"No, all I have is this sector pass issued to me when I went into America."
"What's the 'N' mean?"
"Nicolas. My name is Max Nicolas Alexander."
"And you're Canadian."
"Yes, that's why there is a maple leaf on my sector pass, because it was issued in
Canada!"
"All right, calm down, kid, I'll let you by. But next time, have some better ID."
"Thanks. I'll try."
Once I got past the cranky lady at the border, I found myself in a small city. While I was
walking back to Canada, I realized I still had money in an emergency account mom had
set up for each of us years ago. She put twenty dollars in both bank accounts each month,
mine must have thousands of dollars in it by now. I had a debit card for that account, just
in case, and mom said I could take some of the money if I was ever in a bind. I didn't
want to change my money back over to Canadian; I knew I would lose some, so I decided
to try the account. It was easy to find a bank; there was one on every corner. I went in to
one of the machines, I didn't want to risk talking to one of the tellers, and had no
problems withdrawing two hundred dollars, praying that mom hadn't put a trace on the
account.
~~