NUMBER ONE

The rain had not let up all morning. Each minute seemed to bring another cloudburst. The clouds hung so thick and low that the sun had not peaked through them yet and the gloominess began. to upset Terry. He had no luck hitch-hiking today and was soaked to the bone. Not that he blamed people for not giving him a ride, after all, he and his gear were a dripping mess. His thick, long brown hair was well matted against his skull and his boots made a squishing sound with every step he took. As he made his way through the brush and mud alongside the road, cars motored by him slowly as their drivers found their way along the curvy country highway.

He walked steadily and in a short while entered a town. There had been a sign announcing it a few miles back and he was glad that he had finally arrived. His eyes searched among the storefronts until he spied the local coffee shop. "Just another block to go and I can get something hot to drink," he thought.

"I

He smiled at the woman behind the counter as he walked in. "My are you a mess!" she exclaimed. "Take off that coat of yours and let me put it by the heater to dry, she offered. "Thanks. That's awfully nice of you," he responded. He peeled off the dripping coat and handed it to the woman. "You are a lot slimmer without this jacket aren't you young man," she said with surprise in her voice. Terry just nodded as he sat down at the counter. There were other people in the diner and he didn't want to make a scene over his condition. He was on the slight size but the coat was several sizes too large for him anyway. He didn't mind because

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