Writer’s note
This is a winter story. My first thought was to make it a summer story. But winter causes more trouble and they will tell you to have obstacles in the path of your main character. Winter does that. Then I discovered that I write a lot of stories set in the month of November. Technically, it isn't the winter season but it's not that unusual to have snow on the ground before the month is out. Or maybe I am hedging the bet for the main character, knowing that he doesn't have a chance when the heavy snows come.
Hayseed Confessions
A sheltered boy of 15 goes to town to see what they've got over there, not really looking for anything in particular. Kind of afraid of the people he could run into, Alfie will call the day a success if he can just order a sandwich and a lemonade and get the right bus back home. The city might not be that scary, though, if other boys who are nice also go there alone.
Alfie is a good boy whose parents have kept him away from the ways of the city, but he knows they trust him.
Notes from out here... about this new world they've got, with its coffee shops that serve up attractive ideas.
The beginning of the story…
This is my first time alone in town. I didn't run away or anything, they know I'm here. It's really strange to me because where I'm from is out in the country, farmland. You see, my family doesn't believe in anything but working the land and then we have ice cream that we make and we really are very happy.
My father knows what it's like when you get away from the land and you are caught up in the city. There are things there that aren't good, but I'm not sure what they are. He says it's better if I don't know.
Still, they said I could come and have a look around. I wanted to. At first they didn't like the idea but they gave in because I'm a boy of 15, not some little kid. I was so excited when they said okay.
They agreed to a Saturday outing for lunch in the city. They trust me, so that was not the problem. I think they don't want to see me grow up, is all.
But they aren't going to stand in the way. They have always treated us good and they are just worried. I'm the oldest child, which means our family hasn't gone through any of this before.
And now I'm here and I don't know what to do. I'm just walking. I came in on the bus. It was fun to ride on it.
The people that I see, they look like people. I mean, they dress different than me but they don't look like I couldn't talk to them.
I've got enough money to buy my lunch, my father told me. I don't want any of those people to know that I've never been to a restaurant on my own. I'm not sure what I'm looking for. If I walk in the door and I don't see food, I guess it's the wrong place.
I'm not scared. It's kind of fun. It isn't like I've never heard of any of this stuff, it's just that I haven't done it.
I think I know why they let me come alone, because I feel so lost here that all I sort of want to do is go home. But I keep looking around and can't believe it. I want to see more and more. Yeah, I'm kind of scared but I can't look away, it's too colorful.
I'm taking in the sights and sounds. Isn't that what they say?
I'm not hungry. I'm not looking for a restaurant. Can I find out first how much it costs? I hope I have enough money.
Some of the people on the sidewalk are talking to one another and sometimes they smile. I didn't know they would.
Everybody seems to be going somewhere. I'm the one that isn't. I don't think they know that.