Author: Tiffany

Book 1

                       Sarah and the Stranger

                        

                                  

                                                 1

      In New York City, Sarah Peterson never knew what it was like to be a normal kid.  She had always lived in a poor community and had barely made it through her elementary years.  Now a teenager Sarah has opened her eyes to see the bigger picture. Though more could possibly happen for her, Sarah’s mind is not set on going to reach for the stars, she just wants to enjoy life and be happy.
      Like some adolescents, Sarah discovered crack and cocaine; which made her high, but always got her into a lot of trouble.  One day while buying cocaine Sarah got into a fight.    
      “Who do you think I am?” Sarah screamed.     
      “You know that to get the good stuff you have to pay a price and here is your price,” said Marco.  
      “That is way, too, much.  How do you think that I am ever going to afford that?” 
      “Peterson, if you want the drugs bad enough, which you do, you’ll definitely find a way to get them.”  
      “Fine then, be a jerk.  But know this, no one gets away with lying to someone of my standards.” 
      “What standards, Peterson?  You have nothing.” 
      “Oh, believe me, you’ll get yours.” Sarah threatened the dealer.
      “Hey, what is going on here?”  
      A man in his forties stood before Sarah and the angry drug dealer.  And as though she was frightened, Sarah backed up waiting to see what the man intended to do. 
      “Who are you and why are you here?” Sarah asked with her eyes fixed on both men who were looking at each other with angry eyes.       
      “I’m Tom and, you Miss?”  
      “I’m Sarah, a girl from the streets fighting to get my money’s worth of stuff, if you know what I mean?” Sarah stood straight up and tried to look tough. 
      “Yes I do, and I can’t believe you would do such a thing.” 
      “Why not? Getting high is no big deal.  It’s not like anyone cares.” 
      “What if I told you that I care very much?”     
      “Why?” 
      “Because you are a beautiful young lady and I think I could help you.” 
      “What if I don’t want your help?” Sarah was getting frustrated now.  
      “Here.” 
      Tom handed the dealer a fifty dollar bill for the drug and for his time.  Sarah stood looking on with shock at the money and at how happy Tom was to come to her rescue.      
      “Why did you do that? You said you didn’t want me to use that stuff, and what makes you think that you can just come into my life and mess around?  I don’t need you, or anyone else for that matter,” Sarah snapped. 
      “Are you done?” 
      Sarah glared at Tom, but said not a word.  
      “How can you be so sure that you can make it on your own?  I think you need me more than you are willing to admit.”
      Sarah stood back again not believing her eyes, or her ears.  How could some stranger find her so interesting and why did he act as if he knew her so well? Sarah considered the possibilities and what this man could do for her and her reputation.  Then after a moment’s silence, Sarah spoke, “You say you can help me, how?”
      “I have connections.” 
      Sarah considered that.  “What kind of connections do you have?”
      “Do you sing, dance, act, or something of the sort?” 
      “I never really thought of it before.  I guess I figured it would do me no good in the first place.  Why dream of the impossible?  My options only stretch so far.” Sarah tried to make a joke by indicating how far with her hands. 
      “I can see that.  This isn’t the lap of luxury.”
      “No, but it is a home and the only one I know.”  
      “Sorry I didn’t mean to put it that way.  I sometimes choose not to think until I have already spoken.” 
      “Well, maybe you should because I don’t know you and you don’t know me.  So don’t come up on my turf and start telling me how it is.  Because believe me, you have no clue.” 
      “Well, I would like to know more about you.  Let’s go for a walk and get to know each other better.”
      “How can I be sure that you’re okay?”
      “Well, all you can really do is take a chance.  If you don’t like me that’s fine.  We’ll just go our separate ways, but please give me a chance first.”
      “Fine then, but don’t try and pull anything smart.  I can fight pretty good ya know.”  
      “Thanks for the warning,” Tom said and started to laugh.  Sarah ignored the laughter and started to begin their walk.
       As they walked alongside the buildings that Sarah knew so well, Sarah realized she had feelings for Tom.  She believed that he really could help her to possibly turn her life around.  The only thing she had to figure out was what made Tom so different and why she felt so close to him.  
      “I’m glad that you are willing to talk to me and not bite my head off like you did the other guy,” Tom said striking up a conversation.  
      “I only did that because he was willing to give me a bad deal and not think twice about it.”    
      “Why do you use drugs anyway?  All they do is ruin your life and make you feel so high that you can’t stop using them.” 
      “Oh, we sound so experienced now, don’t we?” 
      “I’ve never used drugs and I don’t know anything, but what I’ve been told.” 
      “Oh, come on, you can tell me and I promise I can keep a secret.” Sarah leaned in closer.
      “Okay, okay.  Once I may have tried drugs, but it was a mistake and after a few times I stopped before I got addicted.” 
      “For a man with such a glamorous life, you seem to have been through a lot of heavy stuff.”    
      “Oh, everyone goes through it now and then.” 
      “Well, then you’d understand exactly where I am coming from, wouldn’t you?” 
      “I guess I can.”
      Silence fell between Sarah and her new friend.  This was one subject, in which, Sarah knew would be a touchy one for Tom.  She made a note to herself not to bring it up again.    
      After their walk, Tom and Sarah parted ways.  Sarah had a lot to think about and figured that in a few days Tom would be back to hear what she had decided.  Sarah was bothered the most by the questions that flooded her mind.
     “Is he trustworthy? Is he really going to help me? Is Tom his real name?  And the biggest question of all that Sarah pondered was, why do I feel so close to Tom in the first place?”
      
      The next day, Sarah went to see her best friend Trixxy.  
      “Hey, Trixxy, I need some advice.”
      “How much are you willing to pay me?” 
      “Very funny.  I need to ask you about a guy.”   
      “Oh, well then I’m all ears.” Trixxy leaned over the counter to indicate she was really interested.  
      “I’m curious, that’s why I thought I’d ask you.” 
      “Okay, spill.” Trixxy was becoming impatient.
      “The other day when I was getting my drugs, a guy came up to me, asked for my name, and then he paid for my stuff and we went for a walk.” 
      “Sounds nice, so what’s your question?” 
      “Well, I feel as though I know him from somewhere, and that is strange because I have never met the man before...until now,” Sarah looked puzzled.  
      “Well, maybe it’s just your imagination.” 
      “To be honest it doesn’t feel that way.” 
      “Hey, girlfriend, you never know.  Anything is possible.” Trixxy came around the counter and started to rearrange the knickknacks that were nearby.  
      “Yeah, well I think that something is up.  I want to get to the bottom of it if I can, before I get into anything that could include cash.”  Trixxy whirled around then and asked, “Cash?” 
      “Yes cash, this man can get me a decent job and can help me work my way up to something better then I would find here.” 
      “Well, ya know, I really am all for the cash thing, but maybe you should be a little cautious. I’ve heard of ones around here getting into bad situations, and cash was the ring leader of it all. ” Trixxy was becoming serious now.
      “Well, I can see your point there.  I told him that I wasn’t sure about him from the start.  I want to trust him and I really want this.” Sarah started to look confused.  
      “Well, maybe you could just ease in slowly and see what he has to offer and then go from there.  Anything would be better than living here, but you need to be careful.” 
      “I’ll just see then.  When we meet up again and I’m sure we will, I’ll take my time and really check him out. ” Sarah started to seem more relaxed now. 
      “Ah, he’ll be back.  At least you know that there are no worries where that’s concerned.”
      “That’s what I’m afraid of,” Sarah said and left.
      
      Later that day, Tom showed up ready to hear Sarah’s decision.  Sarah wasn’t sure what to say because she still had her suspicions, and she wasn’t really up for trying to explain how she felt at the moment.
      “Are you upset about something?  You’re so quiet and you look a little discolored,” Tom said.  
      “Oh, I’m fine and I am still considering your proposal. So I guess you can leave now,” Sarah said nervously.  
      “No I would rather stay just to make sure you are going to be alright.  If I were to leave and you got sick I would feel bad for leaving you alone.”  
      “Oh, I’ll be fine, and if I have to I will go stay with a friend of mine.”  
      “Fine then, but know I will be back in a few more days to check on you. Also to see what you’ve decided,” Tom said, slowly turning to leave.
      Sarah was not surprised by Tom’s answer. She knew he would return, but would she be ready for him? And ready to answer the question of how much she really did need his help?  Sarah fell lost in thought of how she could feel so close to a stranger.  
      At that moment Sarah felt compelled to write.  She had so many emotions hitting her at once, that within her diary her life’s story was exposed.

      Dear Diary,
         Hey it’s Sarah.  Long time no write, huh?  I feel like telling you my story today, because I just need someone to talk to.  You know I used to have a family.  My parents used to love one another, I just know it.  Doesn’t explain I guess why Dad hurt Mom so bad, but I’m sure they could’ve fixed their marriage if they really wanted to.  With Dad’s drinking and abuse to Mother and Mom having to take it all and still care for me, how could she do it?  When she ran off with me and left dad behind I was so scared, but she made it seem like we would be okay.  Then she left me, too.  
      What’s wrong with me, Diary?  I’m so lost right now.  I miss my family and I want to know who this Tom is.  Is it by fate that we met?  Is this some kind of sign?  What does it all mean, Diary?  Was my mother pretty?  My head is spinning right now and nothing is clear to me.  I just hope I can survive this.  How much can one person take?  Well, I should close this.  But thank you for listening.  I need to update this more…
      Sarah slowly started to feel a little bit better, though she still didn’t have the answers to all of her questions.
      After a few days Trixxy came over to visit with Sarah.
      “Hello!” Trixxy said.  
      “Oh, Trixxy, it’s so great to see you,” Sarah said.  
      “Yeah it’s great to see you, too.  Just thought I’d pop in on my day off and see how you were.”    
      “I’ve been okay.  Just a little upset and confused, but it’s getting better.”      
      “Well that’s good.  Did ‘Mister Mystery’ ever come back?” Trixxy asked. 
      “Oh, yeah, he showed up and demanded an answer, but when he thought I was sick he decided to drop it.  So now some other time he’s going to come back and try again to get an answer out of me.”  Sarah didn’t sound too thrilled.  
      “Well, what do you want? Deep down what really seems like the right thing for you?”  
      “I…I guess I will have to say, yes, until I decide to wake up from this dream.  I mean, what idiot would want to pass up something like this?”  
      “You almost did!”  Trixxy stated and then burst into laughter.  
      “Very funny, Trixxy.  Anyway, how is your life?  We don’t talk about you much anymore,” Sarah said.  
      “Well, I’m single again, and I’m always trying to draw a lot of attention to myself as you already know.  I have a good job and I am glad to finally be happy with where I am at, for the moment.  Let’s see, I am doing well in school and I have two loving parents who love to drive me up the wall.  How about you? How is everything going, besides the obvious?”  
      “Well, I know one thing I wish I had parents to care about me the way that your parents care about you.”
      “Where did they go?”  Tom asked.  
      Sarah turned around to see Tom looking at her with question in his eyes and she almost flipped.  Had he heard her?  All the things she said? 
      “How long have you been standing there?”  she asked.  
      “Not for that long, though looking at you from across the room you seemed like you are sort of, well, upset.”  
      “Oh, no, I’m fine and I want you to know that I have that answer for you; the answer is, yes, as long as you promise to do the following.”
      Sarah picked up her purse and withdrew a paper that looked very important.  
      “What’s this?”  Tom asked.  
      “Oh, these are just some conditions and things that I am expecting from you.” Sarah sounded in control.  The paper looked like this: 
 Name: Sarah Lee Peterson
 Age: 17
 Needs that are important:  Schooling, food, sleeping arrangements, seeing friends, time, and money received. 
 Needs that are non-important:  Contract signing, traveling.  At least not until we come up with something that’s set in stone.
      Tom couldn’t believe Sarah would be ready that fast and be so prepared.  “What do you think about my good idea of a working relationship through the means of informing each other of our own wants, needs, and ideas on certain things?”  
      “I think it’s a good idea, but I would still like for us to get closer, so don’t think that you can stop me from really getting to know you.”  
      Sarah just smiled and said, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”