Day #2, Adventure #1

I left yesterday morning and I just had my first mini-adventure about 30 minutes ago. I'm in Sandusky and I haven't been able to get in touch with Earl. (For the new readers, Earl is a guy I met driving cross-country last year and he let me live with he and his family for awhile. He has a 13-year-old son named Chris who I'm very close with but don't get to talk to very often.)

So I knew that without seeing Earl, who's probably out of town on business, or getting directions to Chris' mother's house, I wasn't going to get to see my little brother. So I went down to his middle school and pretended I was his step-sister and I had to give him money for "some after-school things" he was doing. They grilled me for a couple minutes -- questions like "Do you really need to see him or could you leave it with me?" "No, ma'am, I'd rather give it to him myself so I know he doesn't forget." -- and then pulled him out of class. They wouldn't let me out in the hall to talk to him alone, so our entire 1-minute conversation went a little something like this:

Chris opens door and looks around. Thankfully, the secretary has her back to us for a second.

Ms: (waving him over to me and winking furiously) "Hey, come here, I have that money you needed for after school."

Chris: (confused as all hell) "Okay."

Me: (still winking) "Yeah, I haven't talked to Dad in a couple days but Mom wanted me to bring this by for you." (handing him a $10 bill, then I silently mouthed:) "This was the only way I could see you. Just take the money and play along."

Chris: "Oh! Oh, yeah, I forgot the roller skating trip was today!" (winks back)

Me: "Yeah, well, give me a hug because I'm leaving for Chicago tomorrow. I'll see you when I get back." I missed you!

Chris: "I'll tell Dad you said goodbye." I missed you too.

Me: "Okay, bye!" I love you!

We watched each other walk towards the doors on each side of the room, and the secretary didn't hear either one of us busting up laughing when they closed.

I really can't afford to be giving away $10 bills, but I hope the gods will understand that it was the only way I could see my brother and send along some good karma.