The Zella Chronicles

Looking up and down the road, he could see the steamy haze rise from the hot pavement. A slight breeze faltered by. His stomach rumbled, turning his attention to food. Rummaging through his knapsack produced nothing to eat, but he did find Maddy’s picture.

Zygi’s thoughts returned to his girl back home. Her parents didn’t seem to like him much, so he and Maddy had to sneak around to see each other. It was all on account of that church she went to. Who ever heard of a church where you can’t date people who don’t go to the same church? They just had too many rules. People had a right to do what they wanted.

He picked up a rock and threw it across the road, “Stupid church! God, if it wasn’t for you and that church, Maddy would be with me right now.” He thought back over the few intimate times they had stolen whenever they could be together. “I wish you were here, Maddy,” he threw another rock, “I’ll show ‘em,” he said to the emptiness. “When I’m famous then they’ll see.”

           A noise up the road alerted him and he stood and put out his thumb. He tried to forget his pathetic ride history and be hopeful.