The Drifter

Epilogue: Moving In

"I'm just saying, I think I should have my own chapter in your book," Gus says as we walk down the hallway towards our lockers. As we turn to our lockers, someone leans up. "Is it true you made it all the way to San Francisco?" a boy asks. "Yes, it's true," I say. I reach into my locker and slide out my books for the next class. "What do you plan on calling your book?" Gus asks me. I shrug. "I don't know. I just finished the first chapter," I say in thought. "Well, it's cool either way." he says. "You just drifted from town to town, sounds fun. Just next time, take me with you," he jokes as he punches my shoulder. Drifting, huh? "Meet me on the roof after school?" Gus asks, heading off to his next class. "You know it," I say, shutting my locker. "But we can't stay too long. I got to finish setting up the shed."

I soon arrive at the house and make my way straight to the back where the shed is. It was just full of garbage and old furniture Bob and Mia were going to throw away, and I was able to convince them to let me stay in there. Pretty much my own little house. Originally it had an old rusty lock, the door creaked, and the place was fully wooden. We ended up getting it fixed up a little. It had windows, and on the inside when everything was cleared there was a steep set of foldable stairs that led to a small loft overhead, where I stored my foldable cot and a dresser. I had a wood-burning stove, an old but working shower that we restored, and the shed was connected to the house's power, so that was taken care of.

I have a bookshelf downstairs, where the main area is, and on top of the bookshelf is my TV. The main area has a beanbag chair I had bought and put in the corner of the room, a small couch across from the TV, I basically have my own little house. I hadn't quite put the directions or anything in yet. I also got a turtle named Shelldon, with two Ls. Mia and Bob have a lot of money, so restoring this place was pretty easy. Eventually, I got a laptop that I transferred all my progress to from my book. So, I drop my bag off by the door, clean up the last few cobwebs, and go right over to the desk with the laptop. I quickly log onto my computer and resume typing.

That morning I opened my eyes to the sound of a dog barking. Not like a big bark, more like a small dog bark. I looked around, unsure whether to look for it or run from it. I pulled myself to my feet using the moss growing out of the bridge's concrete wall for grip as I struggled to wake up without a coffee.

After a while of typing, I begin to log off but stop. I scroll to the top of the document and look at my empty title. I reach down in thought, thinking about what Gus had said earlier today. Finally, I reach down and press a few keys.

The Drifter. I log off the computer and close it, then I go up and lie down in my bed for a few minutes. After being without one for so long, it's the best feeling in the world. That and taking a shower. I think they said I was gone for like, three hundred days or something. After a quick rest, I head outside and carry over the last few boxes from the shed. As I'm carrying them to the pile out back, I see a dog on a chain that had somehow gotten underneath the fence and onto our side. It is small and brown, and for some reason something is familiar about its eyes.

As I set down the boxes in the pile, I hear a door close and look up. I can see someone coming out from the house on the other side of the fence, and a girl quickly runs over to the dog. "I'm so sorry, I don't know how he keeps getting on the other side," she says, reaching under the fence and grabbing the dog. "It's fine," I say. "He wasn't bothering me." "I'm Abigail," the girl says. "Joel," I say, dusting my hands off. "You look familiar. Do I know you?" she asks. Normally, a girl this pretty I would remember, but I don't know this girl. "Not from school. Watch the news?" I ask. She nods. "That's probably it. I've been on there a couple times," I speak.

"That's cool. What for?" she asks. "Long story," I say. "You must be new here," the girl says with a confused expression on her face. "Yep. Just moved in," I say, leaning against the fence. "You live in the shed?" she asks. "Yeah. I don't know why, but I like it in there. It's like my own personal space. I nearly got it cleaned up," I say, gesturing toward the boxes.

"Cool. Well, it was nice meeting you," she says. I nod and pull myself off the fence, and as I'm walking away, I hear her say something. I turn back around to see what she wants. "If you want, I can come over there and help you move in," Abigail suggests. I smile. "Sure. That'd be nice," I say. Abigail smiles and leans down to pick up her dog as I walk back to the shed. However, I stop right before entering and realize I still have a promise to make. So, I reach into my pocket, pulling out my phone. I scroll through my apps, find the right one, and finally make a call...

I heard that Sophia had eventually got bumped up in the medical business and received another chance to pursue her dream in the medical field. DJ ended up moving back in with his parents and working things out, and he's happy. As for me, I have come a long way from the guy that ran away from home. And now, I have a lot more in life than a bag on my shoulders. I have a good home, a good family, my best friend back, shockingly good grades, I got a date with Abigail, and life is going well if you ask me. I even do volunteer work at a thrift store nearby for Mr. Ronnie, the owner of the store. But while the town may think I'm the hero, it's actually everyone else in the story. Well, nearly. So many people helped me across my journey, and I'll never forget their kindness. Those people are the true heroes.

So, this is Joel Thatcher, and I'm The Drifter.