Street Stones

- Chapter 1-An Unexpected Event

It was a Friday, just past midnight, on a blazing August evening. After an intense day of work, Daniel returned home. All he wanted was to take a shower and fall into bed. It seemed that he still had his ears ringing with the demands of the customers, who all spoke at the same time. Since the death of his father he was in charge of the family travel agency. He was an only child, and could not say no to his mother, who had been mourning the loss for 10 years, and although he found that life exhausting, he had assumed the responsibility and tried not to fail. He ran his finger over the turn dial of the radio to find music to sooth his ears. He especially liked classical music. Although he was in his fifties, and had gray hair, he had an athletic build with tanned, well-groomed skin. His eyes were of an intense ocean-blue and it was in his smile that all the power of his charm laid. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the ring tone of his cell phone. "What could it be this time?" He thought, "... some more annoying business matters to deal with.

"Hello?" He answered in a bored tone.
"Hello, hello my dear friend, how are you?"
"Philip!" He replied, relieved to hear that was his friend. "I'm tired, and need a warm bath and a good night's rest.
"How about, before this boring, old man's program, having a drink in the city center?" Philip challenged with his bohemian spirit.
Despite his intellectual air, pastel-colored glasses, short, stocky stature, he never ceased to flirt with his "babes" as he called them, the women with whom he spent only a night. He was Daniel's longtime friend. They had known each other practically since childhood.
"Sounds tempting, but I'll take a rain check. I really need to rest. Besides, I have to pick my daughter up tomorrow morning."
"Barbara's all grown up! I'm sure she'll understand if you pick her up a little later." Philip grew impatient, not understanding his friend's straight and narrow lifestyle, even after his divorce.
During his erratic driving, Daniel dropped his cell phone. Keeping his eyes on the road and one hand on the wheel, he bent down to get the cell phone.
"I do not believe it!" He snorted in anger.
"Hello! Daniel are you there?!" Asked Philip, who couldn't hear him.

Daniel stretched out as far as he could, briefly turning his eyes away from the road to find his cell phone and inadvertently swerving the steering wheel onto the side of the road. The car jerked as if it had hit something outside and he heard screaming. He got up quickly and grabbed the steering wheel as best he could, controlling the car and managing to stop. What happened? I think hit someone! He thought, hearing voices outside, but he did not have the courage to check it out.

"Daniel, can you hear me?!" Philip insisted.

When he heard his friend's voice, he picked up the cell phone, ready to call for help.

"Yes I am here!" Daniel whispered, still stunned.

"What happened?! I couldn't hear you".

"I dropped the phone and while was picking it up I felt like I hit something with the car?"

"Something? I do not understand! What do you mean?" Asked Philip, feeling confused.

"Philip, I think I ran someone over!" Replied Daniel impatiently.

"You ran someone over? Where are you?" Inquired Philip.

"I'm driving down the main street of the Neighborhood of Fire", he said uneasily.

"Gosh Daniel! What are you doing there?"

"Philip, this is no time to answer stupid questions. Help me! What do I do?!"

"Look, I'd leave if I were you, I'd hit the accelerator and get out of there", he suggested nonchalantly.

Daniel was incredulous with his friend's suggestion, although he knew him well, his only interests were the nightlife his Bohemian adventures. It was easy to find him on a Friday night, downtown, drinking scotch and strutting for women. He knew he could never ask anything more of his friend on a day like that.