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Show e 141. "JD, come home!" came a frantic cry from his sister. "Please come home !" Chills raced down his arms. Quickly, JD set the phone back on the hook. He leaned against the side of the booth and closed his eyes to hold back the rush of feeling he hadn't expected. For that little whil he'd been back in Red Butte, in his own home. For three minutes they'd all been there together, and in spite of himself, he'd given them a message. They knew! He'd heard Stephanie cry for him to come home! And he'd heard Chic laugh. He'd sounded terrific, like the old Chic! Suddenly JD wanted to call them all -his mom and dad, Garth, Sylvie. He wanted to talk to everybody in Red Butte. What would old Butzow do if JD got him on the phone? Or Tom Crawford? "Listen close, Mr. Editor, this is your outpost correspondent, bringing you another thrilling scoop from the observation deck of the UFO-" JD yanked open the door of the phone booth and ran down the street toward his bus stop. He could see Stephanie's face, could almost feel her arms around his neck as she welcomed him back. Maybe he'd even be in time for fall quarter at the University. Now he couldn't wait to get back to his mouldy old room at the Chelsea. He could fit everything he owned into the duffel bag and one box. He was going home to Red Butte and nothing else mattered! So what if they called him a deserter? He knew what had happened to him, even if he didn't know why. And if he had to say "to hell with how it seemed to anyone else," well, he'd just have to say it. JD leaned against the shelter at the bus stop to catch his breath and looked up at the sky. The stars were obliterated. Any passing UFO's or similarly compelling displays in the universe were likewise upstaged by the Denver glitter. The heavens, from where he stood, were all one rather dismal, monotonous reflection. JD threw back his head and laughed. He didn't care. He was going home! At Red Butte, he could see the sky again at least. -30- |
