Angels in Disguise by Cyndi Talty

     The two were on the side of the road with a cute little dog. They were young and on a stretch where you could see Bay and Gulf at the same time, beautiful if it is for recreation but a long tiring walk if you are going from city to the next. They had their backpacks on and with a dog we figured there was not much chance they were getting picked up soon. Why not us? So we had to turn around and go back for them, we have done before and this seemed like the time. I remembered the scripture, “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”

     We pulled over and Tom got out to talk to the threesome. They smiled seemed surprised but grateful and friendly and the little dog was a happy sort. They got in and we got acquainted. Their names were Cactus and Christine. I knew this was going to be good. Cactus explained, they were Travelers. Travelers are those who choose to be homeless, they are usually young, he was 21, and a self confirmed alcoholic. Christine was his companion and I think 18. She had been traveling with another girl but that girl hooked up with a guy she didn’t like that much and she found Cactus and they had been together ever since. Christine said another name for them would be squatters as they often stayed in abandoned buildings when they found them available. They were on their way to meet up with some friends in Jacksonville for Christine’s birthday. Everybody was congregating there to celebrate. They had quite a get together planned.

     They sounded just like a group of our friends going out to dinner to celebrate except none of them drove a car and it took them weeks to get to their destination. It was just remarkable and we were fascinated. We took it all in and asked a few questions. Such as what did their parents think, and found out about abusive and non-caring parents that could not be concerned about their children who were out of their lives. They touched us and yet they did not look for pity or anything. The ride was enough. We did not let them go that easily.

     We got to where we lived but told them there was nothing here for them. They needed to go farther. They wanted to go to the train yard, another way to travel for them. This was just as fascinating and we asked for more details. There was a yard in PC. They asked what the rails looked like; if they were rusty then it wasn’t traveled enough. If they were shiny the rails were used and so were a possible connection. We said we would take them there. But first, come in and when was the last time you were able to just relax and would you like to take a shower and what else would you like to do? They were very happy with that idea, and wanted to use the computer. That is how they communicate with each other, on MySpace and Facebook and email. I laughed at that information. Technically savvy but no means of having one except by stopping at libraries etc. So they came.

     While there we found a mutual sense of humor. I collected many little soaps and lotions from hotels so I thought what a great thing to have in their knapsack and said hey take some of those to put in your back packs. They would be great to have to carry with you, you know the soaps in the bathroom. Cactus thought that was funny so he began to tease me about soap and him using soap. I caught on and teased him back and we both laughed at how I sounded like a mother. I was pleased to find humor and laughter so fast I wondered if they missed their family, if the idea of some adult caring about them made them think about their loss or maybe it just affected my thoughts. After spending hours together they invited us to attend the tribe gathering and I got it. They had replaced their family with a bigger one. Groups of young people and old, all travelers, meeting together in tribes in one spot, a modern day Woodstock celebration. They were good. They had each other and families, or tribes to go to, stay in touch with and those people cared about them.

     Finally if they hadn’t had the dog we would have had them stay but our cat, who doesn’t play well with others, forced us to move them on. We had already fed them and we told them we were going to find out about the trains now. We packed everyone up and moved off.

     The trains were not the correct ones but they never lost their sense of adventure. They simply moved on to the next way of travel. We went to dinner at Taco Bell and then got them to a hotel. They loved it. They were still their own independent people, but now with our phone numbers.

     We wait for the day they will call and say hi, we are passing through, want to do lunch. They never have but I hope they do.