Tyler received a text from his mother while at school a few days later.

Happy birthday Tyler

I won’t be able to come to pick you and Jake from school today,

You can take the bus

I’ll tell Jake to pick up Mimi

She doesn’t have ballet class today

There’s a surprise waiting for you at home

Love you,

Mom.

He didn’t even remember that today was his birthday. He had clocked 16 today, he was supposed to celebrate, but there was no one to celebrate with as he didn’t have any friends. He remembered when Jake turned 16. Mom and dad let him do a party in the house, he had already turned the living room upside down by the time they came back home.

After reading the text, he decided it would be best to walk home as the school bus, where other kids from different classes were going to be gathered, was not the best place for him.

Upon hearing the final bell ring, he went out through the school gates and started his journey home. His house wasn’t too far away, he would manage.

He didn’t bother to check on Jake, as he knew he would be surrounded by his friends, none of whom liked his quirky brother.

He left the school and was walking along the road until he heard his stomach growl. He hadn’t finished his lunch today, and he didn’t think he would need it until now when he had to walk. He crossed to the other side of the road to buy a sandwich. Buddy Joe made the best sandwiches in town, and it had been a while since he had one.

“I’ll take a regular,” he said to him as he took a seat at one of the stools arranged in front of the food truck.

“Coming right up!” Joe said as he turned around to make the sandwich in his portable kitchen. The sun was hot today and Joe didn’t have a lot of customers unlike before, when he would have to wait in line just to get his order to the front. There was only one customer there who sat a few stools away from him. She had the most beautiful face and the richest brown hair. It reminded him of his first crush in school, Henrietta, who had never noticed him even to date.

She turned to look at the person who was looking at her in an awkward way and he quickly turned his face away, but she had already caught him staring. She laughed upon seeing how crafty he thought he was. He pretended not to notice her until Joe brought him the sandwich. It was now time to pay. He began to fondle in his pocket for his wallet but couldn’t find it, he checked everywhere, even his bag. Nelson must have probably taken it again.

“I’m sorry Joe,” he began to say until Greta stopped him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it,” she said.

“Thank you.”

“No problem,” she smiled at him.

He grabbed the sandwich and ran off, not wanting to look any dorkier in front of his new crush. He didn’t even ask for her name or number, he wondered how Jake had it so easy with the ladies. He also wondered if he would see her again. He knew she wasn’t from around the neighborhood, it was a small town, her face didn’t look familiar and he would have recognized her if she was. What a man he was, chickening out all because the lady smiled at him.

He continued walking, deep in thought, and was unaware that there was a moving trailer headed towards the direction he was going. The driver, who didn’t notice the boy on time began to press the horn for him to go away from there, as the brakes were loose again. He turned the wheel from side to side, trying hard to dodge the boy on his path who clearly wasn’t looking where he was going.

Tyler heard the horn, but was too distracted. He had even forgotten that he was hungry, the untouched sandwich still in his hand. All he could think about was the girl at the food truck, regretting why he didn’t go and introduce himself to her.

The driver then jacked his head out of the window, yelling at Tyler to go away. Tyler had heard but it was too late, the trailer had already gotten to where he was and ran into him. It threw him high into the air and brought him down with a loud crash on the floor, the pieces of the sandwich scattered on his body as he became unconscious. The wicked driver, who didn’t want to own up to his actions, turned on the other side as quickly as he could and continued driving along the road, leaving poor Tyler on the floor. The front of the trailer had been badly damaged but the driver still succeeded in getting away.

Passers-by had gathered to see the boy that had been left bleeding on the floor by the impact of the accident. Some began calling for help, while some were taking pictures and videos of what had happened.