FOLLOW THE LEADER Chapter 3

Chapter 3


It was ten A:M on Haight Street, which meant the tweakers, potheads and junkies were stirring in their cribs. Or in their ragged sleeping bags up on the hill. A few beggars occupied their usual spots, hoping to catch late commuters or early shoppers.

         Two scruffy girls lounged against the wall of a café/deli. Their soiled shirts and jeans and dusty boots made them look filthier than the guy across the street who was begging for change. Their stuffed backpacks announced: “We just blew into town.”

Taking all of this in, a short but muscular man in a buckskin jacket ambled up the walk with his female companion. The man wore his black hair in a bun. His big dark eyes s seemed to penetrate everything he looked at, yet he had a friendly demeanor.

         Walking a half step behind him was a slim brown skinned woman in a white shirt and jeans. With her long black hair and her sparkling silver and turquoise necklace, one might guess she was American Indian or possibly Latino. She swung her tote bagback and forth. It was empty. She kept watching the clothing stores and head shops across the street. Or so it seemed at first glance. She was actually more interested in the kids lounging outside.

         Just ahead, the stouter of the two kids got up and stretched. She dug into her pocket and scrounged up a wad of bills. She said something to her partner, then went into the deli.

         The other girl, whose name was Rhonda, was paying no attention to the man in the buckskin jacket or his pretty companion.

         The man stopped.

         The longhaired woman stopped short, nearly bumping into him.

         He was checking out the girl on the sidewalk.

         “Try this one,” he said.