The monotonous sound of the windshield wipers dazed me. I needed a coffee and something to eat. But how do you want to find something to eat on a highway in the middle of nowhere?

"Old Joe's Place", the flashing neonlights in red, green and yellow caught my eye and I turned off the road to a parking lot near the entrance of the dimly lit restaurant.

The smell of smoke and grilled steaks invited me inside. It was a big eating house but almost empty. I sat down at a table not to far away from the bar.

A fat old man panted his way to my table, when suddenly the door was pulled open and two kids ran into the place. They were very young, I judged them to be between ten and twelve years, both of them girls. Water was dripping over their faces and their wet summer dresses were sticking to their bodies.

The fat man changed his target and began scolding the girls: "Get out of here! This is no place for you! Get out!" They were scared and looked around for help. The taller one looked directly into my eyes. She was pretty and looking helpless like a kitten. I intervened and invited those poor creatures to my table. They thanked me gratefully for inviting them to eat something. The old man wanted to warn me: "Mister, I know them, they want to come here often, but usually I don't let them in. You are responsible, I warned you!" I thanked him but could not see any evil in these little girls. They took burgers and a coke, I needed a beer and a big steak. The meal was excellent and they seemed to be very hungry.

When I had my coffee, I began asking them questions. Their young voices and their big eyes warmed my heart. They told me, they were staying here at their grandfathers farm: "But he is always angry", Rose, the little one, told me. Lily, the twelve years old nodded and added: "He and his wife -she is not our grandmother!- beat us when we make a mistake. We want to go home! Mom and dad are divorced but we want to go to dad since mom has sent us here." She began to sob, her little sister had tears in her eyes too when she looked up and asked me: "Please, Mister, could you take us with you? Are you going to California? That's where we want to go!"

Yes, I was on my way to L.A. but taking them with me?

"Girls, I would really like to help you but I can't take you with me! You can't run away like this! The police will put me in jail!"

They were weeping, my heart was melting away. I was almost whispering when I said: "Look, you can't do it, but I can bring you back to your grandpa and talk to him. I am paying now and if you want me to bring you back, come to my car in five minutes, it is the mobilhome outside and I will drive it to the other side of the parking-lot."

"The yellow one?" I nodded, Lily said with a little smile: "We will be there, please, wait for us!"

Then I paid and went out, the girls headed for the toilets. I drove off to the place I had indicated to them. It was not raining right now but it was dark. I was waiting. Five minutes later I heard a knocking at the mobilhome door. I opened it and the two girls came in. I drove off in the direction they had told me, Lily guided me. It was a bumpy side street, I had to drive very carefully. Then Rose begged me to stop and to shut off the motor.

"We have to tell you something",. she said.

"Okay, I listen to you!"

"No, mister, please come here, where we can sit!"

I followed the girls to the back of my car, into my home. We all sat down on my bed. Lily began: Well mister..."

"Just call me Dick!" The girls giggled.

"Okay...Dick....I would like to tell you, why.....why... we are here!"

"I don't want to go back!" Rose exclaimed desperately and began to weep. I felt pity with her and laid my arm around her shoulder.

"Everything will be okay, Rose!" I said trying to calm her. She was shivering in her wet clothes although it was rather warm outside.

"Girls, you will catch a cold! I will make you a hot tea and over there in the cupboard there are dry and warm clothes and a towel. Put on what you want!"

Four wonderful childish eyes were looking into mine not believing, that a stranger can be so kind. But I could never resist a helpless person and these poor girls were helpless.

"Don't turn around while we are changing!" Lily begged and I promised it. I turned towards my little stove and began brewing a tea. I heard the sounds of cloth and the opening of my cupboard, a whisper and some giggles but nothing else. Suddenly Rose said: "Okay!" I looked at them and smiled: Rose was dressed in one of my oversized Tshirts and a pair of socks that went up to her knees and Lily had taken one of my pajamas. They looked even more fragile and lost in my clothes. Well, you two, you look like scarecrows!

We all laughed, then I invited them to sit down on my bed, filled three cups with hot tea and put some chocolate on the table. I wanted to sit on he floor opposite to them, but they begged me to sit in between them. They drank in silence, took some chocolate and from time to time they looked at me or at each other. It was a strange look, a mix of gratitude and fear. I could not understand until Rose asked: "How... can...we, how do we have to -to pay you?".......(cont)