The Legend of the Rocker: Chapter 2, Part 1

1

Once Nathan was inside the middle school, he glanced around.  Not much had changed since his last year of middle school.  Everything looked eerily the same.  2

'Hello,' called Nathan loudly, 'is anyone here?'  He paused for a moment and heard is voice echoing in the empty halls.  It seemed that he was the only one in the school.  A minute later, he thought he could make out a faint sound, that seemed to be getting louder.  It sounded like...footsteps!  Someone else was in the building. And as the sounds got closer, Nathan realized that there was not only one person coming, but two people.  3

Before he knew it, he was in a massive bear hug from a man called Big D.4

'Oh Nathan!  It's so great to see you!  How have you been?'  Big D released him from the hug and watched as Nathan gasped for air.  5

'I'm just fine, thanks Big D.  And how about you, Sonny?' asked Nathan.  Sonny was Big D's partner.  Sonny said nothing but just smiled and waved.  Nathan distinctly remembered Big D and Sonny from his days at middle school.  Big D and Sonny were janitors.  Big D, a tall man with gray hair and a large stomach, would always joke around with the students and give them peppermints in the hallway.  Sonny, on the other hand, a bald smaller man with glasses, was quieter, but was always glad to help out.  6

After a moment of silence, Big D asked, 'What brings you here, son?'7

'Well, I was walking home from a performance, and I was caught in the storm.  So, since I was in front of this building when the storm started, I just thought I'd come in and take shelter.'  Big D nodded slowly. 'That is okay, right?' asked Nathan slowly.8

'That's fine, Nathan.  We don't leave here for hours.' said Sonny, patting him on the shoulder.  9

There were a few additional moments of silence before Big D said, 'We might as well get you settled here, Mr. Parker.  This storm doesn't look like it's going anywhere.'  Nathan sighed.  He knew that it was going to be a long night. 10