Besides, where would I run? I glanced around. The stores on both sides were all boarded up, and the party store was all the way across that busy street.
So instead, I gave the guy a dirty look and said, "Leave me alone, butt-head."
The guy burst into laughter.
"Oh come on," he said. "Just alittleride."
"I can't," I said. "Now, go away."
This made him laugh some more. "Aw, why not?" he said.
My hands were sweaty, a lot more sweaty than when I'd been skating with Jeremy. I gave the guy another dirty look. "Because I can't get in a stranger's car. That's why."
"Oh, I'm not talking about thecar" He gave me a big fake-looking smile. "I'm talking about thecart."
I looked toward the shopping cart. If the guy didn't seem so crazy, or if the carts didn't crash, it might have been fun.
I liked things that went fast. It was part of the reason I loved to roller skate. But this was totally different.
I pointed toward the party store. "Uh, I see my mom now," I said. "I've gotta go." I turned and started walking toward the road. And then, I couldn’t help it. My feet started to run. Behind me, I heard footsteps, and they were getting closer.