squinted my eyes as the sun shined through the back

window of the car. I was finally tall enough to see the

lines on the road and spent most of my time wondering where the lines ended. My mom and I had been on our way to the market one late afternoon to pick up some things for dinner. I never understood why I couldn't stay home alone while my mom went to the market by herself. I guess she must get lonely and need someone like me to talk to.

I

However, the store is always the most boring place of all time. I walk around the store holding onto the edge of the cart, while my mom picks up the most boring food, in the most boring sections, with the most boring people, at the most boring time. Not to mention all the stop lights we have go through to even get to the store. Sitting in the front seat, my mom drove the car with both hands on the wheel, talking to me about everything she had to buy. I didn't pay much attention to what she was saying and not surprisingly, it all sounded pretty gross.

My mom’s not used to this whole store thing yet because she just started going by herself. My dad was usually the one to get the groceries from the store, bring them home, and tuck them away in our kitchen. I liked that better since Mom and I would never have to do the work. My dad left a little a bit ago and I haven't seen him since. I'm not really sure why he left but my mom says that it is better this way. Anyhow, the one thing I looked forward to when we went to the market was getting a pink gumball from the gumball machine by the exit.

After what felt like twenty hours of waiting at stop lights, we finally made it to the market.  I unbuckled my seat belt and hopped out of the car. My mom and I walked over to grab a cart. When we entered the market, we were welcomed by fresh flowers. We then headed to the fruits and vegetables. My mom picked up two tomatoes and three peppers. We weren't in the store for long when I noticed a man who was not far from us. He was wearing a black leather jacket, ripped jeans, black boots, and had a couple of tattoos.

“Natalie, I want you to stay near the cart while we shop today,” my mom said, as she continued to put stuff in the cart. She didn't mention the scary guy near us but I think that's why she told me to stay near the cart. A sick feeling twisted in my belly just knowing that guy looked like bad news. The whole time we walked around picking up our items, I kept an eye out for the scary looking man. The feeling in my belly had passed and I was starting to get bored again. Here I was walking around the store holding onto the edge of the cart, while my mom picked up the most boring food, in the most boring sections, with the most boring people, at the most boring time.

“ Mom, can I please get a quarter to go get a gumball while you shop? I will be super quick and I'll come right back in no time!”  

“ No, Natalie. You know what I said earlier about staying near the cart. Besides, you can get a gumball when we leave,” my mother responded, as she continued to push the cart into a new isle.  

“ But Mom!! I promise I won't do anything bad! Please, please, please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top!” My mom then stopped pushing the cart and grabbed a quarter out of her purse. 

“ Fine, Natalie. Go there and come straight back. No talking to strangers!”

I quickly let go of the edge of the cart, grabbed the quarter from my mom's hand, and pushed it way down into my pocket so I wouldn't lose it. I had never walked around the market by myself before but I knew my way around pretty well. To my left, there was a section of dairy products that pushed a cold rush into the store, and to my right, there were tables of warm, freshly baked bread.