Welcome to Wednesday One Shots, the series where we share a bonus story with you to help

you get through the week, this time around we have a story by a listener named Mark.

When I turned 16, I immediately made it a point to get a part-time job after school.

I wanted to find a job to teach me the responsibility to become the upstanding young man my parents

had wanted me to be.

There was a shoe repair shop owned and operated by a man named Gino who lived locally.

He was looking for an assistant and he gave me the job on the spot.

For three days after school, I would work for Gino from 330 till about 7, as I didn't

drive.

I needed one of my parents to come and pick me up since there was no public transportation

and it was too far for me to walk.

One evening, I was told last minute that I was going to have to walk home, as neither

one of my parents were available.

I was slightly annoyed by this but at least the autumn weather was cool and crisp.

I set out right after my shift ended for the long walk home through the small but densely

populated New England town.

Now 500 feet away from my work, I noticed a brown van, slow down as it drove by in the

opposite direction.

I glanced up, thinking that the driver was going to ask me for directions.

When our eyes met, I had to take a second to catch my breath.

This guy was very creepy looking.

He had long greasy hair down to his shoulders that was scraggly looking.

...