Man from Milwaukee

"Are we there yet?" Zac asked again. Zac Hanson was in the big white van with the rest of his family. He was in a band with his two brothers, Isaac and Taylor. They were still working on a record deal.

"No, Zac," his father, Walker answered. "We're getting closer. You just have to be patient." Zac signed and slumped in his seat. It seemed like the ride had been going on forever and would never stop.

Steam came from the engine of the vehicle as it slowly rested to a stop. "Now we'll never get there!" Zac complained.

"Don't worry," Zac's mother, Diana reassured her children. "We're close to a hotel." Diana tried to sound optimistic though she was worried herself.

The commotion caused Avery, Zac's youngest sister, to awake from her silent slumber. "Where are we?" she asked, yawning.

"We're in Albuquerque, dear," her mother answered.

"Why have we stopped?" Jessica asked, also waking up.

Zac quickly thought of a mischievous comeback for his younger sister's question. "Because a bunch of bank robbers came and stole all our money, and then a giant squid sucked our engine, and…"

"Zachary!" his mother scolded him. He saw it coming, but the look on his sister's face made it worth it.

"The car broke down and dad's trying to fix it," Zac mumbled. His mother gave him one last stern look and turned to the front of the car.

Mr. Hanson stepped back to the window of the car door to tell his family the news. "I can't fix the van by myself. We're going to have to stay at the hotel for awhile so I can call a repairman." The children only moaned to show their distress while stepping out of the van.

While Walker used a nearby pay phone, the family sat outside of the hotel. Zac spotted a nearby bus stop and decided to sit there. Albuquerque was a nice place, though he didn't plan on staying there long. The bees buzzed and the birds chirped, all happy that summer was upon them. Zac's whole surrounding seemed to be happy and cheerful, as if nothing could get in its way.

Since Zac had been enjoying the scenery, he hadn't noticed the plump man in a sharp business suit join him on the bench. Zac eyed the stranger trying not to stare. The man was going bald and had an enormous shoe size. His feet were unproportional to the rest of his short body. Zac also noticed that this man hadn't shaved in a couple of days.

"Good morning," the man spoke up. His voice was deep and serious.

"Hello," Zac replied.

"What bus are you waiting for?"

At first the question puzzled him, but then he remembered he was sitting at a bus stop. "Oh, I'm not waiting for a bus. I'm just sitting here until my dad gets our van fixed." Zac pointed to his family, still waiting outside the hotel.

"I see," the man paused, searching for the right words. "It's a nice day, isn't it?" he finally said.

"Yeah."

"The sky's really blue."

"Yep."

A ringing was heard from the man's briefcase. He opened it, revealing a yellow cellular phone. "That's weird," Zac thought. "I've never seen a yellow phone like that before. It almost looks like a walkie-talkie."

"Yes, this is Albert," the man was saying. "Mmmhmmm…yes…okay…right away…buh-bye." Albert hung up the phone and placed it back in his briefcase. "That was my boss," he explained to Zac, "I have to attend a press conference in Milwaukee this afternoon."

"Cool," Zac said inconspicuously. He was making stories about Albert in his head. His favorite was that Albert was from Albertane, Mars. He must have been calling home on his yellow walkie-talkie.

"I never caught your name," Albert stated.

"I'm Zac."

"Hello, Zac, my name is Albert." They both shook hands.

As Zac continued his wild alien story about Albert, a bus slow made its way to the stop. "That's my bus," Albert said, standing up. "Good-bye Zac. It was nice meeting you."

"Bye," Zac watched Albert skip up the bus steps and into the bus. His story about the man seemed so real. He had to write it down.

Zac was proud of his new song and ran to show his brothers. He knew he would never forget Albert or the bus stop in Albuquerque.