Rick opened the passenger door to his black 4x4 pickup truck. “Thank you.”

“Oh, don’t mention it. What are friends for?” he answered. Rick shut the door behind him and then climbed into the driver’s seat. “So, how is my good friend Tommy doing today?” Rick asked as he turned the truck on.

“It’s Tom.”

“Okay, Tom.”

“I don’t know,” Tom answered shrugging. “I guess okay, but…”

Rick pulled out of the gravel driveway of the country house and onto the highway. “But what?”

“But the usual,” Tom answered with a hint of anger.

Rick looked at him for a second at his reply. “I didn’t mean to step on your toes, but I haven’t seen you in years. What is the usual?”

Tom looked out his window. “The same things as eight years ago.”

“You still remember that conversation? Wow, I thought you might have forgotten,” Rick said as he glanced at him. “I’m sorry.”

“No one else is why do you need to be?” Tom said glaring at him.

“Because,” Rick answered. “I still consider you my friend. Friends care for each other.”

“That’s a real laugh,” Tom said looking back out his window.

Rick sighed. “I know how you must feel, but I think you’ve had some experiences I didn’t.”

Tom just sat quietly for a few minutes before speaking again. “I thought I had friends, but they left me when someone ‘more fun’ showed up in town.”

“Yeah,” Rick said sighing. “I never had that, but…I am still sorry.” Tom answered with a silent chuckle. The speed limit slowed as they passed through a small town. “Well, I’m glad I could be of service.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Rick could tell Tom meant it. “You’re welcome. If I hadn’t been in Chicago for a Youth Group Leader Convention I couldn’t have picked you up on my way back to La Crosse.” Rick turned toward Tom and said, “Come to think of it, how did you find my number?”

“I called your church,” Tom said glancing at the ceiling.

“So you trust me?” Rick said smiling.

“You have never given me a reason not to.”

“Well, thank you for the complement,” Rick said putting a hand on Tom’s shoulder. “I hope this means that I’ll be seeing more of you. Or at least hearing from you.”

“We’ll see. I’m pretty busy right now.”

“I’d bet, with your graduation coming up,” Rick said as he passed a slow moving car. “How’d you do?”

“B’s mostly.”

“That’s very good,” Rick said with a wide smile. “I’m happy for you.”

“Yes well, its no thanks to those, those guys back there,” Tom said looking at Rick and pointing behind them.

“I take it that’s the house I picked you up at?”

“Yes.”

“May I ask what happened?”

Tom leaned back against the seat and said, “As I said, I new guy moved into town. They bought that farm because land is going up in price. He came to school and invited every boy he liked at first impressions. We car pooled the forty so minutes to his house.”

“He goes to your school when he lives this far out?” Rick asked surprised.

“Yes. After only thirty minutes, his parents came home and said there were too many people around. We began discussing who was leaving and every one of my friends voted me out because he is more fun to be with.” Tom sat up. “And of course no one would take me home.”

“I’m sorry Tom. It’s an untamed world. The only person who will rule this planet without being overthrown is Jesus Christ Himself when He returns.”

“I wonder if that’s even true anymore,” Tom said looking back out the window.

“Well, God will reveal Himself to you in His time and way.” They were pulling into La Crosse and Rick stopped talking until they reached Tom’s home. “Have a good rest of the day!” Tom said nothing as he got out and shut the door. He then walked slowly inside his house.