Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	destination unexpected
	Author:	Gallo, Donald R.
	Date Published:	2003
	Genre:	Real Life
	Grade Level:	7 - 8
	Booktalker:	Sam Marsh

Notes:
Short stories of intriguingly different teenage journeys by ten outstanding authors.

Booktalk:
We got kicked out of church for talking during the sermon, Andy and I. Actually, it was Andy cracking jokes about the way Pastor Donald's sermon, but . . . So, we headed over to the Bridgeview Diner to split a couple of burgers and fries when I noticed the guy huddled in the entrance of a building across the street. When he stood and headed towards us, I knew what was coming. "I never give them money," Andy said. Which was good, because he'd probably just spend it on booze. So, I was caught completely off guard when Andy said, "I'd be happy to buy you some food. You want a meal? Come with us." But, I realized that Andy was calling his bluff. The bum didn't really want food. He wanted money for a cheap bottle of wine! But, the guy entered the diner when Andy opened the door. And, Andy followed him in. I knew Andy would do stuff at school like talk to kids that everyone else made fun of. But this was . . . Well it sure wasn't funny. I didn't want to eat with the guy, but couldn't ditch my buddy. So, we went in and grabbed a booth. Andy introduced us, but the man only nodded while keeping his eyes down. When the waitress finally came over, the guy just kept looking at the menu without speaking, even when Andy told him to get whatever he wanted. Finally, Andy asked if a steak and salad would be okay and the man nodded. We only order cokes considering our limited finances. "Thank you," the man said, and then went back to his silence. When the food came, the man tore into it so fast that I was half afraid he'd choke, but then he slowed down. I sipped my coke and thought how lucky I was to have a home and family. Andy and I kept talking, but the guy didn't, although he did look at us as we spoke. Then, he pointed to the Fries on his plate, offering to share them. So, we did. Tasted pretty good. After giving Andy my cash to help pay, the guy thanked me again, then turned back from leaving and shook my hand. He did the same with Andy at the cash register. Andy jammed a dollar in my shirt and then dropped three dollars and eighty cents for the waitress. "She works hard and she's probably been here since four," he said. When we got back to church, our parents cornered us separately. Mine were so disappointed in me. After all, they were trying to raise me the right way with decent values, not like that friend of mine. Glancing out the window at a red light, I saw the waitress being approached by a man in a long overcoat. She reached into her pocket as we drove off. My parents were into trashing Andy again, talking as if I weren't there about all the wrong things he was teaching me. And about the 'tacky' dress his mom was wearing. "We'll straighten Tommy out," my dad said as he floored the gas to try to beat the next red light--it was red when we ran it. He was gonna make sure I didn't skip any more sermons. After all, somebody had to teach me right from wrong. Next Sunday I'd be sitting up front with them so I didn't miss anything. While my parents continued talking about the lessons they would teach me, I took out the dollar Andy had returned to me, held it near the window and let the breeze pull it free from my hand.