"No, it's nothing like that," Prudence said. "My friend is in terrible danger and I was wondering if you could give me a ride into town so I can find her."
"Your friend, eh? How do I know you aren't going to kill me once I let you in my car? How do I know you aren't going to leave me in the woods for dead? I saw on the news just yesterday a story where a woman did that. Let some stranger in her car and he left her in a ditch by the road. Is that what you're planning to do to me? Well, speak up now, girl."
"I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to find my friend. She's in trouble and I have to try and help her. I'm not sure where she is, so town seems like the best place to start."
"I don't remember ever seeing you around here before. Where do you come from?"
"I come from a place called Eternity," Prudence said before she could stop herself. The truth always spewed from her mouth even when she knew she should lie. She should tell the same story Samantha had to Mr. Pryde, but she couldn't make the words come out. "I've been staying the last couple nights with Mr. Pryde up there along with my friends. We came here to get supplies for the rest of the children in Eternity." She had already said too much, but the words wouldn't stop coming.
"Mr. Pryde, eh? Why don't you get a ride from him?"
"I would but he's in some kind of coma and I can't wake him up. Please, you have to help me."
"This is the strangest story I ever heard. Is this some kind of joke? Are you working for one of those TV shows where they film ordinary people making fools of themselves?"
"No, I'm telling the truth. You have to believe me." Prudence started to cry. "If you don't help me, my friend is going to be gone and I'll never see her again. He's doing something horrible to her. I don't know what, but he's changing her, making her do and say awful things. I have to stop her before it's too late. Please, all I want is a ride into town."
"Well, all right, if you'll stop your blubbering. It's unbecoming for a girl your age to carry on so. I raised three young 'uns myself and if any of them went on like this at your age I'd have knocked some sense into them."
"Oh thank you Mrs.-"
"Schulman. Rose Schulman. Who are you?"