the stranger who came to town page 1

the stranger who came to town page 1 by ric gustafson


Brandon Marcotte turned off the bathroom light of room 8, put the cleaning bucket back on the yellow cleaning cart and finished making the queen sized bed. He closed the front door  and wheeled the cart toward the utility closet which was near the office. As he walked through the front door of the 16 room motel, his son Josh walked up carrying a can of paint.
" Room 15 is finished Dad" he said as he put the paint can down and felt the sweat on his forehead from the summer heat. " Dad, since I'm finished can I go to the bible study at Ron's house?".
" Sure" was his father's reply as he put the key for room 8 back on the key rack. " Be careful driving". He watched as his teenage son drove off in his blue pickup. He was proud of his son for becoming a christian and being active in a high school bible study group.
The motel was quiet and it was getting to be late afternoon. The town of Smokey Flats had only 1000 residents and things were usually quiet. People stopping at his motel were usually driving toward the bigger town of Marquette on Highway 30.
Brandon sat down at a small table behind the motel's front counter and started to eat his supper of a sandwich and some chips.