Barry softly called to his dog from the front hall as he bundled up on this cold February Saturday morning. "Come here, Kellogg, time to go for your morning walk,"

Upstairs his wife and daughter were still sleeping, for the sun was just starting to rise. The cute little white and brown Fox Terrier came running from the den and out they went.

A strong gust of wind hit Barry as he and Kellogg strolled on the deserted path that once had been used by the local trains in this picturesque Upstate New York region. Ready to turn back, Barry suddenly noticed a teenager, about eighteen, sitting on a nearby bench. He could have almost sworn that nobody was sitting there a moment ago, but then his eyes weren’t as good as they once were. The youngster wore a skimpy brown coat that hardly covered his worn-out clothes. Black curly hair hung out from the front of a brimless cap. A battered backpack lay next to him. He seemed to be in a trance as his big gray eyes starred out into the distance. Kellogg broke from his leash and jumped on the youth’s lap. The boy snapped out of his reverie.

"Sorry about that, "Barry said, taking the dog and securely fastening the leash onto the collar.

The young man looked at Barry and shrugged. "That’s okay. I like dogs. Gee, you kinda’ look familiar. Have we ever met?"

"Well, I’ve got a clothing store on Main Street. Perhaps you shopped there."

"I’m from downstate. Say, where am I anyway?"

"Johnstown."

The boy looked puzzled "Never heard of this place."

"Are you lost?"

The kid shrugged.
"Why don’t you give your folks a call?"

"Got none. Have lived in lots of foster homes since I was five years old. Now I’ve turned eighteen, the authorities say I have to fend for myself."

A wave of parental sympathy came over Barry. He thought of his daughter, Gloria. This stranger was only about a year older than she was.

"So where you headed?"

The young man took a breath. "Honestly, I don’t know."

An idea flashed into Barry’s head. It might be a gamble, but he knew his wife, Annie, would go along with it once she knew his intentions.

"I’m Barry Garland. I live right down the block from here . . . "

The kid mumbled something under his breath. For a split second, an expression of hate crossed his face - but the man didn’t notice.

"I’d like to try and help you."

"Help me, why?" There was a trace of cynicism in the boy’s voice.

"Please, don’t take my intentions the wrong way, but since I have a large house with an extra bedroom, I thought you might like to stay with my family and me for a while until you can get your act together. My wife is a great cook, and my daughter is just a little younger than you. You’ll probably have a lot in common with her."

The teenager sighed. "That’s awfully nice of you, but I’ve got no money and don’t like bumming off people."

"Don’t worry about that. You can work at my clothing store and pay something back from the salary you make. I need a younger salesman who probably knows the latest styles better than I do. How about it?"

The boy thought a moment and rose. "Okay, that sound good."

"Great. So, what’s your name?"

"Wes, Wes Smith."

He shook Barry’s hand. "Thanks a lot, Mr. Garland. You’re doing me a great favor, much more than you know."

****

Annie was preparing breakfast when Barry walked into the kitchen with this disheveled looking person.

"Honey, let me introduce you to my new salesman, Wes Smith. I met him while walking Kellogg. We got to talking and suddenly it hit me that he’d be perfect for the job."

Annie frowned.

Barry playfully pinched her cheek. "You should be happy, dear. I’m finally taking your advice and hiring someone to help me. Oh, by the way, the kid is going to stay with us since he’s from downstate and doesn’t have a place to stay. After all, we do have that extra bedroom going to waste."

Annie scowled. 'How could he do this without getting references? It's stupid and naive!' she thought.

Ignoring her obvious displeasure, Wes gave her a big infectious smile. "Good morning, Mrs. Garland. I really appreciate what you both are doing for me. Not too many people would take such a chance on a complete stranger. I hope to quickly gain your trust."

'Well, he is polite,' she thought, 'but still . . . '

The handsome young face became flushed and his eyes filled with tears. "I was telling your husband how I lived in foster homes most of my life. People only took me in to make an extra buck. Honestly, I’m not use to being treated with much kindness."

Annie resistance melted. "Well okay, let’s give it a chance. Barry will show you the room and help you unpack. Breakfast should be ready after that."

Kellogg barked happily and followed them upstairs as Barry's daughter, Gloria, came out of her room. Her father introduced Wes to her.

"Gloria, this is Wes Smith, my new salesman. He’s going to be living here with us for a while."

Checking him out, Gloria definitely approved.

"Hi," she shyly said.

****

After breakfast, Barry took Wes to the Main Street store. The new salesman was shown the stock and how told how to make out the sales slips and Barry was pleased to see how quickly the youngster absorbed everything. Before opening for business, Barry picked out a new spiffy outfit for Wes.

"Better wear this. After all, this is a clothing store and we want you to make a nice impression."

The place became busy right away. As it turned out, Wes was a great asset. He had a certain charm that enabled him to persuade even the most choosey customer to buy something. About six o’clock, the shop closed and the exhausted men went home. Barry was thrilled. It had been a very profitable day and he praised Wes to the family throughout dinner.

***

Everything continued going well. Wes fit in perfectly. When he got his first month’s salary, he immediately had Barry deduct some money to pay for his expenses.

"I told you, I’m no sponger," he proudly said.

Gloria’s friends all began envying her after meeting him.

"That Wes is so dreamy," they told her. "You’re so lucky that he’s staying right at your house."

Gloria agreed.

It didn’t take long for Wes to be considered a trusted member of the Garland family. One evening, Barry and Annie went to play cards at a friend’s house. It was the first time the two teenagers were left alone together.

Wes was resting on his bed half dressed when Gloria passed his room. Noticing her, he called her in. She hesitated.

He chuckled. "Ah, don’t be a prude,"

Once in, he got up and seductively moved toward her. Gloria could smell the strong cologne on him. It gave off a sweet, poignant odor, and heightened her sexual senses. Normally she resisted any boy who tried making out with her, but not this time. It was as if the girl was under some spell. When his warm, buffed body touched hers, she totally became receptive. For almost an hour, it was ecstasy, then Wes abruptly stopped. Giving her backside a pat, he got dressed, combed his hair, and put on his coat.

Gloria lay on the bed, mortified.

"Oh, Wes, what you must think of me? I acted like some little slut. I’ve never done anything like this before. Please, don’t tell anyone. I’m so ashamed."

"Sure, babe." he snickered. "Well, at least you’ve become an experienced woman. It’ll make it much easier for the next guy you go down with. Think I’ll check out the mall. Mind leaving my room?"

***

During the next week, Barry and Anne began to notice how withdrawn and sullen Gloria’s behavior had become. When they tried questioning her to find out what was wrong, she’d brush them off.

"I hope it’s just a phase she’s going through," Annie worriedly told Barry.

Then on the first Monday in June, Gloria left for school unusually early. Going into an empty classroom, she fatally cut her wrists.

***

Annie was prostrated with grief. It was Wes who was the greatest comfort to her. She began to rely on him more and more.

"Thank God he’s here," she kept saying to herself.

In early September there was a three-day sports clothing convention at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. Barry decided to go, confident that Wes could manage the store for this short duration. He wanted Gloria to go with him, thinking the West Coast sights would take her mind off the tragedy, but she adamantly refused.

"I’m not ready to do any traveling yet. I’d rather stay here with Wes."

***

It was a scorcher the second day Barry was away. In the evening there was some relief when the weather cooled down a bit. After a light supper, Wes and Gloria went outside to the back porch where there was a nice breeze.

The full moon lit the grounds with a white glow, giving it a dreamlike atmosphere.

Gloria leaned against the column and looked up at the stars.

"You look great tonight," Wes whispered in her ear. "Just like a ripe fruit that’s ready to be eaten." Slowly his hands touched her breasts and then went down to her groin.

She tried moving away. "No, stop, Wes. It’s wrong."

But Wes pursued her, removing her garments, one by one.

"Don’t back away, just relax and let it happen. Take my word, I’m going to give you more pleasure than you ever had."

Gently pushing Annie down on the grass, Wes began massaging her before slowly entering her. The act was vigorously repeated when she suddenly winced and became still.

He felt her pulse and laughed.

"What the hell's going on here?" barked a shocked voice behind him.

Barry, who had shortened his convention trip and taken a night flight home, ran to his wife’s nude body that was sprawled on the ground.

"Guess your wife couldn’t take my high energy sex," Wes quipped nastily.

Barry impulsively took a swing at him, but the teenager blocked it and countered with a hard punch.

Wes gloated over him. "How does it feel to have lost the two most cherished people in your life?"

"You did this, but I can’t understand why. We were all so good to you."

"I did it because of what you did to my mom."

"You’re mom?"

"Yes, my mother was Veronica May Perkins, the pretty widow you once had an affair with."

Barry gasped.

"I was only five years old then, but remember everything. You led her on her by lying that you were single. Mom was devastated when you finally confessed the truth. She committed suicide shortly after that, leaving me totally alone in the world."

"Oh, how much I hated you and wanted revenge. Years passed, I thought I’d never get that chance. Then a totally awesome thing happened right after I was thrown out of my last foster home in Brooklyn. Extremely upset, I wasn’t carefully watching as I crossed the busy street. A speeding car that was making a turn from around the corner banged into to me. Everything went dark and I figured I was a goner. Instead, there was an intense bright flash and the next thing I knew was sitting on a bench in Johnstown. Crazy and unexplainable as it was, things quickly began falling into place. I knew I was being given the chance to revenge my mother and myself. Well, it took some careful planning, but it’s finally done. Now, I’m ready to move on; where, I’m not sure."

The terrier came out of the house, sensing his master’s distress, he began licking Barry’s hands.

Wes patted the dog. "At least you still have Kellogg. The pet is better than nothing. Oh, by the way, I advise you to call 911, even though there’s nothing they can do. Goodbye!"

Wes started whistling and walked to the front of the house, a strange bluish mist encompassed him then he was gone.

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