Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 09:19:32 -0800 (PST)
From: c s <mackwing_2004@yahoo.com>
Subject: Life on the rock: Chapter 1: Back to the rock

	It was a chilly May Morning in Northern Michigan.  I had stopped
off at the rest area in Clare to take a leak.  I love that rest stop.  They
used old pieces of scrap metal from roadwork sites to make this tribute of
statutes to the road workers.  If you have ever been to Michigan you know
that they are always working on the roads.  That can get annoying at times
but the tribute is really cool.

	Oh yeah, by the way, my name is Tad.  I am 21 years old.  I have
brown hair and brown eyes.  I am about 5'9 and I weigh 120lbs.  I know
there is one more thing you are probably wondering about, but I don' know
you that well yet so you will have to wait to get to know me a little
better before I tell you that. He he he.

	When I got done in the restroom I headed out to the lobby to check
on boat schedules.  I am headed for Mackinac Island, and the only way to
get there is by boat or plane.  I am scared to death of flying so I will
just stick with the boat.  Besides it is only a fifteen-minute boat ride
from St. Ignace to the Island.  I was still about two hours away, so I got
back in my car and headed north.

	When I pulled into St. Ignace it was about 11:30 AM, and the next
boat was at noon, so I still had time to park my car and get my things
ready.  I parked my car and got my boat tickets.  I have visited Mackinac
Island before, but I have never worked there.  Now I am going to work there
for the summer.  People come from all over to work on Mackinac Island.  I
grabbed my bags out of the trunk and headed over to the boat.

	"Hi!"  I heard from this guy standing next to me.  He was a little
taller than me, and he looked like he might be a year or two older as well.

	"Hello." I replied a bit nervously.

	"I'm Kyle."  The cute guy with dirty blonde hair said.

	"Oh, hello Kyle.  My name is Tad."

	"So are you going over to the island just for a visit or will you
be working there for the summer?  Kyle asked.

	" I will be working at the mercantile this summer.  It is my first
summer working on the island so I am a bit nervous."  I replied.

	" Oh, ha ha ha," Kyle giggled and told me, " You don't have to be
nervous.  It's a little different at first but once you get used to it I
think you will like it.  Hey, Maybe I could show you around if you would
like.

	"I'd like that, thanks a lot Kyle."  Oh my god this cute guy has
just offered to show me around.  Maybe he likes me.  I wonder if I should
tell him that I think he is hot.  Well maybe that would be jumping the gun
a bit to fast.  I had better wait a while.

	"All aboard!" The captain of the boat announced.

	We all got on the boat and headed for the Island.  I sat inside on
the second level with Kyle.  He asked me if I wanted to go stand on top
outside, but I told him we would freeze out there.

	"Here."  Kyle said as he handed me his coat.  "Put this on, it will
keep you nice and warm."

	I smiled and took his coat as we headed up the steps for the top of
the boat.

	"Wow!"  This is awesome!"  I yelled.  I had to yell because the
wind was so loud.  All the times I had ever visited the island, I never had
done this before.  It was cold, but Kyle made me start to feel warm inside.