When we were just finishing our ice cream, a strange looking little man, who was wearing a long purple robe, came into the shop and sat down at the table next to ours. A waitress came over and asked what he wanted, he just shook his head and pointed at me.
"Sir can I take your order please?" She asked getting slightly frustrated. Once again he shook his head no and pointed at me.
"This guy is freaking me out." I whispered to Jake.
"Yeah me too, let's get out of here." He said standing up. "I'll walk you ladies home" he smiled throwing a tip on the table for the waitress.
"You don't have to do that Jake." I said
"I don't mind." he said patting his stomach "I could use the exercise."
We left and headed toward my house, it wasn't until we reached the first corner that I noticed something felt weird. I turned around and the guy from the ice cream shop was right behind us.
"Jake," I whispered "isn't that the weird guy from Shempies?"
"Looks like it," he whispered back.
"Do you think he's following us?" I said instinctively reaching for my sister's hand.
"I don't know, probably just a coincidence" he said reassuringly.

***

"Are we gonna cut across the park?" Maddie asked.
"Sure why not" I said looking behind me. The man was still following about three feet behind us. We turned into the park and started walking toward our apartment building on the other side, the man turned to and continued following us.
"Did he turn?" Jake whispered to me.
"Yeah" I said.
"That's it I'm gonna find out what's going on here." he said turning around and facing the man, who was at least half his size. "Hey buddy, why are you following us?" He demanded.
The man looked scared, but just managed to squeak out "I-I-I n-n-need to sp-sp-speak to the g-g-girl."
"Me?" I asked.
"Y-y-yes." he stammered.
"Maggie, I think we need to go." Jake said looking concerned.
"P-p-please don't leave!" The man said cried. "I n-n-need to talk to you!"
"Jake it's okay!" I said cautiously "I'm listening." I said turning to the man.
"N-n-not h-here" he said "f-f-follow m-me"
"Maggie, what are you doing? This guy could be anybody!" Jake said pulling me aside.
"Jake calm down!" I said "I have a feeling that we can trust this guy, I don't know why but I do. My gut is telling me to follow him, you can take Maddie back to the apartment if you want, but I'm going with him."
'I'm staying with you!" Maddie said to me.
"Well I'm not letting you two run off with a stranger on your own so I guess I'm coming too." Jake said rolling his eyes.