Nicolas was sitting in the waiting room Monday . He had brought four magazines with him, in the mechanics had to spend all day fixing car. His portable Sony radio was on, and earbud was stuck in his right ear. A came into the waiting room. Nicolas overheard the talking to Harold, the service representative. The customer from Milford, the same little town that Nicolas from. After the customer and Harold had finished , Harold went back outside.

Nicolas thought he would himself. He said, "I heard that you are Milford." The young man nodded. "Are you going the parade on Wednesday?" Nicolas asked.

"What parade?" man asked. Wednesday was the fourth of July. wondered if he was talking to someone who happened to be visiting Earth on his way Pluto.

"Didn't you say you live in Milford?" asked. The man nodded. "How long have you there?" Nicolas asked. Five years, the man replied.

" you've never been to the Fourth of July ?" Nicolas asked. The man shook his head. He totally uninterested in continuing the conversation, although all was doing was watching cars drive by on nearby street.

Oh well, I tried to be , Nicolas thought, as he put the earbud back his ear and opened one of his magazines.