"Hey mister, how you doing?"
"Do you need a friend tonight?'
"I can take away your troubles"
"I can make what's wrong seem right"
A woman's thoughts from a childs voice
Knocked me senseless in the dark
I guess I should know better
Than to walk home through the park
"Baby, you'll forget your troubles"
"If you'll spend some time with me"
"Where's your car? Just let's go do it"
"You'll really like it, wait and see"
I kept my pace and ventured forward
I didn't want to see her face
I didn't want to see her standing
So I began to increase my pace
"C'mon baby, it's worth your while"
"I can make your problems go"
"It won't take long, I know you'll like it"
"Come and play, it's fun...you know!"
I turned around to see the speaker
Just to say that I'd heard enough
I didn't want to hurt her either
I didn't want to come off tough
So when I stopped and turned to face her
From the darkness she stepped out
A tiny child in a woman's outfit
Looking like she'd been knocked about
I said "No thanks", this ain't my style
I just want to get on home
I want to go about my business
And I want to go on home alone.
"But baby, I'm the best thing ever"
"You'll never find a girl like me"
I swear to God, she acted older
But she only looked one score less three
I looked at her and something tingled
"Sure, let's go" I spoke aloud
Then she smiled, ever so slightly
She hooked my arm and I gently bowed
"I have a question, dear...before we"
"Head on out to do the deed"
"When did you last eat dinner"
"When was your last real good feed?
"It's been a while, I can see that"
"Your'e nothing more than skin and bone"
"If your'e my date, we'll first have dinner"
"Then, I'll take you to my home"
'She acted tough, but failed to hide it
"Dinner..fine..but then we go"
I smiled back, and off we ventured
Through the park, our heads bowed low
We found a small, deserted diner
We took a booth where we could talk
Talking was just what I wanted
But talking, that's where she would balk
She ate her meal like a starving beasty
Sparks were flying off the plate
What? I thought had forced this child
To turning tricks to be her fate?
We finished up and left the diner
She said that I would not regret
I took her home like I had promised
For a night I'd not forget
I hung her coat inside the closet
Climbed the stairs up to my room
She followed close, but was not speaking
The air hung heavy with her gloom
I said "Before we do the dealing"
"You should clean up...the showers there"
I found a robe and watched her smile
I then sait down in my old chair
I heard the water run forever
She came out clean as she could get
She wore the robe and a small hand towel
Wrapped about her hair so wet
I'd make some drinks, some nice hot chocolate
I sat her down and then she spoke
"I'd like to thank you for the dinner"
"do you mind if I have a smoke?"
I told her fine, but had my reasons
I'd keep her busy, without sex
She talked for hours, just like a child
She was rubbing her bruised neck
She said she'd run from down in Georgia
Coming here was not her plan
She had wanted to go to college
But this was where the poor girl ran
It's funny but this child like woman
Never talked of why she'd come
She talked of people she was missing
She'd said she'd like to once more run
She nodded off into a slumber
I picked her up and laid her down
I wrapped her up with a warm blanket
And then I headed off to town
When she awoke, I sat there smiling
And not a word was ever said
For when I left, I bought a ticket
One...to Georgia...lay on the bed.
I said "It's yours...if you should want it"
"You've got three hours, so let's go eat"
This waif like girl then responded
With a smile that just could not be beat
We headed back down to the diner
Breakfast was the meal this time
I paid the bill and from my wallet
Said "Here, take this...it's still my dime"
This girl was lost inside her body
I helped her find her way again
I watched her leave clutching the ticket
I knew we'd never meet again
I hope she found where she was heading
I hope she made it , I admit
I never went to check the depot
I hoped she used that bus ticket
Another night, another walk home
Another voice came from the dark
"Hey sweetie, you look kind of lonely"
I smiled..and walked back in the park.......
.