Chapter 1:

Sister Mary sat at her desk in the orphanage. Picking up a letter, she read it aloud.

"Sister, I've just gotten out from my three months in Joliet. I'm comin back to the orphanage to retry with another kid. Hope he/she's normal this time :) see you and the others on Monday. Love Elwood Blues."

The girl seated across from the nun, had a confused look across her face.

"What do you think, Alexandria?" Sister Mary asked.

"I suppose hanging with an ex convict sounds safe," she said," But Sister, why me?"

"You can show him the ropes around this place, my dear. Elwood went to this orphanage as well."

"You mean when this place was just for guys?"

"Exactly, Alexandria."

"Prison though? How old is this guy?"

"Alex?"

"Just asking Sister."

"Hes 32."

She nodded, "why me, again?"

Before the nun could answer the girl, her phone rang.

"Yes? Oh splendid! Send him to my office right away. Thank you," she hung up the phone, "Elwood's here. I know your gonna like him."

"You said the same thing about Andrew," Alex murmured as she crossed her arms and slouched into the chair more.

"Alexandria, good poise please," Sister said.

She straightened up and crossed her legs.

"Thats better."

There was a light knock on the door. Alex stiffened. An ex-convict is going to be my mentor? She thought nervously.

Come in, Sister Mary called.

A tall man walked in. He wore a black suit. The black tie stood out from the crisp white shirt. A black fedora and sunglasses were on his head, hard to tell facial features. From what Alex could tell, he wasnt a shabby looking guy. He gave a half smile to the nun.

Nice to see you again, Sister, he said walking in the door a bit more.

Did prison teach you a lesson, young man? she raised an eyebrow at the man.

Yes it did, I hope God will forgive me, he said God like it was spelled G-a-h-d.

He will, Elwood. Please, take a seat.

He nodded and sat next to Alex in the chair beside hers. She was looking away from him, not wanting to make eye contact for a convict whom just got out of the joint.

Elwood, this is Alexandria, your new mentoré, Sister Mary said, Alexandria, say hi to Elwood.

Hows it goin? she asked holding up a hand.

Sup? he said back.

Alex, do you mind stepping out for a few moments?

Not at all, Sister, Alex stood and hoped she wasnt noticed on how quickly she walked out.

Thats her? Elwood asked once Alex walked out.

Thats her, Sister Mary said, is there a problem with this one?

No, I think she doesnt like me that much.

I read your letter aloud; I think shes worried about the prison thing.

It really was nothing, Sister. It was a stupid choice getting drunk, then driving. It was my fault. I disserved the prison time.

Tell her that then, Elwood. I hope this one is more to your liking than the last one.

He was the reason I got locked up, he sighed, I wanna have a shot to at least talk to this one.

Then go bond, Elwood. You might like this one, Sister Mary smiled.

Lets hope so, Elwood said standing from the chair.

Elwood walked out of the office and quickly tried to remember where everything was around the orphanage.

A few years back, he and his brother Jake saved this place, but got in the slammer. Someone, anonymously, set Elwoods bail after his first year in the jail, but not Jakes. He wondered about Jake ever since he got out. One day during visiting hours, Elwood stopped by to see his brother, to only find out his brother was killed during a prison riot a few weeks prior. Crushed, he returned to the orphanage. He told Sister Mary everything he had on his mind, and suggested mentoring the students and children at the orphanage. Desperate and to keep suicide thoughts out of his mind, he agreed.

Elwood had many differences with all the kids he mentored. They all made him end up in jail for a few months. He was hoping for that right kid to fill that empty feeling in his heart where Jake was. He knew he would never have it completely filled up again, its just the fact that he has someone he can get along with like Jake.

Alex sat outside the office on the floor. She looked up at the man who was now her mentor.

I wanna make one thing clear, Im not a pedophile, rapist, child molester or serial killer, Elwood said, lending a hand to help Alex up.

Alex looked him up and down a few times, still eerie about trusting him.

I swear Im normal, he said.

She grabbed his hand and he helped her up, "impossible. No ones normal."

He gave her a half smile, "Elwood."

"Alex."

Still holding each others hands, they shook. Once through, they descended the stairs.

"so, how's this gonna work out? I mean, a busy high schoolers must have a ton to do," Elwood asked, a hint of sarcasm laced his words.

"oh funny..." Alex said, "I'm the most boring kid you will ever meet."

"I highly doubt that much, Kid."

"I have a boring ass job and my band can't get any gigs besides our re-occurring one... it sucks."

"band?" he perked up a bit.

"yeah, I have a band."

"What kinda music do you play?"

"Rock mostly, add some blues in there and maybe a splash of alternative."

"i stopped listening after blues."

"figured, Mr. Blues," she emphasized the blues part.

"Elwood, please."

"Whatever floats your boat, dude."

Elwood chuckled; this ones very different, he thought, but why do i feel like shes a psychopath?

Alex smiled at Elwood; oh gosh, I really hope hes not a pedophile! she thought, i really hope not. hes seems cool though.

They stopped and faced each other once they reached the door.

"How bout we actually start the whole 'mentoring' thing tomorrow," he made air quotations with mentoring, "its up to you. you don't seem into the whole idea or anything. so i can ask for a different kid or something..."

Alex held a hand up and stopped him, "your A; rambling on and B; I would like to spend a little more time with you before anythings set in stone."

"a week?"

"deal," she said with a grin.

"deal," he nodded once.

they grabbed hands again and shook twice.

"I gotta head to work anyway," Alex said with a sigh, "start tomorrow?"

"we established this already."

"just double checking, jezz..."

He pushed the door open and the bright 4 o'clock sun beamed through the it. He allowed Alex to walk out first. she mumbled her thank you and walked past his car. she stopped and turned around.

"Elwood!" she called.

"yeah?" he asked, barley saying the whole word. it sounded more like 'ya'.

"Cool car," she said with a smile.

He gave her a half grin, "thanks."

it was an old 440 Dodge Monaco painted up like a 70's police car. It was a well used cop car in the days. the paint was faded and it had dents and scratches all across the body. Just the fact that it was a still running 70's police car was impressive. You could barley read the "to serve and protect" line across the side of the hood on the car. A very faded F1 was on the back doors of the car. A faded "highway patrol" logo was on both sides of the front two doors. All and all, Alex was surprised it could possibly even start up without shattering into a million pieces.

"It still runs?" she asked.

"yeah," he said it odd again, "runs pretty well too. Cop motor, cop shocks, cop suspensions, its pretty fast when Im behind the wheel. Nobody calls me 'Mr. Moterhead' for nothin."

"Damn," she said, quite impressed.

wanna ride somewhere? he asked

You know where Ringing Garnets Roller Rink is? Alex asked retreating to his car.

Elwood got in the car first and shut the door. Alex got in next, cautiously into the passenger side of the car. Elwood rolled his eyes.

I told you, Im not a kidnapper or child molester like Michael Jackson.

I know that, she said relaxing a bit.

Elwood grinned, "mind if i tag along? i have nothing to do."

"go for it, my jobs boring as shit anyway," she sighed.

"it can't be worse than working with spray paint."

"wanna trade?" she asked perking up in the seat.

Elwood chuckled, "i like you, kid."

Alex smiled. Elwood turned the car on and started off down to the main road. Unknown on the type of music Alex liked, Elwood kept the radio off until he could determine a genre for her. They drove in silence.