When Terry and Kel Coleman run from their abusive father, they end up in Denver. The day they arrive, they meet three street kids named Rudy, Snap, and Josie. The brothers move into the trio's squat where Rudy and the others teach Terry and Kel the ins-and-outs of survival on the streets. While that happens, Terry and Rudy are drawn to each other and begin a tentative relationship.<br><br>Then Kel is almost kidnapped by a man sent by his father to bring him home. Forced to leave their squat to keep Kel safe, they turn to a local pastor for help. Thanks to the pastor, the five young people may find hope for their future -- if they can survive the present. In the process, can the budding relationship between Terry and Rudy survive, or will it be torn apart by the life they're forced to live?

Surviving

“I originally was going to use these as bedrooms for the kids too,” Andy explained. “But I realized policing two floors was hard enough. You’re welcome to live here, in exchange for helping me out. You’d have to use the bathroom on the second floor, and the kitchen for cooking.”


“Speaking of which,” Terry said, “who fixes meals for the kids?”


“Believe it or not, the woman who lives in the house next door. She’s a widow and when she saw us working on the house she came over to find out if we were planning on selling it. She knew my folks before they moved down to Arizona. When I told her what I was planning…well, at first she was real leery about the idea of having street kids hanging out here. Then she met a couple of them that were helping me out. Mrs. Patterson is nothing if not talkative.”


Chapter 58