Caitlyn Jefferson stopped to watch the boys playing ball in the mud. No question about it they exemplified the joy the entire town felt when the skies opened after the extended dry spell. This was perfect. It was amazing what a few days of rain could do. With the sun out again, the now verdant foliage was a great backdrop for the muddy boys. She adjusted her camera to continuous-shooting autofocus, squatted down for the best angle and began capturing the exuberance of the moment.
 
She knew it would not garner her coveted Pulitzer Prize, but she also was content to pay her dues as a summer intern with the Crimson Lake Herald. The small town paper gave her opportunities to experience her hometown from a different perspective, and she could live at home saving her meagre pay for next semester’s college expenses. 

As she moved to a different angle, she saw him. His clothing disheveled, a man watched the boys. Caitlyn lowered the camera and squinted into the sun. Her hands shook as she raised the camera again, zoomed in tight, and took several pictures of him. Examining the images, she realized he looked wistful.  Haunted brown eyes bore into her soul. Still, her hand shook as she pulled her cellphone from her pocket, her eyes never leaving his form. 

“Hey, Mister. What are you staring at?”

The man stepped back behind the trees, and Caitlyn took her eyes off the spot to glance at the boys. They dropped their ball, and formed a menacing half-circle.

“You one of those pervs?” The biggest boy challenged and the others took up the chant. “Don’t mess with us, perv.”

“Maybe he is just an idjit.” A new chant rose from them as they moved in unison. Grabbing mud, sticks, stones, they moved closer to their target.

Appalled, Caitlyn searched for the man in the bushes, a bit of movement alerted her to his presence. The boys noticed it as well. 

“What’s the matter? Chicken?” 

“Leave him alone.” Caitlyn stepped forward. She couldn’t forget those eyes. “Stop.”

“Who are you, the idjit’s girlfriend?” A lump of mud caught her in the lower jaw. 

“Hey man, that’s not cool.” One of the boys stepped towards her. 

“Figures Tanner would wimp out.” The apparent ringleader raised his mud enshrouded arms. “You with me? Or are you against me?”

A chorus of voices yelled their support, and they raced into the woods. “Let’s get the perv.”

Caitlyn handed her cellphone and camera to the boy beside her. “You know what to do. I have to help him.”

As Tanner called the police, Caitlyn ran at an angle hoping she could reach the man before the boys, and praying the police would arrive soon.