A Place to Stay (Part 2): His Christmas Journey Begins
Author and Amish taxi driver Haley Straw shares part two of a four-part Christmas series. It follows the true story of a young boy from Chicago, whose longing for warmth and belonging sends him on an unlikely winter journey toward an Amish community he’d only read about in a library book. This retelling draws from the original “Please Let Me Stay” account shared in a private family history book. If you missed part one, you’ll find it here.
Some stories gather weight as they move—like a snowball rolling down a hill, collecting cold and courage and the pieces of a life that might’ve been lost. When W.M. shared the next part of his journey, I understood why it stayed with him all these years. Part 1 told us how a book sparked a dream. Part 2 shows us the cost of chasing it.
This is the true account—told as it was written by him and printed in his family’s private history book, with only a few minor edits for clarity. The heart remains untouched.
The Money He Hid & the Hope He Carried
He checked his stash again—$14.52. To most, it would be pocket change. To him, it was a possibility. It was the price of a bus ride, a meal, or a sliver of hope.
He didn’t know exactly where he was going, only that the Amish lived east of Chicago near a town he had memorized. He knew how to ride the city buses for almost nothing, and he knew how to walk east by the pull of the sunrise.
On December 22, 1969, he left the row houses without regret. There were no tearful goodbyes; no one standing in a doorway asking him to stay. His clothes were too small, his shoes too big, his coat patched but warm, plastic wrapped around his feet, held in place with rubber bands.
He walked out of childhood the same way he walked down that winter street—quietly, purposefully, unnoticed.
The First Night Alone
He took the bus as far as East Chicago. At the station, he pretended he’d be boarding again in the morning, curling up in the hard-backed chair and trying to look older than he was.
He spent the night there—cold, alone, and determined. His plan for the next day was simple: find a trucker headed east and convince him, or slip on board without being seen.
By morning, he had only $10.22 left. He walked ten blocks to a truck stop in a hard, bitter snow, the wind clawing through his patched coat. He bought a hot dog and ate it while sitting in a bathroom stall to warm up, then mustered all his courage and ventured out into the cold and unknown.
The Stowaway
One truck after another… locked doors, running engines, drivers inside. He moved down the row with numb fingers and sinking hope.
Finally—one door clicked open.
He climbed inside and curled behind the seat on a surprisingly large bed, shrinking himself into the dark. He waited until he fell asleep.
The next thing he remembered was the gentle sway of the rig and the sound of the engine.
How long he’d been driving, he didn’t know, but it was away from where he’d come from. He was hungry, yet remained silent, enveloped by the warmth and safety of the truck.
The Fall
Eventually, the truck slowed and turned off the highway. A stop. A chance.
He waited until the driver got out, counted to fifty, then scrambled toward the passenger door. Snow gusted in through the crack. He tried to hurry—too fast.
His foot slipped.
In an instant he was upside down, head and shoulders buried in the snow, one foot caught in a step or strap on the rig. Panic hammered his chest.
What if the driver came back and pulled away?
What if he was dragged along the ice?
What if no one found him in time?
The cold gnawed at him until fear turned into trembling. He whispered, then cried out, “Please… someone help me!”
The wind buried his voice.
Between Dreams and Sirens
As the cold overtook him, hunger and exhaustion wrapped themselves around his mind. He drifted into half-dreams:
A warm stove.
Hot food.
Children laughing.
An Amish home glowing soft in lamplight.
Reality returned as distant sirens grew louder. Hands lifted him. Voices hovered over him.
“Who is he?”
“This is my truck, but I never saw the boy before.”
“Son, what’s your name?”
All he could say—the only word that anchored him—was:
“Amish… Amish… Amish…”
Even half-frozen and terrified, the compass in his heart still pointed east.
Why This Part Matters
Children don’t make treacherous journeys unless they believe the destination is safer than what they’re running from. W.M.’s story isn’t remarkable because of the miles he walked or the snow he survived—but because of the longing that pushed him forward.
A longing for warmth.
For belonging.
For a family like the one in the book.
And somewhere miles away, in a quiet Amish home, a family had no idea that their lives were about to intersect with a boy who had whispered their name into the winter wind.
The Softest Thing on the Road
When I think about this part of W.M.’s story, I can’t help but connect it to the nights I’ve spent driving Amish families through sleet, wind, and darkness—barefoot on the pedals, the heater barely keeping up, the whole world quiet except for the hum of the road. They slept, trusting me to get them home… or to a hospital… or to a loved one’s bedside.
Courage takes all kinds of shapes.
Sometimes it looks like a boy with plastic around his feet climbing into a truck he hopes is headed east.
Sometimes it’s the steady breath of a driver carrying families safely through the cold.
Hope is what keeps you moving when the night feels endless.
And grace is what meets you on the other side.
Coming in part 3: Awakening in a strange bed, W.M. finds himself surrounded by people he doesn’t know—and two Amish men who might hold the key to his future. As state offices close for Christmas and decisions must be made quickly, one Amish family opens their door… and forever changes the course of one lost boy’s life.
Haley Straw is a barefoot Amish taxi driver with a storyteller’s heart and a knack for collecting the kinds of tales the Amish whisper on long night drives. She shares those stories — including this Christmas series — the way they were given to her: gently, gratefully, and with a little lantern-light warmth. You can find her books and free Amish-inspired goodies at haleystraw.com.
Reply
Aw man that’s it! It was getting even better! I hope PT 3 will be out before I am gone in January. This is the kind of story that grabs peoples attention especially the weather we are having in the Midwest right now it feels like it’s happening right before your eyes and you just want to take it in and cheer on that boy! God bless W.M and God Bless you Haley and your family and children!
Sincerely,
Daniel M.
Go WM!
Daniel, you are sweet — thank you for saying that. Yes, Part 3 will be up next Thursday, and Part 4 on Christmas Eve. It won’t be the same in Amish America without your comments, as you step into a new chapter in life.
You might still be able to keep up with what’s happening on the site, though. Most communities ride with English drivers, and plenty of us look things up for the Amish when they’re curious about what’s going on outside their corner of the world — especially when it involves other Amish—no harm in asking your driver if they’d check the site once in a while for you.
God bless you and yours, too, Daniel. And if you ever need to pass along a quick message or have something you’d like me to know, you can reach me through the contact form on my website — it goes straight to my inbox.
W.M. part 3
Hiya, Haley . . . Is this one of those stories that’ll see me crying crocodile tears at the end?? Just curious.
tears
Hi K.D. — I can’t promise dry eyes… but I can promise it’s worth the journey.
Reply
Hi Haley,
I will definitely do that. I’m not sure how often I’ll be getting rides from English people, since he has Beachy Amish and Mennonites who work for him, and they own the company vehicles and will be the ones driving me around. They don’t have internet on their phones, so I’ll mostly rely on them for rides.
You’re welcome — I always try to encourage people to keep moving forward instead of staying in the same place. You really are one of those people with a true writing talent. I don’t have that talent myself, but I really enjoy reading amazing stories, and yours have definitely been some of them.
I’ve had this opportunity basically handed to me after 5–6 years of preparing. I never thought the time would actually come, but here it is. I’ve worked so hard to get to this point, and most people never get this far. Like I said, you have a truly amazing writing ability, and I’m surprised I’m only just now hearing about you.
I don’t think I’ll have my computer on Thursday since I was able to graduate early. I really enjoyed my time here, and your stories were always awesome. I checked at least 3–4 times a day to see if you had posted anything new. By the way, what’s the website called?
Daniel, thank you for your thoughtful note. That means a lot to me.
I’m excited for you and the opportunities you’ll have living with the Amish – it sounds like you are being led, and we each have our own path. The kind of intent and preparation you’re putting into your life at such a young age speaks volumes.
And yes — graduating early is no small accomplishment. Well done.
Writing is simply a form of communication, and I’d say you are very skilled at it – observing, reflecting, and expressing yourself. If you aren’t already, I encourage you to journal about your life with the Amish. Writing is a way to deepen understanding, and one day you might want to share what you’ve learned and experienced with others.
If you ever want to find my work again, my website and contact information are listed at the end of the article.
Wishing you the very best as you embark on your own journey into the Amish world.
So...
How many parts does this story have?
W.M.’s Story
It has 4 parts total. Have a blessed day.
What a story and what a story teller! Is this story in your book? ❄️❤️❄️
Thank you, Kelley ❄️❤️ This particular version of this story is exclusive to Amish America — but it fits right alongside the ones in my books.
a place to stay
Can’t wait for part 3, this is a beautiful account of a young man’s journey through life.
Thank you, Jackie — part 3 is coming soon, and I’m grateful you’re walking this journey with him.
I cannot wait for part 3. I am next to my sleeping husband, yet I have never felt so alone and hopeless. Taking refuge in stories. Please email me when the next part comes out.
Rachel, I’m honored the story could offer you a small place of refuge last night.
The Amish have a saying: “No winter lasts forever. No spring skips its turn.” I’ve held onto that more than once myself.
Part 3 will be up on Thursday. Sending warm wishes your way.