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"Is that true. Noble?"

"No," I said quickly, maybe too quickly.

"I'm very worried. son," Mr. Fletcher said. "He's done some silly things, but he's never done anything like this. He's not here by any chance, is he?"

"Of course not," Mommy snapped. "Do you actually believe I would permit such a thing?" "I was just--"

"We're checking every possible lead. Mrs. Atwell," the policeman said. "I'm sure you can appreciate what Mr. Fletcher is going through, having lost a child yourself."

Mommy's upper body snapped back so fast and so sharply, she looked like she might topple.

"Of course I appreciate it. I'm just telling you that we don't know anything about him." She looked at Mr. Fletcher. "I warned you he was into very bad behavior," she told him. "This doesn't surprise me. It doesn't surprise me at all,"

He nodded and looked down.

"I know," he said softly, his voice couched in a tone of defeat.

"Well, we can't help you." she said. "I'm very sorry for Your trouble."

"You sure you haven't seen Elliot?" the policeman asked me again.

I shook my head.

"No. not for a while," I said. My heart was pounding. Mommy didn't even look at me.

"Okay. Thank you. If you think of anything, please call the station," the policeman said, and they turned away.

Mommy closed the door immediately. For a moment she stood there looking at it. Then she spun on me, her eyes small. suspicious.

"Did you know where he has gone?"

I didn't, so I was able to shake my head.

She didn't look convinced, but she breathed easier and then, without another word, returned to the kitchen.

I stood there feeling numb all over.

I heard Mommy rattle pots and pans as she sifted through them, looking for something. When she made noise like that. I knew she was upset.

The sounds seemed to echo inside my chest.

At dinner Mommy went on and on about how much of a burden children were to their parents today.

"If you're blessed with a responsible, obedient, and loving child, you're a very lucky person, but the truth is, they reap what they sow. That was why I couldn't be as sympathetic to Mr. Fletcher as the policeman would have liked me to be. I know it's a hard face to wear, but if we don't wear it, things will only get worse,

"That," she said. "is why I feel so fortunate having a child like you."

She got up and walked over to me to kiss me on the forehead and then hold me tightly against her. I said nothing. I couldn't help but wonder if she felt me shaking. The trembling I had felt when the policeman and Mr. Fletcher came to our door was still going on inside inc.

It followed me into sleep and turned every shadow in my room into a dark threat.

The search party came late the following morning. It brought back horrid memories, both for Mommy and myself. We could hear the voices of the men shouting to each other in the forest. From our front porch, we saw the cars parking on the highway. A fire engine was brought up as well.

Only an hour or so after they had begun, we heard a gunshot to signal the others. That was followed by the sound of an ambulance screaming up to our road.

Mommy walked out and down the driveway, where she could speak with people.

Then she returned quickly.