WHERE ARE THEY

       CHAPTER 1                                 Where Are They                                                                       Janice Rawlins
 
   As a mother of three, Ellen Garvin was looking for a new start. She had many problems in her life, but today seemed different. It was a beautiful September day in 1978. Autumn was approaching quickly causing the leaves to change a different array of colors. The gentle breeze on her face mixed with the warmth of the sunlight shining through the windshield made her feel more hopeful.
   It had been a long time since Ellen had thought of such a day. She smiled as she glanced in her rearview mirror at two of her three kids. She shook her head as she thought of her three children. She knew she had her hands full. Two of them were teenagers and the youngest one would be there soon enough.

   Ellen's eldest child was her son Josh. Like any typical seventeen year old...
      Josh was a prankster and liked to pick on his younger brother, and get a laugh. Josh was tall skinny frame with his dark skin and eyes sky blue. He knew he was a cutie and the girls loved his charming personality. Josh had his mother’s features and his charm came from his father. She remembered that was what attracted her to Bruce Garvin, the father of her children. She did not want to think about him at this time. She had too many other worries on her mind. She knew Bruce was the reason she left everything behind.
   A smile spread across Ellen’s face when she thought of her only daughter Susan. She was barely thirteen but acted like she was the mother. Susan was a young girl, who was bold and would take charge of being a leader, any mother would be proud of.  She had features much like her oldest brother with dark hair and eyes of hazel green. She was a health nut and wanted all the family to eat right, exercise; do all the things in life to keep us healthy and she was much wiser than her years.
       
   It was when she thought of her youngest child Ben, did she realize time was just passing her by. He was already an active eleven year old boy with a heart of gold. It seemed just like yesterday she was changing his diapers. Ben was a curious boy full of mischief and girls was the last thing on his mind.
       
    Ellen tried her best to hide the worried look on her face from her children. Ellen had never once thought she would ever be in such a situation in all her life. It was hard, but she knew she had to do it. She had to be brave for her children. Her biggest worry was finding a place to live. She knew that if she didn't find a place to rent soon, she would have to find shelter before nightfall.
   Kentland was a place she had called home all her life. Now she was three hours away from there and yet another worry. Once again, the temperature gage in her 1972 Blazer was running hot. She closed her eyes for a spilt second as she remembered using the last jug of water a little over an hour ago. Her new worry bothered her more, because she thought it might leave them stranded along the highway.
   There was a moment of joy when she saw the sign advertizing Mountain View gas station. It was a worn and weathered sign, but enough to read the faded letters it offered a glimmer of hope nonetheless. Ellen tried not to be too excited about the sign. After all, it was only a sign.
   It was not until she had driven another two miles down the road she allowed herself to become excited. Several cars in the parking lot gave her some hope it was still open for business. She might get help one way or another that would relieve some worries.
   Ellen and her children looked around the old gas station with curiosity as they slowly coasted in. It was nothing like the others they had back in Kentland. This one was more dilapidated and well used. The smell of diesel fuel loomed in the air around them.
  Her heart began to pound faster as she turned off the engine. For the first time in over three hours, all three of her children were quite. Not one of them knew what to make of the old station. It wasn't until Ellen reached for the door handle did the rest of them even attempt to move.
   "It looks like something out of a scary movie," Josh said looking around.
   "Josh," Ellen warned under her breath.
   Ellen wanted it to sound more as a threat as so it not to frighten his younger brother or sister.
  She knew the gas station wasn't abandoned. There was a sound of a radio coming from inside the garage. There was no doubt someone was inside listening to an old Hank Williams song called I’m so lonesome I could cry. She thought to her self feels like I could cry.
  "Why don't you guys wait here," she said cautiously. "I'll go in and see if there's anyone there.”
  Her kids didn't argue with her. She walked straight toward the door with a look of trying not to be scared of what she might encounter. She kept walking getting closer to the garage door wanting to make sure her kids knew everything would be okay. She did not want her children to become more afraid then what they were. She knew they were afraid just by the look of the place. As she walked she stepped on a soda can and it crushed under her foot. She had to bend over to get it off her shoe. She shook her head lightly and looked around just enough to see soda cans every where just lying around on the ground.

 Just this once, she had wished her kids would have disobeyed her and insisted they go. None of them did. Instead, they huddled close enough to one another in order to have protection, but not close enough to make it so obvious.
  Ellen took a deep breath as she made her way towards the garage door. She prayed with every ounce of her being that everything would be alright. She would be able to find help and not have to worry about her kids or her own safety.
  "Hello?" she asked with a shaky voice. "Anyone  here?"
  She listened and still only heard the radio playing in the background. She thought for sure if her heart pounded any louder her kids would think it was drums playing on the radio.
  "Ma'am?" a man’s voice spoke out of nowhere coming from the left side of her.
  Ellen jumped at his unexpected voice. . She couldn't help but to stare at the man as he walked closer to her. He looked nothing like what she had pictured in her mind.
  He was a man who nearly a foot taller than she was. Ellen could tell he was well built just by the way he carried himself. She thought to herself how much he could use a shower at that very moment. He was completely covered in grease, dirt and God only knew what else.
  It wasn't until he removed his hat to wipe the sweat from his brow on his shirt sleeve did she realize he had light reddish blonde hair.
  "Ma'am?" he repeated.
  "I'm sorry," she said quickly directing her attention back to the man. "I'm having car trouble and I was wondering if you would be able to help me?"
  Ellen could hear the desperation in her own voice. She tried with every ounce of energy to stay brave in front of the stranger. At that moment she felt like she could break down and cry.
  "What kind of trouble are you having?" he asked replacing his dusty cap back on his head.
 Ellen pointed over her shoulder out the window towards the Blazer where her kids were still waiting. It was like a flood of emotions with tears flowing down her cheeks. She rambled on quickly about everything that had happened to her. She seemed not to be able to stop herself.
  After her emotional babbling, she realized what she had said. She was so embarrassed, but the man stared at her with a startled look on his face.