by R E Swirsky
***
Michelle deposited the first armload of camping supplies on the kitchen counter and popped her head into the front room. Michael was seated on the couch with his knees pulled up to his chest. His face was buried in his hands and both were turned away into the back of the couch. He made no effort to acknowledge her.
“Michael? What’s wrong?”
He shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. She moved quickly across the room and placed one hand gently on his shoulder.
“Whatever it is, it’s going to be okay.”
He shook his head violently and wiped away at his eyes with one hand. He breathed in deeply and shuttered as he exhaled. “No it’s not,” he whispered in a raspy voice.
“I’m sure it can’t be that bad. Tell me what’s wrong,” she said and sat down on the edge of the seat cushion.
He shuddered again, pulled his face away from the back of the couch, and turned to her. His pout was heavy and his eyes deep red. He had been crying.
“Oh, Michael,” she said. She pushed his feet down to the floor and pulled him forward against her breast. He didn’t resist. She could feel that he was ready to break loose in tears at any moment.
She rocked him gently and didn’t push him for words. Seeing him like this was heart wrenching.
“What’s her name?” she asked. Only a girl could cause such grief.
He pushed himself away and looked up at her. “What?”
“Her name. What’s the girl’s name?”
A frown crossed his face and he glanced at her briefly with what was clearly annoyance before he stared out across the room towards the kitchen. “Where’s Dad?” He sniffled again and wiped his nose across his sleeve.
Michelle reached over to the end table to the box of tissues and offered it to him. “Here,” she said.
“Thanks,” he mumbled as he pulled out a tissue. His voice was quiet and splintered. “But where’s Dad? I really need to talk to him.”
“He’s unhooking the trailer.”
Michael stared out towards the back of the house and rubbed his nose into the tissue. Michelle could tell he would have preferred to use his sleeve. His eyes blinked rapidly as he waited for his father. She couldn’t stand it any longer. “I’ll go get him,” she said. “You just stay here and I’ll be back with him in a minute.”
He nodded at her blankly.
A few minutes passed before Richard appeared in the doorway with Michelle in tow.
“What’s this all about?” he said. His mouthed dropped open as he saw the state Michael was in. “Michael.…”
Michael couldn’t hold back his anxiety any longer and the tears broke loose once again. He wiped at his eyes. “It’s Lucy, Dad. They’ve taken her.” His voice was weak.
“Who’s taken her? I thought you two were supposed to be on a plane this afternoon.”
Michael choked up and struggled for breath. “We were.…” He shook his head. “I don’t know, Johnny.…” He stumbled over his words. “Shut up…some guys took her, Dad. She’s been kidnapped.”
Richard wanted to laugh. “Kidnapped? Seriously?”
