The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850, 71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
tjournal@alltel.net

     Help us write the “Great American Novel” ... or at least have a lot of fun trying! Our “Fiction Project” is to create a novel (or at least a short story) utilizing the talents of visitors to this web site. All submissions become property of Harris Publications, Inc.
     The first sentence of the story is below. You may submit suggestions of up to three sentences for what should happen next. Email your suggestions to us at fictionproject@tjournal.com and include “Fiction Project” in the subject line.

     You may include your name, hometown and telephone number in your email if you’d like, but it is not required. Your personal information will not be shared with anyone. It will only possibly be used to thank you, acknowledge your contribution, or update you on the status of the project. Have Fun! (We’ll try to update this page each Friday, so check back to see if your suggestion made it.)

    Note: Each new submission is marked by a change in color.

     The buck lifted its head from the dew drenched grass it was sampling and cocked its head into the wind. Bubba was slowly turning his head to get a better look, but froze when he saw the deer move. He wondered if the buck was smelling the doe scent he’d put at the bottom of his stand or if he shouldn’t have used that dang perfume-smelling soap his wife had bought.
     He kept his eyes on the deer, but the thought of Misty brought his mind back to the mess they were in. Bubba had thought that getting out in the woods would help, but here he was working it all over again in his head.
     He thought he knew his wife, heck, they had been married 12 years. They had the kids. They had been through rough times together, but this was different. Misty was different. She even looked different. She spent hours putting on her makeup and dressing - changing outfits like a teenager. She quit bringing him his Bud’s. And then there was the Mustang.
     He’d taken a big risk getting that Mustang for her. He knew they really couldn’t afford it, but he thought it might make things better. Instead things just got worse.
     The sudden movement of the buck brought Bubba back to reality. He watched as a plump doe sauntered into the meadow. She cautiously glanced around before exposing her swollen belly. Try as he might, the buck couldn’t get her attention.
   Bubba knew just how the buck felt. Seems Misty wouldn’t pay him any attention either. The deer are startled and Bubba looks up to see that another buck has entered the field.
     Bubba would never get it, bless his heart, but the pregnant doe had a message he should listen to. The second buck in the clearing should have made him think of himself, sniffing around every time Misty left in the Mustang and came back with another shopping bag from Macy’s at the Columbus Mall. But since Bubba would always be Bubba, he got off a perfect shot, brought down the buck, scared the doe into premature labor, and wound up with a new set of antlers over the fireplace in the doublewide.
     Now, as Bubba sat on the bed trying to unravel the dream he'd just had, he glanced over to see that Misty wasn't there.  Where could she be this time of night?  He looked everywhere, but she wasn't there.  He looked outside and the Mustang was not under the carport! Bubba sat there the rest of the night, waiting for Misty to come home. And while he waited, he struggled with the reality that there was something dreadfully wrong between he and Misty.
     Bubba's relief when the telephone repairman knocked on the door at 8 a.m., quickly turned to panic. All night he had waited for her to call and now realized that the phone had been out. No matter what, Bubba found it hard to believe that Misty would just up and leave without leaving him a note or calling. Now, knowing the phones hadn't been working, his mind stated to race. Had there been an accident? Lord knows she drove that mustang to fast! Was she at a friend's? Had car trouble? Been abducted? If only he had bought a cell phone like Misty had begged.
     Bubba knew one thing. He wasn't going to sit around anymore. He would call the sheriff, to devil with having to explain to that old coot he had misplaced his wife.
     Sheriff Shone Tandee had been the sheriff for as long as anyone could remember. He was a good man and a good friend to Bubba.
     “What’s going on, Bubba?” he asked.
     “I don’t know, Shone. I woke up and Misty was gone and she hasn’t come home yet. She hasn’t even called. It’s not like her! Where in the %&#@ could she be?” Bubba asked in an exasperated voice.
     The sheriff listened to Bubba’s saga. He hung his head and thought for a moment before he said, “I can’t file a missing persons report yet, Bubba. And I really don’t think there’s anything wrong. Bubba, I think you need to face reality. Misty might have decided it was time to leave.  I’ll check around and see what I can find out and I’ll let you know. Meanwhile, call her moma and her friends. They may know where she is and why she left.”
     Bubba couldn’s believe what he was hearing. Misty would never leave him. As he picked up the phone to call her best friend, Jamie, his mind was racing with all kinds of questions. What could he have possibly done to make her leave? The sheriff had to be wrong.
     He listened as the phone rang, three times, four, five.
     "Hey, you called, leave a message" came out of the receiver in Jamie's ever too perky voice. Bubba hung up.
     "Damn machine" he mumbled. He looked at the clock. It was 10:15. "The kids," he thought. "Where are the kids?"
     When Misty hadn't come home last night, Bubba had a six-pack and a microwave burrito for dinner.  He knew Adam and Matthew had football practice and Sarah had cheerleading.  He figured Misty and the kids were late at the fields, and would eat on the way home.  That was the way it had been for years. Misty did for and with the kids, while Bubba worked to pay the bills. Sure, he went to games and banquets, but in a lot of ways he was a stranger in their world. It was not unusual for Misty and the kids to come home just in time to bathe and fall into bed. Football, baseball, cheering, softball, tennis, all the school projects. Bubba thought the kids did too much, but it did keep them and Misty out of his way so he could hunt, play pool, and hang with the guys. Just seemed the natural order of things.
     Bubba called the school. Ms. Mary, the secretary, answered in her sing-song voice, "Brown Spring's Elementary, may I help you?"
     "Ah, yeah" Bubba fumbled. "I need to know if my kids came to school today."
     About the time he said it, Bubba realized how stupid it sounded.  Oh well, he thought, let's go with the truth. "This is Michael Wolfe. My wife and kids didn't come home last night and I need to know if my kids are there."
     There, he said it. It wasn't so bad. Almost like somebody else was talking.
     "Let me see, Mr. Wolfe. You do know, however, Sarah is the only one enrolled here. Your sons attend Juniper Junior High."
     "Yeah, I know that" Bubba replied, stunned actually, because he really had no idea. "What about Sarah?"
     "Hold please, while I check that for you," she said and Ms. Mary was gone, replaced by "Dock of the Bay" on-hold music. After what seemed like an hour, Ms. Mary came back on the line. "I am going to transfer you to our principal, Mrs. Grimes. Hold please."
     Before Bubba could say anything, he was listening to music again. As Bubba started humming along, he heard Mrs. Grimes pick up.
     "Mrs. Grimes, may I help you?"
     "Yeah, ah, I am, ah, looking for my daughter, Sarah Wolfe, I am, ah, not sure why I have to talk to you," replied Bubba.
     "Mr. Wolfe, I am not sure what to say," said Mrs. Grimes and Bubba swore he heard pity in her voice.  "Your wife withdrew Sarah last Friday.  She said you were being transferred to Oklahoma to the main plant.  I was under the impression that you were moving this weekend. I'm sorry Mr. Wolfe."
     Bubba stood there with the phone in his hand, realizing he should say something. "Ah, yeah, ah, bye" and he hung up. He thought about calling the boys' school, but he just could not bear to hear those same words again. Withdrew, gone, transferred, moving. What was going on?
     Bubba walked over to the sink and looked out the window.  Everything looked normal. The bikes, the trampoline, the pool, the toys, even Reb, Red and Georgia Girl, the kids' dogs were stretched out, asleep in the sun. The birdfeeders were full, the grass cut, and the trash bins empty.  It seemed like any other day, but it wasn't.  Bubba had a feeling it would be a long time before it would ever be a normal day again.
     Bubba realized what day it was. October 28, Fifteen years from the day they met. How could he not have realized it before? Misty always made a big deal out of Oct 28, more so than their real anniversary. Now that he realized it, he realized something else, Misty hadn't said a word. She was usually as excited as the kids this time of year.
     The phone ringing brought Bubba back to reality. He looked at the clock and saw it was 2:00. How long had he been standing there? Grabbing up the phone, Bubba croaked "Hello,"damn his throat was dry.
     "Hey Bub, how 'bout going out in the woods to play?" said Rick. He and Bubba were both off for the week and had planned on doing some hunting and catching up. They had been friends since grammer school, but with their own lives didn't spend much time doing guy things anymore. Rick had married,and had two boys. They didn't see each other much, except at work.
   Bubba wasn't sure he could talk. " Hey man, no, I don't think I can go hunting today." Bubba answered, amazed at how strange his own voice sounded.
     "What's wrong man? You sound like crap," Rick replied, actually feeling scared for Bubba. He had never heard him sound like that.
   It was then that Bubba realized he was crying. He felt the wet on his face, and realized he had been crying for a long time.
   "Man, Rick, uh, I am not sure what is happening. She's gone. Took the kids and left. Gone. Nothing. No note, nothing." Bubba heard himself talking, but it seemed like someone else. Even hearing his words, they still seemed unbelievable.
     "What do you mean gone?" asked Rick. Misty had done some wild and strange things, but nothing like this. To take his kids. To leave. Poor Bubba. Rick could not imagine what it would be like if his wife took their boys and left. Rick knew if anything, Bubba loved his kids. They had been his world since high school. He would work as much overtime as he could every week and if you asked him why, Bubba would tell you about the things he wanted for the kids. Adam had turned 13 the past spring, and Bubba was wanting to get a truck for he and Adam to "fix up" for when he was ready to drive. Matthew had just completed his hunter's course, and was looking forward to spending time with his dad in the woods. And Sarah, well, she was the apple of Bubba's eye. He talked about that girl all the time.
     " I don't know man. She didn't come home last night. I just thought they were at a game or something, but then she wasn't here this morning when I woke up. I called the school, and they told me she had withdrawn the kids. Said we were moving to Oklahoma. What the $&!! Is going on!" Bubba stopped and took a deep breath. This just couldn't be real!
   "Have you called anybody?" asked Rick. He was beginning to get a really bad feeling. Misty would never just leave. Sure, she had been acting kind of strange lately, but everyone figured she was just trying to recapture what she lost by having kids so early, but her and Bubba had always had a good marriage. Heck, he even bought her that dang car. Rick thought Bubba had lost his mind, but then Bubba had never been able to tell Misty no.
     "Yeah, I called our sheriff, but he is as useless as a bikini in a snow storm. Says he can't file a missing person's report yet. Heck he even said she might have decided to leave. What does that mean Rick? I called back and talked to Darryll, and he is supposed to come out, but I'm not sure what to do or to tell him.  Why would Misty take the kids & just leave?" Bubba heard the panic in his own voice. "I mean, things been different lately, but I thought we were still good. I just thought she needed a little time to get being a kid out of her system. I thought we were good. We just talked about taking the kids to Florida for Thanksgiving. Just going down and hanging out with the kids. 'Time to reconnect' she called it."
     Bubba stopped. He heard something at the back door. He dropped the phone and ran to the door, pulled it open, and there stood Reb and Red. Georgia Girl was still laying out in the yard. Reb barked, and trotted over to his bowl. Obviously, the kids had not fed the dogs this morning.
     Rick heard the phone drop and shouted out to Bubba. After a few minutes Bubba came back on the line. "It's just the dogs. They wanna eat. I gotta go Rick. I'll call ya'."
   "No, Bub!" said Rick, but it was too late, Bubba had hung up.
   Rick went out, got in his Jeep Cherokee, and drove the 12 miles to Bubba's house in record time.
     Rick’s jeep came sliding to a stop almost at the front steps. He went running to the door and almost knocked Bubba down trying to get inside.
     “What the heck are ya’ doing Rick?”
     “Well, when you dropped the phone, I got worried and decided I’d better get over here and fast!” Rick said, talking so fast and loud Bubba could hardly stand it.
     “I’m fine,” he replied. “But it’s good to have the company. Where do you think I went wrong? What do you think’s happened?”
     Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Bubba opened it to find Shone, the sheriff, standing there. He was covered in mud from head to toe and his face was grim.
     “Glad you’re here, Rick. Y’all come on and follow me.”
     “What is it, Shone? Tell me,” Bubba pleaded. “I can’t take much more of this.”
     Shone turned to him and without missing a beat said, “We found the car out on Mill Pond Road, filled with mud and water and ...” he stopped. “Well, let’s just say there’s a lot of questions we gotta try to answer. Now come on down to the station and we’ll see if we can figure things out.”
     Mill Pond Road was a quiet little dirt road on the north end of the county. Folks used to go there swimming and fishing. A long time ago they say folks used to make moonshine runs up and down the road from stills to the pond. Now everybody’s talking about Misty’s car being in the pond and where was she? Had she been in the car? Had she drowned? And what about the kids? The rumors were spreading fast around Shelley County.
   Rick drove Bubba to the Sheriff's Office, and even though it was only a ten-minute ride, it seemed to last forever. They had been friends since grammar school, stood up for each other at their weddings, been there for the birth of children, yet Rick felt as if he suddenly knew nothing about Bubba. When they pulled up in front of the station, they both just sat in the silence for what seemed like forever. Bubba broke the silence, "Guess I should go in and see what they got to say." He and Rick got out of the Jeep, and walked up to the front door.
   Once inside, the sheriff's wife, Judy, took Bubba and Rick back to Shone's private office. "He'll be right here" she said. "Can I get you some coffee or something?" 
     "No thanks, Miss Judy", answered Bubba and Rick in unison. They both stood, looking around the room, waiting on Shone.
   "How can this be happening Rick?" Bubba asked. "Hell, we been together since high school. Why would she just disappear? We weren't even fighting. If she was mad about something, she would just lock me out and make me sleep in the camper for two or three days. How can she and three kids just disappear? How long has she been planning this?  What are the kids thinking?"
     Rick was actually glad Bubba was sort of rambling, because he had no kind of answer. All he could think was how he would feel if Missy and the boys were missing.
     Shone came through the door and Bubba and Rick both looked at him, half-expecting him to say this was all some kind of bad mistake. 
     "Bub, we found the car in the pond. It wasn't completely underwater, but looked more like it was left in drive and rolled down bank. If anybody was in it, they could have climbed out the windows." 
     Shone stopped for a minute to let Bubba digest what he had just told him. Bubba just stared at Shone like he was speaking a foreign language.
   "When is the last time you talked to her Bubba?" asked Shone.
   Bubba had to think for a minute. This day had been like a dream since he got up this morning.
     "Yesterday morning before work" answered Bubba. "We had breakfast with the kids.  Adam had a math test. Matt wanted to try out his new bow, and Sarah and Misty were arguing over the shirt Sarah wanted to wear to school. We all left the house at 7:30, like usual. I just thought Misty and the kids were somewhere, playing something last night, but like I told you, she never came home. I called the school this morning, and they say she checked the kids out, told them we were moving!  What the hell is going on Shone?  Where are my wife and kids?"
     Bubba realized he was shouting. He took a deep breath to calm himself, walked over to the window and stared out. It was now 3:15, the kids would just be getting out of school.
     Rick wasn't sure if it was just him, or if Bubba noticed, but Shone seemed awful calm to have a woman and three children missing. Rick dismissed the thought, thinking that probably Shone was being calm to help keep Bubba calm.
   Shone spoke up, " Bubba, you gotta get a hold of Misty's momma before she hears the rumor mill. You don't want her to find out like that."
     "Yeah, you're right. Guess I can't do much standing here, but keep you from going out looking for Misty and the kids."
   "I'll call you soon as we know something. You got a cell?" asked Shone. 
     "Hell no," Bubba said. "Misty's been after me, but I never saw much sense. I wish now we would've got 'em."
   Rick spoke up, "Call me on mine Shone. It's 555-4406. I'll take Bub over to Misty's mom's, and then we'll go down to the pond see if we can find anything."
     "That's a plan," Shone answered. "Walter Caulder pulled it out, but I had him leave it at the scene till we could get a good look inside, and we can't do that till the mud drains out. You would know what her and the kids had in the car, Bub, so if you can look it over good, and let me know what is missing."
     Shone Tandee watched as Bubba and Rick drove off. He leaned back against the building and lit up a cigarette. A part of him felt really bad for Bubba. They had all been friends since they were kids. Shelley County was a small county -- folks were close, and most took care of each other, shared each other's joys and losses. Something like this was bound to upset a lot of folks.  With Misty and the kids just up and disappearing, but it seemed like a planned escape. Shone chuckled to himself, the rumors were gonna fly with this one.  Shone's wife came around the corner just then, and caught him taking one last drag of his cigarette.
   "Doc Tucker says those things will kill you. I thought you quit," she said, with utter contempt in her voice.
     "What the hell, woman?" Shone responded. "If not these, the air I breathe, or the food I eat, you're sure to be the death of me." 
     "Tempting offer, but your retirement is a lot more that your social security, and I ain't put in 20 years with you for chicken feed," Judy answered. 
     "Whatch'a want me to do about a missing report on Misty and the kids?" Judy asked.
     Shone took the last drag of his cigarette, ground it out under his boot heel, looked at his wife, and said "Misty's probably just trying to get Bub's attention. Rolled her Mustang in the pond, probably rented a car, and took the kids off for a few days. I'm gonna go ride around, see if I can talk to some of her and Bub's friends. I'm sure somebody knows something. They will turn up and Misty will get Bub to buy her a new car!"
     "Whatever," Judy answered. "You're the sheriff, or so the bought votes say!"
     Shone stared at his wife and thought how marrying the ex-sheriff's duaghter just to get the job almost wasn't worth the misery. 
     "Yeah, whatever." Shone answered and headed toward his patrol car. Judy went back inside the station and when Shone saw she was well inside the building he took out his cell phone and dialed a number.
     "Hey baby, how y'all doing?" he asked into the phone.
     Meanwhile, Rick and Bubba were headed over to Misty's mom's place.  Bubba wondered if she knew anything was going on. Did she know where Misty had gone? When they arrived, Bubba just sat there in the jeep, staring at the house he'd considered the safest place in the world, home. Misty's mom came out on the porch looking to see who the dogs were barking at. 
     "Rick? Bubba, is that you?" she hollered across the yard.
     "Yes, Maw. It's me."
     "Well get on over here and give me a hug -- ain't seen you since last week."
   Bubba hugged his mother-in-law and started to cry. She obviously didn't yet know about anything that had happened.
     "Bubba, what is it? What's wrong, honey? Why are you crying?"
   "It's Misty, Maw."
     "Misty, why what's happened.  Is she hurt? Where are the kids?"
     Maw was full of questions.  Then she paused.  "She went and did it, didn't she? She's left you hasn't she?  She said she was gonna do it, but I didn't believe her! Oh Bubba, I'm sorry.  I should have said something to you. I should have told you what she was planning."
     In disbelief, Bubba just sat there and stared at his mother-in-law. What was she saying? Did she know that this was going to happen all along?  Bubba got angry, he grabbed Maw and started to shake her and push her around, all the while screaming at her. "You knew! You knew this was going to happen! Where is she? Where are my kids? Start talking, before I..."
     Rick grabbed Bubba by the arm, "Bubba, back off.  Calm down."
     Bubba snatched away from Rick, his eyes wild.
     "Bubba, I'm only going to tell you once.  Go walk it off and when you think you can sit down and listen to what Maw's got to say, you come on back."   Rick had only seen Bubba that way once before and it scared him.  He watched as Bubba tried to understand what he was saying and before he knew what happened Bubba was on him.  Rick finally hit Bubba square in the jaw and laid him out on the ground.  He looked at Maw. Maw looked at Bubba and then back at Rick.
     "Lord have mercy on us all. What has Misty done?" Maw said softly.
"Damn," said Rick, last thing he had wanted was to have to hit Bubba, but Rick knew that crazed look in Bubba's eyes, and it scared him.
     "I'll go get a wet rag," said Maw. She walked across the yard to the house, wondering what was going through that girl's head. Yeah, Misty had been talking a lot lately, but Maw thought that was all it was. Just talk. Now she knew different, and it gave her a cold chill. She looked back at Bubba laying in the yard, and asked, "Rick, is he okay?"
   "Yeah", answered Rick. "Go get him a cold rag, and probably a cold beer, too."
     Maw went in the house and Rick looked at Bubba. His head shook back and forth and he called out her name, "Misty, please come back, Misty," and even knocked-out Bubba had tears running down his face.
     Bubba knew Rick had decked him, but his conscious mind was having problems processing that, probably because he was about unconscious. But was he really, or was he back in time ? Back to a better time...........
     It was fall, 1990. October 28th, 1990 to be precise. Bubba was a junior in high school and feeling on top of the world. Having paid his dues as an "underclassman," he was now coming into what he thought to be the greatest time in his life. He had a truck, extra cash in his pocket, a great parking space at school, and most important, he was starting first baseman on the varsity team. Life was good.
   Bubba picked up his best friend and teammate Richard "Rick" Thomas at 6:00. They were going to go by "The Burger Shack," grab a bite to eat and go to the homecoming game. The dance was tomorrow and Bubba and Rick were going, even though neither of them had a date. Seemed the girls this year were all stuck up and preppy. Most of them had known each other since kindergarten, but it seemed everybody was changing. While they were eating their burgers, and drinking chocolate shakes, Bubba asked Rick if he noticed how everyone was seeming to change, drift apart from the old crowds.
     "Yeah, Bub", Rick said in between bites, "Lots of things are changing, 'cept you and me Buddy, we'll always be the same !"
     "Yeah, Buddy," agreed Bubba, not knowing how life could be any better than it was right then.
     Bubba and Rick got to the game as they were introducing the cheerleaders. He stopped, smiled, waved and blew a kiss to Missy Thorne. They had dated through freshman and sophomore year, but broke up over the summer. Now Missy was seen hanging on the arm of the star running back, Randall Lake. Even Bubba had to admit they made a cute couple.
     "Hey Bubba", cooed Mandy Burke. She had been after Bubba since he and Missy split, but then Mandy was after anybody.
     "Hey Mandy, where is everybody?" Bubba asked, moving out of her reach. He wasn't in the mood to have Mandy hanging all over him tonight. She must have sensed it, because she flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder, pointed up to the top of the bleachers and walked away.
     "See ya' later, gater" Bubba called after her.
     "Not likely!" Mandy shouted back, not even turning around.
     That's good thought Bubba, as he headed for the concession stand. After getting a bag of boiled peanuts and a Pepsi, Bubba climbed up to the top of the bleachers where "the gang" was. Tonight's gang consisted mostly of the baseball team, as the girls were either away at a softball tournament or down on the field cheering. As Bubba was checking everyone out, nodding and smiling with an occasional "Was' up?", when he noticed a new face. Her long black hair is what first caught Bubba's attention, and then those eyes. The bluest eyes Bubba had ever seen.
     "Was' up Bub?" said Mark Burke. He was Mandy's brother, and a heck of a shortstop. You didn't get too many past Mark. He has been MVP almost every year since third grade.
     "Not much man," Bubba replied, still staring at those blue eyes. Bubba caught himself walking towards her. She was sitting with Tyler Ellis, one of Bubba's best friends and the pitcher of the ball team.
     "Hey Ty," Bubba said, "you gonna introduce me to your friend?" realizing how desperate that must have sounded. For all he knew this girl was with Ty, maybe someone he had met from Columbus or Americus. Oh man, thought Bubba, Ty is going to hate me.
     "Hey Bub, how ya' doing dude?" said Tyler, "This is my cousin, Misty. Her and my Aunt Di just moved up here this week. Misty will be starting school here Monday. She's just a lowly freshmeat, so try to be kind!" laughed Tyler.
     Bubba never heard anything past "Misty." He was lost in those blue eyes. Life had never been better than at that moment. Fall, October 28, 1990.
     By the time the football game was over, Bubba had a date for the dance. Even promising a dress and shoes, compliments of his older sister, Tabby. He followed Ty and Misty back to Ty's house, and he and Misty sat out in the porch swing, talking, laughing, whispering, kissing and for Bubba, falling in what was surely love, until 5:00 in the morning, when Mrs. Ellis sternly suggested it was time for Bubba to go home.
     The next morning, Bubba was up early, knocking on his sister's bedroom door. Tabitha, 19, was a freshman at the local college. This was the first time she and Bubba were not in school together, and she sort' a missed the little guy.
     "Whatch'a want brat !" Tabby yelled through the door.
     "Come on Tab, I need a big favor" Bubba answered, and Tabby heard the sincerity in his voice.
     "Enter" joked Tabby "For what do you come to the older, wiser sister for, oh little bro?"
     Bubba explained to Tabby about Misty, and her blue eyes and how he wanted to take her to the dance -- and her blue eyes. How she needed a dress -- and her blue eyes -- and it would really mean so much to him -- and her blue eyes.
     Tabby laughed, "Bub, you got it bad, but I do believe I can help you and her blue eyes out!"
     She looked in her closet, and came up with the dress she had wore to her own freshman homecoming. It was long, backless, slit high on the left hip, light sparkles and it was blue!
     Bubba took the dress and shoes over to Misty by 10:00, still not really believing this beautiful girl would be with him. Around lunch Bubba ran into Rick up town at the gas station.
   "Hey Bub, what time you want me to pick you up?" Rick asked.
   "Well, about that Rick, I sort' a' got a date," answered Bubba "A date? Who in the world would you rather spend the evening with besides me?" Rick asked, half joking, half serious.
     "Well, it's Ty's cousin, Misty, she just moved here, and ah, well, you know man." Bubba was trying really hard not to start telling Rick about her blue eyes.
   "Oh, well, guess I'll see you there, Bub. I'll be the one in the stag line!" Rick joked, but Bubba could tell his feelings were hurt.
     "Yeah, guess I'll see ya'" said Bubba, and he drove off towards the florist, wondering what kind of flowers would go with those blue eyes.
   ... Fall, October 28, 1991 and Bubba was a senior in high school, and feeling the world was on top of him. Pregnant, how could she be pregnant? Sure, they had been inseparable since last homecoming, and the summer had been too hot, and too short, but they had been careful. So careful. Not careful enough, obviously. She was pregnant.
   ... Late Spring, May 23, 1992. Bubba's graduation day. After the ceremony and pictures, after the hugs and the tears, the senior class left for a week at the beach. Bubba waved good-bye to everyone as they caravanned off from the gas station up town, then he got back in the truck next to Misty. Even at nine months pregnant, she was beautiful, and he swore her eyes were even bluer.
   "You hungry?" he asked.
     "Always" she joked. Her water broke in The Burger Shack. Adam Jacob Wolfe was born at 11:47 p.m., on the day his daddy graduated from high school. He looked just like Bubba, except for the eyes. Those blue eyes.
     Misty's momma wouldn't let her get married, but agreed Bubba needed to help Misty take care of Adam. Bubba was able to get them a small trailer, close enough that Misty could go to school. It was real important to her momma that she graduated high school. Life was good. Bubba worked at the lumberyard, and spent his evenings with Misty and Adam. Family life was good. Around late November, Bubba felt Misty was hiding something.
   "Must be a good present," he said to Rick, during one of their few hunting trips.
     "Yeah, probably," said Rick, "What'cha getting her?"
   Rick was just making conversation. Things between him and Bubba had taken a turn ever since he met Misty. Rick just couldn't understand how Bubba could be happy, working all day, changing diapers all night, and a girlfriend still in high school. Things sure had changed. Bubba speaking broke Rick's train of thought.
     "I bought her an engagement ring. Took a while to save up the money, what with rent, diapers, bills, but I pulled it off. She is so going to flip!"
     Bubba was excited, but Rick just couldn't understand. Just then Rick caught the doe in his sight, and fired. Down she went.
     ... Christmas morning 1992, Adam's first Christmas, Bubba staring out the window, Misty on the couch, tears in her eyes. Yeah, she had a good Christmas present for Bubba. Again, they were not careful. Noah Matthew Wolfe was born August 4, 1993. Matt looked like a carbon copy of Adam, including a small birthmark on his left side -- and his momma's blue eyes.  Misty started her senior year on August 25. She turned 18 on October 22, and her and Bubba were married, in a small ceremony, at the Little Log Chapel, on Saturday, October 25th, 1993. When she graduated in May of 1994, Bubba and Adam cheered. Matthew cried.
     Life was good. Hard, but good. Misty went to work at the insurance company after high school. Bubba got a promotion at the lumberyard. They bought a double-wide and 15 acres. For their fifth anniversary, Misty had another present for Bubba. Their good luck had run short. Born eight weeks early, but surprisingly healthy, weighing in at 4 lbs 15 oz, Sarah Rebekka Wolfe came into the world on March 15, 1999. Once again Bubba stood by Misty's side, and looked into those eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes, that now also belonged to his daughter.......
     "Bubba, Bubba," it was Maw's voice, but it sounded so far away, "Come on boy, you ain't doing us no good lying there on the ground."
     Her voice was louder now, and slowly Bubba opened his eyes. How long had he been there? Had he really been there, or in that place he had just come from. It had seemed so real, not like memories, but like living the times all over again.
   "Yeah Maw, I'm fine, sorry 'bout losing it on ya'll like that," said Bubba. "Talk to me Maw, tell me what she told you."
   Maw looked at Bubba, and thought about how good he had been to Misty and the kids, for all these years. Where should she begin? How many of her daughter's secrets should she reveal? How much could Bubba actually handle?
     By the time Maw told Bubba about as much as she thought he could handle, word had spread around the county, and Maw's phone was ringing off the hook. People started pulling up in the yard, having heard that was where Bubba was. As soon as she got off work at the primary school where she teaches first grade, Bubba's sister Tabby went straight to her brother's side.
     By the time Tabby got there, Bubba was ready to go see the car. He, Rick and Tab loaded up in the Jeep and headed down to Mill Pond. When they got there, they sat in the car for what seemed like a long time, looking at the Mustang sitting there with the yellow crime tape around it.
     Bubba finally spoke up "None of this seems real Tab, how can this be happening?"
     "I don't know Bub," answered Tabby and for the first time in her life she was actually at a total loss for words.
     Bubba, Tabby and Rick got out and looked in the car. Everything looked normal, or as normal as it could look filled with mud and water. This was Misty's car, and she kept it neat as a pin. The kids were allowed to haul sport bags in the trunk, only. And never any food or drink. Usually she drove the Explorer with the kids. Bubba looked in the car - nothing. He reached in and pulled the latch to pop the truck and walked around to the back of the car ...     As the three of them walked towards the rear of the Mustang, Bubba was carefully inspecting the outside of the auto for any signs of damage.  There appeared to be none.  That seemed strange.  Shouldn't there be dents or scrapes on the vehicle if it had plunged into the water? As far as he could tell, the car frame was relatively smooth and unscathed except for the tons of mud inside as well as out.
     Tabitha reached the trunk first and pulled it open as far as it would go. When the two men reached the trunk they all started methodically looking for any type of evidence that would explain Misty's disappearance along with his kids.
     Clearly Sheriff Tandee and his staff had been there and done their job. They could see the telltale signs of the mud having been scraped out of the trunk.  Evidently, the investigating team had used some type of tool that left marks resembling a fine-toothed rake to sift through the mud.
     As the three again searched the trunk in the hopes of unearthing evidence that had been missed by Sheriff Tandee and his crew, a glint of something shiny towards the rear of the trunk caught Rick's eye. He reached back and pulled the fabric away from the side, rear of the trunk and pulled out part of a gold chain with the hasp still attached. 
     "Now I wonder how Sheriff Tandee missed this little trinket," said Rick as he presented his findings to Tabitha and Bubba.
     On the underside of the hasp were the initials "JT". It was anyone's guess as to where the remainder of the jewelry was.  Apparently the fabric caught the jewelry and broke it leaving only the part Rick had found inside of the fabric of the trunk.  Bubba looked it over and turned to Rick and Tabitha and said, "It doesn't look like anything that Misty ever wore. And anyway, those aren't Misty's initials."
     The three finished the rest of the search of the car but found nothing more. Finally, grimy, exhausted and frustrated, they closed the doors and trunk and waited for the tow truck that the sheriff had dispatched to come and take the car back to the town's auto compound.  They didn't have to wait long as they soon heard the grunting and groaning of Grey Myer's old and battered tow truck coming around the bend. Grey was the only "game" in town when it came to tow services. He painstakingly hooked the mustang onto the flatbed of his old Ford.  Soon the Mustang and the truck were a dot in the distance as they headed back to town.
     After the tow truck left, the three of them got back in the Jeep to return back to town and bring the piece of jewelry they had found back to the Sheriff. Hopefully, it would be valuable evidence.  Even if it wasn't of any value, the trio wanted to feel as though they had done something worthwhile to contribute to the mysterious disappearance of Bubba's wife and kids.
     Little was said by the three as they road together each of them lost in thought as to whom the jewelry could belong.  Could this be a link in the disappearance of Misty and their kids?  Or could it be some trinket one of the kids had left in the car? Then again, maybe it was nothing important. Well, they would find out soon enough as they pulled into town and headed for the Sheriff's Office.  They were lucky to find a parking spot directly in front of the 1950's brick building that housed the sheriff and the local lock-up.
     Once parked, all three ambled up to the Sheriff's Office. Fortunately, he was still in the office as it was only mid-afternoon. They asked the secretary, Jennifer Thalia Odums, if they could speak with the sheriff.  She eyed them appraisingly and said she would tell Sheriff Tandee that they were there.
     As she slowly walked away, Tabitha looked at Bubba and asked him, "What is Jenny T's (her nickname) problem?  She sure acted as though she hadn't known us all her life. You would've thought we had asked for an audience with the Pope." 
     Bubba just shrugged his shoulders.  He had more important things on his mind and Jenny T's lack of manners was not one of them.
     Seconds later, the trio was ushered into Sheriff Tandee's spacious office where he was having his afternoon coffee ..........
     Misty's momma was known all over the county as Maw-Maw Di. She had cleaned houses and helped folks raise their kids in the 15 years she and Misty had been in town. Except for the ladies at the bank and the local grocer, not many folks knew her full name, or even where she had come from 15 years earlier. Maw Maw Di, (Tyler Diane) Barlowe, 45, mother of two, grandmother of five, the housecleaning/babysitting/stand-in (grand)parent lady. She had never had any reason to draw attention to herself, as she raised Misty, and her little sister Autumn.
     She had ended up in Shelly County after leaving the girls' abusive father all those years before. Her sister, Debbie, had married a guy from here, Russell John Ellis, and had John Tyler and Amber Marie. Amber and Misty were the same age, and Ty had been like a big brother to the girls. All she had wanted was a safe place to raise the girls, away from all the horrors her exhusband had put them through. She thought things had turned out pretty well. She made enough to be comfortable, and considering what they went through for the first 12 & 15 years of their lives, the girls had turned out well. Sure, Misty started to have babies quick and young, but she was made for the role. Autumn had finished school, went to a two-year college, married her high school sweetheart, and had two little girls. Her and her husband Mark Burke ran a little grocery store out on the highway. It had been years since she had thought about Jared Barlowe. He had finally left her and the girls alone when she moved here. Di had a feeling her brother-in-law and some of his friends had something to do with that, but she had never asked, because she really didn't want to know, really didn't care. All she cared about was he was gone, and her girls were finally safe.
   Maw Maw Di shook her head to clear her thoughts. She had to focus. Thinking about all that mess, all those years ago, wasn't gonna help Misty, or the kids. She was standing in her room and could hear the voices of the search party that was starting to form out in the living room. She could hear her nephew, Tyler, barking orders, telling folks what to do, and knowing Tyler and the county folk, they were jumping at his orders. Di looked in the mirror, wiped the tears from her face, and went out the bedroom door.
     As she was stepping in the hall, the phone rang, Tyler snatched it up on the second ring, "Ty Ellis here, talk to me," he said in his way that made you do what he said. It was Bubba, asking how Di was and letting them know that they hadn't found anything at the car. He, Rick and Tab were on the way to the Sheriff's Office, and would be back at Di's to help organize some kind of search party as soon as possible.
     "OK, Bubba, I'll let everyone know what's going on and get things started on this end," Ty said.
     "Thanks," said Bubba. "Let me run talk to Sheriff and I'll see you soon."
   Di looked at the clock as she walked in the living room, 4:45, seemed like a week had passed since Rick and Bubba had first got here with the news. Di knew with all her heart Misty would never let anything happen to those kids. Heck even with all the crazy things she had been saying lately, which right about now Di really wished she had listened more to, Misty was not the type of mother to harm or endanger her children.
   Sheriff Tandee pretty much just blew the chain off.
   "Heck Bubba, if it was up under the trunk carpet, it could have been there when you bought it, was a year or so old, wasn't it?" and Bubba accepted the answer as fairly reasonable, after all, it did not look like anything he had ever seen Misty have.
   "I am going to go ahead and call up to the GBI in Atlanta and report this," said Sheriff, "but honestly Bubba, I know this is downright weird, but I just got a feeling she is going to show up. You sure you didn't do any thing to make her really mad?"
   Bubba swore he heard a mocking tone in the Sheriff's voice, but he just wanted out of this office, and out where he felt he was doing something, anything but standing here.
     "Yeah, ok, you get your ball rolling. I'm going by the house to check out things and then you can reach me at Di's," and Bubba turned and went toward the door.
     "You got my cell too, Sheriff" said Rick, and he was right on Bubba's heels.
     "You know how to get me, momma, whoever," said Tabby, looking straight into the sheriff's eyes. "Call us the second you know what the GBI is planning to do!"
     "Yeah, sure thing Tab, but like I told Bubba, I just think Misty is just acting out some soap opera drama to get Bubba's attention, maybe even make him look like a fool. Hell, who knows what goes through you girls' heads! Ya'll probably find her 'fore you hear from me."
     As soon as he finished talking he picked up his coffee cup, lit a cigarette (to heck with Judy), smiled at Tabby, and opened the paper to the sports section.
   None of them said it out loud, but Tabitha, Rick, Bubba, and very soon many others thought not only was this strange, to have a woman and three children disappear, and the sheriff seem to think she was just trying to teach her husband a lesson ... heck, even with his faults, Bubba didn't deserve this, and Misty would not drag the whole town into their problems, as she surely would have had to known disappearing would do.
   Misty felt herself coming up out of the darkness.  All she could think was how cold she was and how bad her head ached.  She felt her eyes opening, trying to focus, but everything was a blur.  Suddenly her mind snapped in to the present, and she struggled to sit up.  Every muscle in her body screamed in pain. Her head felt as if it would explode, and straightening her arms and legs felt as if the bones were breaking.  She tried to steady her legs to stand, but before she was upright she felt her head hit what she presumed to be a ceiling.  The pain sent her back to the ground, where she sat, shaking, and trying to clear her thoughts.  The last thing she remembered for sure was laughing with the kids as they jumped into the chilly water at Mill Pond.  They all wanted to get in one last swim before the pond got too cold.  It was one of those rare “summer days” in October that just made her and the kids want to go swimming after practices at the County Recreational Fields.
     Adam and Matt raced to see who would be first, as Sarah and Misty brought up the rear.  The water was cool, but not too bad.  They were laughing, splashing and just having a great time.  Misty was thinking how fast the kids were growing, and how she would miss these times, when Sarah hollered, “Momma, look, your car!”
     Misty looked up to see the Mustang rolling down the hill, into the pond, and straight at them.  She grabbed Sarah by the arm and shouted to the boys to swim to the other side of the pond.  The four of them took off and as they were swimming Misty heard the splash of the Mustang as it hit the water.
   They swam to the other side, and climbed out of the pond, and stood there looking at the car sink into the pond.  Matt broke the silence, “What happened mom, did you leave it in drive?” half joking, but as scared as a 13-year-old boy could be.
     “Yeah, I must have in all the excitement,” Misty replied, even though in her heart, she knew this was not an accident…

The calls had begun in the spring. At first, just annoying, someone hanging up whenever you answered. Then, on Easter Sunday, Misty heard a mans voice ask, “Is this Misty Jo?” No body ever used her middle name, except momma when she was very mad, “Who is this?” Misty responded, & the line went dead. It would be four weeks before she heard from the man again.

Misty remembered what it was like before momma left daddy. She, like her mother & sister was glad he went away. But, now, he was back. She wanted to tell Bubba, Lord knows she did, but he had her so scared, saying how he would hurt them…one at a time…all of them. She begged, she pleaded, she bargained. He wanted money, she went to the mall, charged things, & sold them, so she could get it, and keep it hid from Bubba. He wanted to meet the kids, she reluctantly agreed, but stood firm that he was just an “old” friend……..if the kids knew, they may not keep the secret, & he agreed, so through the summer he would “run in to “ them, at the fields, at the pond. It all seemed to be the best thing Misty thought she could do, for her children, her sister, & her momma. But then came that day in September, when he said he wanted more…..he wanted his daughters & grandchildren, he wanted to be acknowledged fro who he was.

After a month of begging, nightmares, and four very close calls to expose the truth, he made her a proposition…...he could be happy with just her, Matt, Adam, & Sarah in his life. Misty told him it would never work; he could not be a part of her life & not effect Autumn & her momma. “Not unless we go away”’ was his reply. After trying to convince him he was insane, that could never happen, he turned & looked at her, and with those blue eyes, her eyes, the children’s eyes, he said, “Well, Missy Jo, I reckon when all of them are gone, and you are all alone, then I’ll be back. I am sure you will need me then.” After that day, he made the decisions. He had Misty getting money, little by little from her & Bubba’s savings accounts, had her get the kids school records, so no one would have to request them if they were needed. She told her boss at the insurance company that her marriage was really just good looking from the outside, and she had to leave, but Bubba could not know. Her boss let her get all her 401, and credit union money. She felt so sleazy, what with all the lying, but in her heart, she believed he would bring harm to her whole family. He had done it before, all those years ago…

He told her on Thursday night, “It’s time”. She questioned him, how; when, where, how was she supposed to just disappear? “Don’t worry your pretty little head Misty Jo, you will know”…………..She had been a nervous wreck all weekend, & she should have known better, but on Monday,, October 28, 2005, (her VERY favorite day of the year), she let her guard down for just a minute, the beautiful weather, the cool pond water…nothing bad could happen, not today.

      Please, let's take the kids to the big Costume Party in Buena Vista on the Square before we leave. Please!” she said with her baby blues sparkling with tears. “We can all wear costumes and no on will know who we are.  Then we can leave for good. I won't fight you on it.  I can't get away. My car is already sunk. You took my money. You have nothing to worry about.
     He stared at her a long moment, then said “If that is what you really want, then we will go dressed as confederate soldiers and camp girls. Of course we will paint up like ghosts so no one will know us.  And when I say it is time to go, you will not give me any trouble if you value Bubba’s life.”

... What happens next? Tell us by sending an email to fictionproject@tjournal.com

Project Start Date: March 23, 2005.
Contributing Writers as May 18, 2006
Richard Harris of Buena Vista, GA
Mark Adkins of Augusta, GA
Linda Adams of Ellaville, GA
Stephanie Streetman of Ellaville, GA
Angela Covington of Buena Vista, GA
Anne O’Connor of Preston, GA
Alline Kent, Warner Robins, GA
Petra Jones, Buena Vista, GA
Tandee A. Jones, Genva, NY
Debra Pastuszynski of Juniper, GA