Some of it is.
They came back across the tracks. More cars were out in the evening now. High school kids driving up and down Main Street, honking at one another under the bright lights. Lyle and Lorraine turned off Main and drove along the railroad tracks to the town park. At the Holt swimming pool they stopped the car and hurried into the entrance. They could hear kids screaming and splashing. At the front counter there were two high school girls selling tickets, with the wire baskets of clothes stacked in ranks behind them.
They quickly explained to the girls who they were looking for.
No, we haven’t seen her, one of the girls said.
No, we’ve been here since four, the other girl said.
Just send her home, Lorraine said, if she shows up. You know her, don’t you?
Yes.
They went back to the car. Let’s go back, Lorraine said. She might have come back.
When they drove into the street at the edge of town, they saw that all the lights in Berta May’s house were turned on. All the windows were filled up with light.
The four women were standing out in front of the house. Lyle and Lorraine got out and came over to them.
You never found her, Berta May said.
No, Lyle said. But we haven’t given up. We’ll keep looking.
Oh, where is she? I got all the lights on so she can see the house and come home.
We should call the police now, Willa said.
No. I can’t do that. Not yet.
But they could look for her in ways we can’t.
I don’t want them. I will pretty soon if I have to.… I will pretty soon.
She looked around. They were watching her.
I should go back inside. I’m not doing no good out here.
Don’t go, Mary said. Stay here with us.
I’m going all to pieces. You can see I am.
We all feel that way, dear.
Wait! Alene said. She was looking up the street. Someone’s coming.
Somebody was out in the gravel street, coming toward them three or four blocks away. A small figure.
I can’t see, Berta May said. Is it her?
Yes. It must be.
I don’t see no bicycle.
Lorraine began to run, and Lyle ran after her. The women hurried after them. Lorraine was first and grabbed her up in her arms and lifted her up and swung her around and held her tight. She set her down. The girl was dirty and scared. Oh, are you all right? She looked closely into her face.
Yes.
You are, aren’t you?
I got lost. I went out on a country road and it got dark and then I went the wrong way. A pickup came by and I went down in the ditch. I cut my tire on a bottle.
Did the ones in the pickup bother you?
No.
They didn’t stop?
No. I crawled under the fence and ran out in the field. But I left my bike there.
Never mind, Lyle said. We’ll get it tomorrow.
Oh God! I’m so glad you’re all right. Here’s your grandmother.
The women had all hurried up. The girl went to Berta May and the old woman wrapped her in her arms.
Oh my oh my oh my. Don’t you ever—
The girl burst into tears.
Don’t you ever do that again. Do you hear me?
I’m sorry, Grandma. I’m sorry. Don’t be mad.
I’m not mad. You’re home now.
I got lost.
I know. But you’re here now. It’s all right.
I saw the streetlights. That’s how I knew where to go. My bike’s still out there, Grandma.
Oh I don’t care. I don’t care about nothing else. You came home by yourself, didn’t you. I turned the lights on. But you didn’t see them, did you.
I saw the streetlights out in the country.
The women stayed close around and they each hugged the girl in turn and cried over her and petted her dirty sunburned face.
We better get you in the house, Berta May said. We got to get you cleaned up. Look at you. Lord, what a mess. I expect you can eat something too.
You want me to bring over a plate of food from the house? Mary said.