Then the man lifted the camera thing up on his shoulder. I didn’t like the flashing red light. The lady asked a lot of questions and Telly and Gloria talked about Rowan in a microphone. “He’s quiet and gentle,” Telly said. “And he’s got a dog named Chicken that’s always by his side.” And Gloria said, “He likes to read a lot. If he’s not in school or outside poking around, he’s at the library. You can’t drag him away from a book.” Anita said, “What would you say, Mr. and Mrs. Janes, if you could talk to Rowan right now? What would you tell him?” Telly said, “We love you, Row. We’re doing everything we can, and you just got to hold tight. We’re going to find you.” Gloria started crying and Telly put his arm around her and squeezed her shoulder. “Mrs. Janes?” Anita put the microphone near her mouth. Gloria rubbed her nose and then said, “Rowan? If you’re listening, all we want is to have you home. Back with us, with your mom and dad, and your sister. You belong with your family. We’re right here, together, waiting for you.” She put her face on Telly’s shirt and her back shook bad. Telly held my hand, and I put my cheek on his shirt too.

When the man took the camera down the lady said, “You’re both so strong. And you too, Maisy. What a horrendous ordeal you’re going through. I can’t imagine.”

People kept saying that. They can’t imagine. But if they were thinking it, weren’t they imagining it too?

“We’ll feature it on the six o’clock, and again on the eleven.” The lady did a sad-smile, the same as Mrs. Spooner’s. “I’m praying it will help get word out.”

Then they got in the van and drove away. Gloria took a big breath and said, “I’m going to put together something for us to eat. I won’t be a minute. Telly?”

Telly looked at his truck and scritched his head. “Sure, Glow. Sounds good.”

I followed Gloria inside. She went to the kitchen and got food out of the fridge and filled up three plates. Rolled-up meat. A slice of tomato on top of lettuce. An ice cream scoop of leftover potato salad and a biscuit jammed full of butter. Chicken was right there. His eyes watched Gloria and his tail banged on the floor.

“Can we take some out for Rowan?”

Gloria frowned. “Oh, Bids. It’ll only make us all more sad, won’t it? Why don’t we just have supper. The three of us.”

Telly walked into the kitchen. “What’s the harm in it, Glow?”

“You’re right.” She put another plate on the small kitchen table. “Of course you are.”