William hesitated, staring at the cover. It would be a mistake to look. After all, he’d managed to elude them all for a year.

The most famous boy in the world is dead, remember?

He snatched the magazine, flipping to the story and wincing at its two-page layout. The headline shouted across both pages, “The Disappearance of William Chance.”

The first paragraph was equally cringe-worthy.

“The most fascinating story of the century has taken another twist, as the young man, who many believe is proof of UFO abductions, has yet to be seen in public in a year. Sources say even William’s grandmother, Lynn Roseworth, doesn’t know where he is and fears he may have been abducted again. There have been multiple, unconfirmed sightings of him across the country, from New York to Los Angeles. One entertainment outlet has set up a toll-free hotline and a cash reward for any information leading to proof of his whereabouts–

“Don’t I know you?”

William looked up, his heart in this throat. He was still alone in the aisle.

Then he saw himself in the security mirror in an upper corner, above a row of hand sanitizers. The checkout girl, leaning on the counter, was also in its reflection, staring at him. He’d been so preoccupied that he’d zoned out, failing to realize the store had emptied.

“You work with all those Mexicans who mow the lawn at the Methodist Church in the Quapaw,” she said.

Finally breathing, he picked up the Dr Pepper and a bag of Cheetos, slipping the magazine beneath the orange bag.

“Yeah,” he said, rounding the aisle and sliding the magazine facedown on the counter.

“I’ve noticed you after church. You always have that hat on. Your hair sticks out like duck feathers,” she said with a smile as she flipped over the magazine and scanned the bar code.

“I need it cut,” he said, quickly sliding the magazine into a plastic bag and taking the chips to cover it up.

“I just can’t get over how familiar you look.” She handed him the Dr Pepper.

Make them laugh.

He kept the brim of his hat low. “Not many gingers on the mow team. We burn too easily in the sun. We’re basically albino sausages on a grill.”

She smiled, biting her bottom lip.

“So how much?”

“Oh, sorry. Eight twenty-five. That your Jeep out there? You live just down on Ripper, right? I seen it parked at that trailer.”

“I stay there when my home in the Hamptons is under renovation. Have a good one.”

“See ya.”

William tried not to scramble out of the store, even though he would smash through the glass if it meant getting out quicker. No more coming back to Uncle Steve’s.

He jogged past the pumps and set the soda and the bag on the floorboard, cranking up the Jeep and gunning it out onto the road.