Chapter 7 - Discovery

Brother Wayne Thacker, the recent appointed minister for McGhee's Chapel, asked after church if the youth and their parents would be interested in a float trip down the Current River in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. The trip included overnight camping. Response swelled from students, fathers, and mothers. Four grandparents volunteered as chaperones.

School canceled Friday. School superintendents required their teachers to attend a regional in-service scheduled in Jackson, Tennessee. A few school systems scheduled classes early. Most started next week.

A group of parents offered to go to Van Buran, Missouri with their teen-age children Thursday after school to set up the camping area. The cousins Henry, Horace and Hector, along with Amber Joey and me, volunteered to assist. On the way our van full of helpers sang "Ninety-nine bottles of Beer," "John Jacob Jingle Heimer Smith," and "This Old Man." We formed two teams. One to count the number of cemeteries on their side of the road, and another to tally the graveyards on the other side. One team lost count and no one was declared winners.

Ralph took his seat next to me and glowed. Daylight beamed upon our arrival. Dark arrived before we finished. The last three tents required lamps and flashlights to assist the assembly.

On Chicopee Road across from the Mark Twain National Forrest Campgrounds stood a series of cabins. They ranged in size from one bedroom to six bedrooms. Dora, Amber's Mother said, "Brother Thacker never told us Cabins were available."

Bethany, Henry's Mother, Dorthey, and my mother, Dora, suggested to our fathers that we investigate the pricing and availability. The rental office manager, Dwayne, said, "The cabins are new. The construction crew and inspection team approved the cabins for occupancy this morning. However, there are no TVs in the cabins."

The ladies gazed at our Dads without saying a word. The three placed their hands on their hips and glared at our fathers. In seconds the men remove their billfolds and split two nights rent for a cabin with six bedrooms. The structure faced Current River and contained a living room, and kitchen. Each bedroom included two beds, bathroom, and shower.

The ladies called their friends in McGhee's Corner. Information spread quickly about the cabins. Additional families in the church added their names to the list of attendees including six more senior citizens. Mom made reservations for the increase numbers. A consensus insisted we stay over Friday night and depart Saturday morning.

We secured the cabin. Henry's dad, Harold, recommended we find a restaurant in the town of Van Buren. The Deep End Café revealed a dozen cars and trucks in their parking lot. Amy our waitress introduced herself to our group. She said, "All our sandwiches are great, but most prefer the deep-fried boneless catfish fillet with cheese and tarter-sauce. Amy seemed fidgety. Her forehead and underarms were wet. The air condition worked well. Her face sprinted through my thoughts. A name zoomed within my mind.

Her features were attractive. Her hair and eyebrows flickered dark brown, almost black. She wrote our order on a pad and disappeared. My focus flashed to her body and I envisioned gold blond hair and eyebrows. Her grin provoked my memory of a time when six girls surrounded me and cocked their arms and feet to hit and kick me. I responded by kicking each behind their left knee which caused them to crumble to the floor.

Amy delivered our meals and I asked, "How have you been Monica?"

"Fine."

Hector, Henry, Horace and Amber swung their faces to Amy (Monica.)

"Amy, do you have a space where we can talk?"

"Yes, we have a break room in the back."

I pointed to the teenagers and said, "Follow Amy."

We followed her to a little room with a long table and two benches. Her cheeks 'radiated crimson. I instructed everyone to sit. I said, "Monica, do you want explain why you are here in Van Buren?"

Horace demanded, "What's the problem? My grilled ham and cheese sandwich is turning cold."

I said, "We have some unfinished business concerning the past."

Henry, Amber and Hector's shoulders stiffened. Hector grunted then scrunched his lips and eyebrows. Henry's lower jaw jutted forward, Amber's cheeks and forehead flared dark red.

Horace start to speak, but I spoke, "Amy's parents are under the Protective Witness Program (PWP.) Let her tell you what's wrong."

Tears streamed from Amy's eyes, her face reddened with a touch of purple, and her body shook. "I'm a bad person. My parents were almost killed in Memphis because of my actions. I bullied kids weaker than me and stole their money. It is no excuse, but I was angry at my parents for moving us to Tennessee. At the time, I believed if school expelled me, we might return to the Washington D. C. area. While in Memphis I discovered the PWP kept us safeguarded from bad people. My father and mother previously worked at a lab creating cures for diseases that plague the world. Their supervisor worked with criminals to make drugs that would kill mass populations."

Henry said, "We heard your parents say you were going to Tupelo, Mississippi."

"We did. The PWP agents presented us with new documents such as driver's licenses, birth certificates, and Social Security cards They gave me a transcript sheet and a junior college degree with a major in business. My birth certificate exposed the same day of birth but shifted me two years older.

I am now Amy Lawrence the niece but not the daughter of Will and Brenda Lawrence. Daddy is manager of the Clark County Garment Company. They design and produce work pants and work shirts for manufacturing employees. They also produce fatigue uniforms for military personnel.

My Mom who is currently a Supervisor of a secret lab below our house. Five people work in the lab. The facility is accessed through a hall closet. It seeks to uncover cures for manufactured diseases which was their former work in a larger lab outside of Washington D. C. Their manager was paid by the criminal element to produce poison gases and biological infections to wipe out large populations. Mom and Dad informed government officials about the activities. The bad guys threatened to kill my parents."

"You've undergone a dynamic change in your life."

"It is more difficult for my mom and dad than me. Our house in Virginia exploded. We were at a bar-b- que four houses down the street. I dreamed about fires consuming me while I slept. I viewed every stranger as a possible killer."

"What do you want in life?"

"I wish to be free and not worry about someone killing my parents. I crave to finish my bachelor's degree in business or accounting and find a good job. I desire to marry a good man and forget my past."

Hector said, "I'll marry you. Your past is history. A fresh slate invites you to a private but open realm. A domain is developed an additional phase of your life. Everyone created blunders in their lives. You deserve a restored reputation. The PWP provided you the opportunity to develop in a different direction. Take advantage of the gift given to you."

All bantered and laughed. Horace quit talking and focused on Amy. He empathized with her difficulty. He excused the problem she created. Horace focused on her. Her face captivated his attention like a magnate. His eyes gravitated toward her. He shifted his focus, and she returned his gaze.

Hector said, "Horace the 'love bug' got you buddy."

He smiled and said, "Yeah, and it changed my way of thinking."

Tomorrow is Friday or float day. Amy worked the breakfast shift. She depended on her customers for compensation. Her tips provided income much greater than an hourly wage. Thus, Amy worked hard. She displayed a broad smile and responded to her customers. Refills and boxes to go dominated her routine. The rewards responded in larger tips and customers who requested her serving area.

At breakfast, Horace fixed gaze on Amy. Every glimpse of him brought a smile to her lips. She agreed to float with him on the river. Hector and Henry pulled Horace away to retrieve the equipment remaining at the campground. Dora called her friends in Tennessee who committed to come to the float, she secured reservations for several cabins where they could shower, change and nap before supper.

Amy and Horace strolled into the river holding hands. They lanced their inner-tubes together and floated the Current River side by side. A quietness lingered over the crowd. Horace asked Amy to be his girlfriend.

She said, "No! I brought enough problems to McGhee's Corner and my parents."

"You are not the same person. The parents here have not recognized you. Your old friends scattered and no longer live in the community. The sinister person ceased to exist. You reinvented your life. A sparkle pointed you in in proper endeavors."

"Hector, you are sweet, but the reason I am unable to date you or marry you will be revealed before you leave tomorrow."