EXTRACT FOR
Elaine & Donna: A Love Story, Part 2, Northeastern Allies
(David Monroe)

         Elaine and Donna sped eastward through Illinois, headed toward Indiana, oblivious to what was happening at that exact moment back in Childers. Their thoughts were on putting miles between themselves and home as quickly as possible, both geographically and emotionally. As they finally relaxed in the realization that they had pulled off their plan of escape, neither girl was consciously aware of what was occurring in each kitchen of their respective childhood homes at that exact moment. Both of their mothers were still sitting in semi-shock at the checkered cloth covered tables when their husbands arrived for breakfast and were made aware of the situation. All four just sat mute for a long time, not knowing exactly what to make of it all, both sets of parents unaware of what had just unfolded in the other household.

       It was well into the day before Elaine's or Donna's parents  thought to call the other to see if they might know of the whereabouts of their daughters......maybe Elaine knew where Donna had gone.....maybe Donna knew where Elaine had gone. Partly this was embarrassment over the event itself, but mostly due to the shock from the suddenness-neither had any inkling that this might be coming-they were just stunned, not thinking rationally. When Elaine's mother finally worked up the courage to call Donna's parents she was further taken aback that they were facing the same situation at their house. Elaine was right......these were not stupid people and they immediately saw what had happened and knew that wherever their daughters were that they were together.



        Donna's parents drove over to their neighbors' farm and together the four of them sat at the kitchen table with coffee in hand wondering what to do. Their daughters, while young and impulsive, said one father, were technically adults and it was not like they were runaway children. Another wanted to initiate a massive search right away......but another immediately brought up the fact that they had no idea which direction they had gone, where they might be heading, or even how they were travelling. They had all seen the note telling Elaine's father how to recover his pick-up, so they obviously were in an unknown vehicle. The biggest mystery another chirped in was what they were using for money......both girls had received a small amounts of cash as gifts for graduation, but certainly not enough to finance a road trip of any length. Donna had abandoned her cell phone in her room, so it was obvious they did not want to be found until they were ready said her mother.