150 Mrs. Golladay 2 (1/2)

I decided to look for Noah, only to realize that I didn't know where his math class was. I didn't want to go back to the twins since that's where Mrs. Golladay would look first. There's Zeke...but I don't know where he would be either. Running didn't sound so bad for once so I continued. I ran through the halls, out of the school, and through the parking lot. I ran through the residential neighborhoods, trying to remember the way back to the Atkins house. Mr. Atkins should be home. He would know what to do.

After fifteen minutes, I slowed down to a walk so I could catch my breath. And to figure out where I was. I wish I paid more attention to the streets we took to get to school so I wouldn't be this lost. By now, math should be over and health should have started. Noah would see that I'm missing. Maybe he'll tell the teacher and the office. Maybe they'll tell him instead. Ugh. What to do, what to do.

A car honked. I jumped and looked around. A black and white cop car with the words, county sheriff, pulled up next to me. The driver side window rolled down to reveal a middle aged man with a gray mustache. ”What are you doing out here in the cold, kid?”

I shrugged. I'm not sure anymore.

His eyes narrowed. ”I received a call, reporting a suspicious teen for just roaming around in circles.” I blinked. I was going in circles. ”Is there a reason you're not in school?”

Yes. I nodded. There was definitely a reason I wasn't in school.

”Are you trying to go home?”

I nodded some more. Yes. Exactly. I want to go back to the Atkins house.

”I'm not really good at charades kid. I'm also not a fan of twenty questions. Why don't I give you a lift home and we can talk with your parents?”

I ran my fingers through my hair. Then I thought of a solution. I stepped closer to the cop car and mimicked writing on paper.

He looked shocked. ”Oh. You're a mute? You can just take some paper out of your bag to tell me where to go.”

I hurriedly went through my bag and grabbed a pen and a piece of paper. Then I started to scribble.

”Lost. Don't remember address. Looking for the Atkins home.” I showed him.

His eyebrows disappeared under his bangs. ”Usually older kids like you aren't this dumb. You must be autistic. Get in the backseat and I'll take you to the station. We'll talk more there.”

I got in the back, feeling extremely embarrassed. I wasn't dumb or mentally lacking. I just...I can't find the words. I held my tears back as he drove throughout the unfamiliar houses. We arrived at the county sheriffs department and walked in together. The police department had an open setup with ten desks in a giant size area. He led me to one and we sat down on either side.

He pointed at his nameplate. ”I'm deputy O'Brien. Can you tell me your name?”

I wrote down 'Jake Hollander' and showed him.

”Good. Good. Now, if you can't remember your address, do you think you can remember a phone number for your parents? Home, cell, or work phone numbers?” I shook my head no. I didn't bother learning any of that since I always had Noah. ”Okay. How about I look up your parents names?”