The Lot Lizard

          “You know, I never wanted to be in this position. I didn’t ever think I would end up in this kind of mess. You have to believe me officer.” These were the last words I said to him before I was thrown in a jail cell. Most of it was true though. I really didn’t think I would end up in this mess. I just never thought I would get this close to finding the truth. Not the truth that my parents wanted me to know. The actual truth of what happened to my sister.               “Jessica! Wake up, it’s time for school.” Mom always had a way about her screaming that you always jolted up even if you knew it was coming. She did this every morning for as long as I could remember. I don’t even know why she did it either. My alarm was always set for 6:30 am and yet, she yelled for me at 6:25 am. I think she just liked the satisfaction she got from hearing me complain coming down the stairs every morning. I swear it is days like today that I wish Ellie was here. It has been two months since she went off to college. Sure, she calls me every day to tell me about her class or the weird professor that she has for History. It just isn’t the same without her here at home. Luckily though, I will graduate at the end of the month and follow her to Kentucky State. I have been busting my ass the last year to graduate early to get out of this small mountain town I reluctantly call home. Don’t get me wrong, Hazard has been good to me over the years. Well, that is until daddy lost his job because the coal mines started to shut down. Now most the town doesn’t have a job and mom is the only one working at the hospital to cover bills. Apparently, a lot of the town people have diseases and drug problems. Yet, the news likes to make it out to be the worst ever. Ellie said college is a lot worse on that front, but hey, who am I to question the news right? I mean, I am only at 17-year-old girl that is graduating a year early and would still be the valedictorian.            I finish getting dressed and head downstairs for my pop tart that mom always has ready for me then out the door I go. Today though, my pop tart wasn’t there. Instead, the table was set with actual food. Like eggs, bacon, biscuits, orange juice and jelly. I don’t know if I sit down or just continue out the door. “Sit down honey. Have some breakfast.” She sounded like she wanted to talk about stuff. Last time we did this, that is when dad lost his job. I sit down anyway, hoping she is just being a normal parent for once. “I tried calling your sister yesterday. She didn’t answer my call. Did you talk to her?” I haven’t talked to Ellie in a few days, but I didn’t want mom to worry. “Oh yeah, she said she was going to Amanda’s dorm to study for a test she had coming up. She probably turned her phone off or left it at her dorm.” Why is she so worried about Ellie suddenly? She never really asks me what she is doing in school or in her personal life. Ellie is the rebel child of our family really. Everyone thought she would stay around this town forever and marry a guy she went to school with. My parents were shocked that she got into Kentucky State on a full ride at that. Ellie has a way about her, she loves photography and sent in a project she worked three years on. My parents didn’t know about it because they just figured she was out with some boy doing who knows what. Mom breaks my train of thought by clearing her throat. “So, she has been going to her classes all week then, yes?” Not sure why she is phrasing this as a question, but she must have some motive. “I don’t know mom. I assume she is. She has been studying a lot this week. She has a huge essay due at the end of the month and I know she has been working hard on it. Why are you asking me all these questions about Ellie and her school? Why don’t you ask her yourself?” Probably not the smartest response I could have given. I swear it was like fire rising from the pits of hell in her eyes. “You know Jessica, if Ellie ever wanted to talk to me, I would ask her myself. If you hear from your sister today, tell her to call me or dad. You are going to be late for school.”           I have been texting my sister all day with no response. She may ignore mom, but she has never ignored me. The last time I heard from her was Friday night. She was going out with friends to work on her art project. It is Thursday now, and I am worried. It isn’t like her to ignore me for this long.  She can’t be mad at me for anything right? I mean, I am always on her side. I stick up for her with our parents. As the last bell rings all I can think about is Ellie. I need to know if she is hurt or just doesn’t like me currently. On my way home, I come up with a plan to check on her. I will pack a bag and drive down there to see her for myself. I will just tell mom and dad that I will be there for the weekend. School doesn’t really matter right now anyway. I got all my work done that I needed for the week and the next anyway. I call dad after I have packed my bags and gotten some cash out.             “Hello” Dad sounded tired and distrait. “Hey dad, so Ellie asked me to come down for the weekend to see her and check out where I will be living next month. I have cleaned my room and did all my chores.”  We sit in silence for a few moments before I speak again. “Dad? Are you there?” We sit for a few more seconds in silence besides his breathing. “Uh, ok Jessica. Are you sure you want to go down this weekend? Shouldn’t you focus on these last few days you have in school?” Why is he asking me these questions I wonder? “Yeah dad. I have all my stuff done for school. So really all I am waiting on is next Friday, so I can graduate. Was there something you guys wanted me to do this weekend?” He went on for a few minutes saying that he just didn’t think it was a good idea that I went but eventually agreed to it.