17
Discover Smith Mountain Lake
WINTER 2015/16
16
named Carter were Jacksons. Day after
day, he managed to visit at least one
nursing home, either in person or by
phone. Nursing homes are busy places,
and most resented the distraction of his
call. He lost hope a few times during
his search, but each time something
unexplained would bring his thoughts
back to Ellie. Once it was another
dream. This one was more urgent than
the first dream. Ellie
was crying and calling
to him.
Another time it was a
flashback during recital
of the Lord’s Prayer
at Sunday worship
service. Ellie had taught
him that prayer. The
realization electrified
his mind like a newly
formed idea. He was so
overcome by the notion
that his voice caught in
his throat, and he was
unable to continue the
prayer. Jill reached for
his hand and smiled up
at him as though she
realized what had just
happened.
By now Jill and the kids
knew every detail he
could recall about Ellie
and the role she had
played in his life. They listened wide-
eyed to his stories, and never seemed to
tire of them. They knew about his search
and were eager to help. His brother, too,
wanted to do his share, but it was John
alone who was possessed with the idea
of finding Ellie before Christmas. He
even bought gifts for her to be added
under the tree. A flashlight, slippers,
gloves, a scarf… and prayers at night
always included “Please help Daddy
find Miss Ellie”.
Finally, in mid December, he found the
nursing home where Ellie had stayed. It
was his second visit to it and this time,
kinder ears heard his story and took an
interest. On her own time she searched
through old records long ago sent to
storage. She was able to tell him that
Ellie had recovered from the stroke, and
had been discharged into the care of a
woman claiming to be her sister. That
woman’s name was Hughes, Caroline
Hughes. There was even an address
for Ms Hughes. Unfortunately, these
records were nearly 10 years old. Still,
they gave John something new to work
with.
As he approached the address the nursing
home had on file for Ellie’s sister, John’s
heart was in his throat. It was an old
brick row house with broken shutters
and a cluttered front porch. Windows
on the lower level were boarded up,
either because they were broken or to
keep them from getting broken. The
house clearly was not occupied. John
went to the house next door and rapped
loudly. A man appearing to be about
60 years old opened the door. He was
drunk.
“I was given this address for Caroline
Hughes,” John told the man as he
pointed to the vacant house. “I was
wondering if you might know where I
could find Ms Hughes?”
“She dead,” the man replied.
“Actually, I’m looking
for Ms Hughes’s sister,
Ellie,” John continued.
“Do you know Ellie?
They said she used
to live here with Ms
Hughes.”
“Ain’t nobody live
thar,” the old man said,
reeling in his drunken
state, and squinting
his bloodshot eyes
suspiciously.
Disheartened,
John
started to leave.
“Jus dat ol’ homeless
lady outback.”
John froze.
“Someone lives in the
back?”
“In dat ol’ barn,” the
man sputtered. The
hair on the back of John’s neck stood on
end. “How do I get to the back yard?”
Wordlessly, the old man pointed to a
cross street at the end of the block.
As John eased his car through the alley
that ran behind the row houses he
realized he was sweating, although the
temperature had dropped and it had
started to snow, in large heavy flakes
that threatened a serious accumulation.
He had counted the houses so he would
know when he was behind the vacant
WITH CHRIS WITTING
Weekdays at 12:10 PM
WSLK
Lake Radio 880
