Page 3 of No Man Left Behind

She slowed her speed as she passed a few streets that led to clusters of well-kept homes on both sides of the road.

The business sector popped up after a few intersections. Flower pots lined both sides of the road, and the businesses were painted in cheerful colors. More flowers hung from baskets on the street lights.

Phail Fire.

Yoganna Love It.

The Saloon.

Doc’s.

Phail General.

Phail Way Park.

No Fail Diner.

Phail Phoods.

She was laughing as she reached more side streets leading to homes, and then she was driving through farmland. Apparently, Phail was averysmall town. But it sure had personality.

Elina turned around on a side road and headed back into the town. Even if Arrow and Epic weren’t here, she knew she’d want to stay for at least a few days. Her second pass didn’t show any motels. She wondered if there was anywhere for visitors to stay at all.

A parking sign pointed down a street on the side of Phail Way Park, so she followed it and parked near a large plain board that stood upright in the park.

She grabbed her bag, locked up, and moved closer to read the sign posted near the large wall. It told her an adaptation of one of her favorite Agatha Christie mysteries would be playing in a few evenings. Apparently, the board was for communal movie nights. Another reason to stick around this quirky town.

A young boy and his puppy zipped across the park toward her, with a woman following behind. The puppy’s ear flopped up and down as he tried to keep up with his buddy. Some kind of spaniel, she’d guess, but she didn’t know enough about dog breeds to be sure.

The boy waved at Elina and then ducked around the back of the movie wall. The woman she assumed was the boy’s mother called out. “Careful, Owen.”

“I’m always careful, Mom.”

The woman laughed. “Says the boy who had a cast taken off last week.”

Elina couldn’t see the boy, but she’d bet he was rolling his eyes. “That fall was ages ago, Mom. I’m taller now.”

Curious about what was happening, Elina walked to the edge of the wall and peeked around. Brightly colored shapes covered the wall at various heights and distances. Rock climbing holds, she assumed, as Owen, now wearing a helmet he’d grabbed from a nearby bin, stretched his arm for a purple shape. Piles of hay covered the ground beneath the wall in case of falls. “Very cool.”

She hadn’t meant to speak aloud, but Owen grinned. “It is. You want to try it?”

That made Elina laugh. “I’m not the most athletic person. Maybe I’ll just watch for now.”

He turned his focus and reached the purple shape. The puppy barked in excitement as the woman reached the wall. She smiled at Elina. “Hi, I’m Rachel, mom to the terror climbing the wall.”

“Mom.” Owen turned and stuck out his tongue, a twinkle in his eyes.

“Nice to meet you both. I’m Elina.”

Owen moved another few paces. “I’m halfway there, Mom.”

“You’re doing great. Use your brain before you move.”

He nodded and searched out the holds while his mom moved closer. Probably in case he fell.

Elina hadn’t been around kids much since returning from overseas. She’d focused on producing her comic strips and building up her courage quotient. When she’d first arrived in Seattle, she’d taken a job in a coffee shop instead of a daycare or a school. Anonymous strangers were easier to deal with than remembering the sadness in the faces of the kids who’d watched their school collapse and their fields burn. All because some idiots didn’t want girls to learn and wanted more workers for their drug empire.

She swallowed her guilt at not being able to go back overseas to help kids get an education. Her comics aimed to soften the world, but her impact was negligible. Once again, she wondered how disappointed her parents would be in her choices.

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