Rachel Shore's Answers

Chapter 1: Let it Begin

2 years ago I started a restaurant with my friend Kallen. It is pronounced K-lin. She started out as a cook and I was a waitress. We hired a washer and named our restaurant moon diner. It has been a steady source of income and the two of us just manage the hired help. I stop by the restaurant in the mornings and she checks in during the evening. Vacation time is fairly free and easy to get because the restaurant doesn't demand much of our time.

The more time I spend at the restaurant the easier it is to forget what I lost. I didn't know any of my parents' family members because they didn't know who they were. I just wish I at least had some family to call my own. I am often a little jealous of Kallen's intact family but at least I get the stories.

...

I woke up with a tear stained face I don't remember what I was dreaming about but the tears hint that my family was somehow involved.

Looking back I can remember my brother teasing me like any normal brother would. I was making dad a breakfast sandwich and trying to decide which bread to use. We have 3 kinds rye, white, and sourdough.

"What type of bread should I use" I asked. "I'm always partial to rye"

"Rye? Dad doesn't like rye he only buys that for you it's disgusting. "

"well I like it. So for dad sourdough or white?"

"just do sourdough ok Rye."

"Rye? Is that my new nickname?"

"Yup"

"It sounds nothing like my name"

"Your name starts with 'r' and there's an 'e' near the end of it"

"That doesn't count Willie"

"Stop it with the Willie already either William or Will. I'm not a baby anymore"

"Yeah you are. At least you still talk like one."

"Do no-ot" He argued pulling out as much toddler sass as possible.

"See?"

"Well obviously that was deliberate. A little kid wouldn't know what a word like deliberate means now would he?"

I just gave him a sideways glance and shrugged my shoulders hoping to get him to drop the nickname Rye. It didn't work he continued to call me Rye up until he ran away.

The longer I stayed in memory lane the larger the lump in my throat got. I have to find my brother. I have to. I knew I had to get to work before it got too late because Kallen and I were covering for some of our waitresses that needed the day off. We had a good day at the restaurant and when the last customer left Kallen turned to me.

"What's wrong you have seemed a little off all day?"

"I'm just missing my family. I just want to see them again."

"Yeah" she said clearly unable to come up with something meaningful.

"Maybe I will eventually find my brother" I said to Kallen hoping to get some reassurance.

"Don't get your hopes up too high." She replied in a soft tone. I kind of took it as condescending.

"They haven't found him alive or dead. There is still hope." I added with a little more force than necessary.

"One of my cousins ran away before I was born. When I was 6 they found a grave that apparently was his. They did some research and confirmed it. Most runaways can't survive if they aren't found especially if they are young." She added.

"You just don't understand" I said shaking my head. I could already see the hurt in her eyes but my jealousy for her and her perfectly huge family was growing.