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Chapter 9 ~ Elvis GONE?

                       *About a week later * Anastasia’s POV*

Ana awoke the next morning, shivering. Boy, it sure was cold. The little house’s heater did very little to warm the place up.

She looked out the window beside her bed. Still dark out, that’s good. Throwing the blankets off her pale body, she slid out of bed and rushed over to the fire place to get a fire going. “Probably will be snow on the ground in the next few days…” she mumbled mindlessly to herself as she crouched down to light the fire. Dressed in only a thin night gown, Ana could feel her hands and feet go numb from the cold.

Finally the fire came to life, and the small house began to fill with its heat.

“Probably need to start getting ready for work,” she shuffled back into her room and began setting out her clothes for the day. ‘Maybe I can get out of here before mamma wakes up.’

Ana hurriedly dressed in her pleated cream dress. She only owned three dresses and one was used strictly for Sundays or special occasions. Ana never bothered to worry about what she looked like. Of course, she would fix her hair up quick in a ponytail every morning and, if she had time, would occasionally apply a bit of her mother’s makeup. But usually, she just never needed to fix herself up. Who was there to impress anyways?

Quickly and quietly, Ana tiptoed across the creaky wooden floor, and slipped out the front door to work. Breathing a sigh of relief that she didn’t have to face her mother this morning, Ana could see her breath in the air. She walked as fast as she could toward the diner. It was not yet light out. Ana pulled the thin sweater around herself tightly, trying to trap some of the heat from escaping.

As the diner came into view, Ana realized that Audrey probably wasn’t there yet. So she would have to begin the opening process by herself and get the heater running for the early morning customers. Unlocking and shoving the heavy glass door open, Ana rushed over to the heater and turned it on full blast. Then she began setting out silverware and menus at all the tables as she gave the heater a chance to warm up. The bells soon clanged on the door, as Audrey arrived. They worked together finishing up the rest of the chores and once they were finished, sat by the heater discussing minor details for the day.

A few short minutes later, the door opened with the morning’s first customer.

“Good morning girls!” he called.

“Good morning, Mr. Louisel,” the two chimed back. Johnny Louisel was the town’s news “delivery boy” (if he could be called a delivery boy, he was nearly 55).

Louisel shuffled over and sat himself down on a stool nearest to wear the two ladies stood.

“What can we get for you this morning?” Ana asked, smiling politely.

Louisel smiled back. “Oh, just a cup of coffee I think will do it this morning.”

“Sure thing, coming right up,” Audrey replied, scooting off to make his coffee.

“You two will not believe the news I have got to report today,” He smiled mischievously at Ana. “The likes of you girls will probably be pretty upset I supposed.”

“And what kind of news do you have to report to us?” Ana asked, humoring him, she thought.  

“Oh, only that that big Rocknroller movie star Elvis Presley got hiself kidnapped sometime last week after a big concert of his over yonder in Columbus.”

Ana turned and stared at him dumbfounded. A crash was heard from back in the kitchen as Audrey dropped a glass mug.

“You’re kidding right?” Ana questioned as Audrey rushed over to hear what else Louisel had to say.

“No, no, it’s true. Got word last night that he had apparently been scheduled to appear the next night in Texas somewhere, but when the plane landed, there was no Elvis on board. Somehow the kidnappers, or whoever they are, had managed to grab him without anyone noticing. Which is why the whole thing is so shockin to most people, because that, my dear, is nearly impossible to do. Who ain’t gonna noctice that the main man ain’t on his own plane? Ridiculous. Probably drunks, the whole lot of’em.”

Neither of the women knew what to think or say. Just blank stares. Audrey eventually came to and began fixing Louisel’s coffee again.

“Have they heard anything outside of this? Like from the kidnappers wanting ransom or something?” Ana eventually managed to ask. This was a lot to take in for her.

“Not a word. No one knows a thing, other than he was supposed to be one place and he wasn’t. It’s been about a week and no one’s seen or heard from him; of course, this could all just be some big publicity stunt, which is highly possible, especially with those fame nuts we have out in Hollywood these days.”

Audrey poured Louisel his cup of coffee, and set it in front of him. “Wow, well this is really surprising news, Mr. Louisel. I’m sure there are people out there going crazy searching for him. It’s hard to imagine a world without Elvis Presley in it. I’m sure they’ll find him soon.”

“Of course. A superstar, doesn’t stay missing long in this world.” Louisel finished his coffee and slid off the stool. “Well, I wish you girls a beautiful day and I’ll be seeing ya. I’m sure you two will do me the favor of letting more of the town know about the news?” He winked as he pulled the door open and stepped out on the street.

Ana turned to look at Audrey. “Elvis. Missing? Kidnapped?”

“I know, just doesn’t even seem real. But like Mr. Louisel said, he can’t stay missing long. One way or another, he’s going to be found. Who knows? Probably already has.”