Prudence lay on the couch in the living room, waiting for any sign of Samantha. She, Wendell, and Mr. Pryde had searched all day without finding Samantha or Joseph. The police had no idea where they might have gone. By the time the sun went down, Mr. Pryde called an end to their search.
She's left us, Prudence thought for at least the hundredth time that day. "I'll see you guys later. Don't wait up," she had said. Those were her final words. Nine years and Prudence didn't even merit a proper farewell. That boy, she thought. He's taken possession of her somehow and twisted her brain.
Upstairs, Wendell sat in the closet of his bedroom. In the dark space between boxes marked 'Christmas Lights' and 'Easter Baskets' Wendell contemplated the lost opportunity. It's Prudence's fault, he thought. That fat pig was always staying close to Samantha, keeping Wendell from talking to her. How could he pour his heart out with that pig right there?
Something touched Wendell's leg and he started, thinking it was a rat. Instead, he picked up a bundle of papers that had fallen from somewhere. He reached up to open the door, letting enough moonlight in to see the word 'Playboy' in block letters at the top of the first page. Beneath this, a blonde woman lay curled up on some kind of couch, leering at Wendell.
He threw the magazine away in disgust. What did it matter anymore? She had gone. Gone with him. That stupid, hairy beast who carted her away while Wendell stood there and did nothing. He should have challenged the boy to a fight. He no doubt would have lost, but at least Samantha would have known how much he cared about her. She would have known he would do anything for her-die if he must.
At first Prudence thought the sound of the front door opening must be in her dreams. Then she heard Samantha whispering. Prudence heaved herself off the couch and ran to the front hall, where Samantha and Joseph were kissing. Prudence stood there and watched their bodies curl around each other, gasps, smacks, and moans escaping from their interlocked lips. Then Samantha's eyes opened and she leapt back from Joseph. "Prudence, what are you doing?" she squealed.
"I'm sorry," Prudence mumbled.
"Go to bed," Joseph commanded as though she were a small child. A shadow covered half his face, but she saw the look of impatience on the other half. He didn't have any right to be angry with her. She hadn't done anything wrong. She wasn't the one who had disappeared all day.