Missing Friend

I was doing a practice exam for civ pro when my cell phone rang. The caller ID showed that it was from a restricted number. It was probably a wrong number. I hesitated before picking up.

On the other end of the line, an unfamiliar woman's voice, accented and anxious.

"Who is this?"

"This is PB."

"This is N's mother. I am calling you because I found your phone number in N's address book. N is missing and I'm looking for him."

"Oh my God!" I gasped into the phone. N is an old college friend of mine. We kept in touch fitfully after college; saw each other once or twice but sometimes talked on the phone for hours. The last time I spoke to him, however, was a few months ago, and since law school began, I have been terrible at keeping up with all my college friends, and haven't spoken to him at all.

His mother was clearly distraught but fighting to keep calm. It took me a while to understand what had happened. She said that N had left with some college friends for Kentucky to visit another friend a few weeks ago and was due to return yesterday. But when he didn't come back she got very worried. She's now frantically trying to track him down.

In college, N wasn't the most responsible of people. He often missed scheduled lunch dates with no explanation or missed deadlines. Still, it was worrisome, and I felt for his mother.

"How do you know N? Are you his college friend."

"Yes, I graduated in the same year as him," I told her. "Class of 2001."

"Do you know M?" she asked me. "Do you know G? They also went to the same school. This is who N was supposed to visit in Kentucky."

I didn't know either of these people. But after she gave me G's last name, I was able to log into the alumni directory, and found her listed phone number. I also gave her Dickie's number, in case he knows something (and some people) that I don't.

"Thank you so so so much," she said, sounding like she was about to cry. I wished her luck and told her to let me know if there was anything else I could do. After hanging up the phone, I called N's cell phone. There wasn't even a ring tone. Just silence. It was creepy.

When Boyfriend got home from shopping I told him what had happened. "Hopefully she's already called the police," he said. I hadn't even thought of that. I hope it wouldn't come to this. Hopefully N was just being his irresponsible self and will sheepishly materialize later today, with an apologetic smile and no good explanation.

N, I hope you are okay. Wherever you are, call your mom! She's worried sick about you.