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They drove to the airport in silence. Linda tapped her foot and scratched her nose obsessively; Richard drummed out some arbitrary tune on the steering wheel. After they arrived at the airport, things just seemed to run together. They were flying before they knew it, both with pounding hearts and sweaty palms. Linda drifted silently off to sleep, thinking, �We�re coming, Laura. We�re coming.�
Before they knew it, the pilot was announcing their arrival in Honolulu. Linda and Richard ambled sleepily off the plane. They looked at each other and nodded, as though on some sort of secret mission out of an action film. As soon as they picked up their luggage and rental car from the airport, they were off.
Linda took out the paper with the addresses on it and read off the address of the restaurant to Richard, who consulted a large map that he had gotten from the airport.
�Here�s the street right here. Periwinkle Drive,� said Richard, pointing out the street on the map and handing it to Linda. �You lead the way.�
Richard drove while Linda gave directions. It was always a right here, a left there, and a fork in the road somewhere else. It seemed like they�d never get there when Linda said, �Take your next left onto Periwinkle Drive.� Not too much later, they saw it: Candy�s Old Fashioned Diner. It was a quaint little building, charming and clean. Richard found a place to park and they got out of the car, not knowing what lay ahead.
In the diner, a man greeted them. He was about to begin rattling off the specials when Linda spoke up. She said, �Excuse me, but is there a Laura Davis working here?�
�Sure is,� he said, �Would you like me to get her for you?�
Linda glanced at Richard, both excited and nervous. �Yes, please,� she said.
The man disappeared for a few seconds. When he returned, he had with him a young woman of about twenty with medium brown hair and green eyes. She was about five foot eight, average build, and was wearing blue shoes and socks. It was Laura. Linda and Richard were in shock.
�May I h-help you?� Laura said, desperately trying to hide the already noticeable stutter that had plagued her since childhood.
�Laura,� Richard said, �Don�t you remember us?�
�Apparently not, I�m sorry to say,� she said. �Where would I know you from?�
�Laura, it�s us,� Linda said pleadingly, �Your parents.�
Laura seemed confused. Linda and Richard definitely were. They had come all this way, and she didn�t even remember them? How could this be?
�Well, can we at least sit down and talk over a drink or something?� Linda suggested.
�Why?� Laura asked. �I d-don�t understand.� Her face showed subtle signs of bewilderment, fright even.
�Please?� said Richard. �We just want to talk to you.�
�No!� Laura cried. �Who are you?�
By now, everyone in the diner was staring at them. �Laura, honey,� Linda said soothingly, �You�re making a scene.� She reached for her daughter�s arm. Laura pulled away, horrified.
�I am not!� she cried, turning toward the door. �Leave me alone!�
�Laura, wait!� Richard exclaimed as Laura hurried for the door. He searched his mind for something, anything to stop her. �If we�re not your parents�-he hesitated-�then who is?�
It sounded like the nonsensical outburst of a desperate man, but it seemed to strike something within Laura. She stopped suddenly and, retracting her hand from the door, turned slowly to look at Linda and Richard. �Huh?� she said quietly.
�Laura, please, just listen to us,� Linda said. �Can�t we just sit and talk?�
Laura�s face fell slightly. She gave in. Doubtfully and hesitantly, she said, �I-I guess so. I am on my break.�
Linda and Richard sighed, relieved. They found an empty booth in the back of the diner and, dodging nervous glances from the patrons, sat at it. Richard ordered them a pitcher of diet cola, thinking it might break the awkward silence threatening to engulf them. It seemed to work, as Laura calmed down slightly. She was growing more curious as her fright dissolved. She suggested that she should ask Linda and Richard some questions. She still had some doubts about their identity, and was not about to be led into any traps.
Laura started from the top. �If you�re my parents,� she began, �then what�s my full name?�
�Laura Wendy Davis,� answered Linda.
�T-that sounds right,� Laura said. She wasn�t convinced, however. �Well, when was I born?�
�April 22, 1978,� said Richard. �Right?�
�Um�� Laura looked confused. �Give me a second.� She reached into her pocket and took out her wallet. Out of her wallet she took her license. �Y-yeah, you�re right.�
�Wait a minute,� Linda said, �You didn�t even remember your own birthday?�
�I guess I just forgot,� Laura said.
�Let me ask you a question,� Linda said, �How long have you lived here?�
Laura paused to think. A look of confusion came over her face. After a few seconds, she muttered, �I d-don�t know. I-I can�t remember.�
�What do you remember?� Richard asked pensively, his voice full of concern.
�Um�I�� Laura had begun glancing frantically around the room. �I don�t know!� she cried. �I can�t remember!�
