I got the idea for this story from something that's been going on in the UK newspapers this week. Set in the summer after Ephram leaves for Europe. Hint of Ephramy, but not until later chapters. See what you think and please R&R so that I know whether to continue...

The interviewing Police Officers were baffled. A call had been received at Dover Police station, on the South Coast of England, reporting that a young man entered a music shop, wearing soaking clothing, sat down at a piano in the window and begun to play. On being asked to leave by the naturally disgruntled owner, the young man had simply looked up blankly and continued to play, never uttering a word. The Police had arrived to remove the young man he had come with them without any complaint and still never uttering a word. The shop owner, when giving his account of events had muttered something about lax coast guard efforts and immigration before stalking to the door and closing for the day.

Sitting outside the interview room, watching the proceedings with interest, was Chief Inspector Isabel McMann. Inside she could see 'John Doe', dressed now in dry clothing and swathed in blankets and cradling a steaming cup of tea, looking down at the floor and not responding to the questions being directed at him by her officer. She could tell that John was beginning to become frustrated with the way things were going, could see him rubbing the back of his head and sighing from time to time. They had been there over an hour and still there was nothing. Occasionally the young man would tap his fingers on the table in front of him, making out a soundless tune to a beat that she knew to be Schubert's Impromptu Number 2. But other than that there was nothing. There was an air of sadness about him, loss and confusion. Something had caused this boy to become locked into his own little world where there was apparently nothing but him and piano. It was like the two were somehow intertwined.

Looking at the young man C.I McMann could see that the he was not yet in his twenties. He appeared to be in his late teens. With longish brown hair, fringe about his face and grey eyes. Soulful. He was quite lanky, tall but not over six feet. She wondered who he was and where he came from. How he'd come to be wandering the streets of Dover drenched to the skin. He did not look as though he could be an asylum seeker. He was too well dressed for one thing and for another he had come away relatively easily when asked by the Police Officers at the shop, so there was the impression that he understood what was being said to him. And he was so young! Someone, somewhere had to be looking for this boy. She decided that she would give it another hour and then hold a conference with her staff. The boy had no form of identification on him. A cursory trawl of the Missing Persons records had brought no joy. A campaign in the press was going to have to be a must. He would have to be photographed and a press conference called. C.I McMann sensed that this would be a long night.

Keeping time with C.I McMann, 5000 miles away in the small Colorado town of Everwood, Amy Abbott was getting ready to start her day. Standing at her dresser, she swept a brush through her long brown hair. It had been a long summer here in Everwood. Her Mom had been so ill that she thought that would not recover, although her surgery had been successful the road to full recovery from the cancer which had invaded her body would be long and arduous. She had missed her boyfriend, well, her ex-boyfriend now, Ephram, terribly. She felt his loss every day. Although she had been strong and her family had pulled together magnificently there were still hours of the day when Amy's mind would wander and wonder what Ephram was doing, so many miles away. In the last few days, as she prepared to start ECC (a decision that had hit her father hard, no matter how much he understood that Amy had to be with her family at this time, it had always been his dream that his only daughter attend Princeton) Amy felt some different emotion stirring inside her, an emotion bordering on panic. She had not really heard from Ephram all summer, but he had been regularly in touch with her brother Bright and yet Bright had heard nothing from Ephram for over a fortnight, and nor had his younger sister Delia. This was stranger still, as Amy knew how much Ephram cared about his sister and had been torn by leaving her when he did not know when he would return and remained in constant contact.

Shaking her hair out, Amy took a deep breath and reminded herself that Ephram was a big boy. He knew what he was doing and she was sure he absolutely fine. He'd probably just got side-tracked. She knew she would if she was exploring Europe. It was so unlike America. So many different countries and cultures all mashed together, one day's travel taking you into a completely different language zone, so many different landscapes within a stones throw as opposed to mile upon mile of the same. She tried to remind herself of this daily to quell what her instinct was telling her. There was nothing dreadfully wrong, just that Ephram wasn't here where he belonged.

Across town at the Brown's house events were following the same pattern. Andy sat at the counter with Nina, drinking coffee and discussing Andy's errant son.

"I know it's my own fault Nina. I know that I'm the one responsible for his leaving, and that's it likely that he'll never speak to me again. It's just that I need to know that he's safe. I have this mad panic bordering on desperation. He's not been in touch with his sister or Bright in over two weeks and I can't help but feel that something terrible has happened." Andy poured out, rubbing his temples with his fingers.

Nina sighed, pondering before replying.

"I know that you're worried Andy, and that's understandable, but is it more to do with the situation that you're in with him? You feel like there's this war of attrition and you're each trying to wear the other down. But you're not. Because Ephram isn't playing the game and I think that's what's stressing you out. What was he said? He was trying to walk around you? You can't have a battle with only one person" Nina paused, looked at Andy to gauge his reaction and continued.

"He's off out there, beginning his life, and you aren't part of it right now and that's killing you. And yes, sometimes people aren't going to hear from him for a little while, and that won't be a big thing. It's tough, as a parent to accept that your child is out there in the world, independent and getting on with things, but that's the way it is. And sometimes he'll need some out time. Given what's been going on in his life and the reason he went anyway then I'm not surprised."

Andy jumped in, "I know all of this Nina. I know that everything you've said is true, but I just need to know that my son is safe."

"But Andy, how often do you call your parents?"

"I don't. But that's not the point, Ephram is just 18. He's off on a different continent, he hasn't been heard from in weeks and I have no way of knowing where he is or finding out if he's safe" Andy exclaimed.

"And if I was in your position with Sam, I'd be terrified right now, but until I had anything real to worry about I'd have to let it go for my own sanity. Andy, for crying out loud, this is what got you into this mess in the first place!" Nina shot at him.

Andy looked at her, abashed and ashen faced.

"How could it have come to this Neen? I worked so hard to fix this, we worked so hard. How could I just have destroyed it all?"

Putting his mug down on the counter, Andy put his head in his hands. Nina, sensing his turmoil, softened her tone. Reaching out to him, she touched his arm gently.

"Look, Andy, I'm sure that he's fine. I know how hard you worked, I was here, remember? And I know that somehow, someday, the two of you will find a way to get through this. Together. You found each other once. You'll do it again. Don't worry."

The pair remained sitting at the counter, cradling their coffee mugs, murmuring occasionally between themselves for another hour.

Back in England Isabel McMann was beginning to feel that there would be no end to the mystery of this boy sat before her. She had been sitting and trying to get him to open up for over an hour now. There had been no response. He just sat, looking down at his hands and occasionally up and around. Taking a deep breath, she tried again.

"Listen to me darling. It's alright. I know you're scared. I know that something has obviously happened to you that has made you end up in this state. But I can't help you unless you talk to me. And believe me, I really want to help you. I mean, surely you're parents must be worried about you? Mum and Dad? Where are they?" she probed gently.

At this the C.I saw something flicker behind the boy's eyes. Anger? Resentment? A memory? She couldn't tell, but it was the first sign of life that she had seen all evening, so decided to press on.

"I know if my son was missing, somewhere out there, I'd want to know where he was and if something had happened to him I don't know what I'd do. But for a fact I can tell you that I would want to be there. And I don't really think that you want to be here? Do you? Honestly?" Isabel said, gesturing round at the grey and dreary interview room, consisting of three chairs, a table with a recorder on it and barred windows.

It was hardly where she wanted to be right now. She should be at home, putting her child to bed, kissing him goodnight. And she so desperately wished that she were.

"What's your name sweetheart? You know I can help you. I can help you to get home. Where do you live? Where do you come from?" Isabel looked up sharply, interrupted by an insistent rapping on the window of the interview room.

Outside of the room one of her officers was brandishing something and beckoning to her to come out.

"You'll have to excuse me for just one second dear. I'll be back in a minute."

The boy did not look up from his hands.

Letting the door swing closed behind her, C.I McMann stepped into the corridor.

"What is it Wilkins?" she asked bruskly.

PC James Wilkins raised the piece of paper in his hand.

"This Ma'am. Found it in the inside pocket of his jacket."

"Is that money? You called me out here for paper currency?"

"Ma'am, yes, it's a dollar bill. And there was also this…" Wilkins handed a small book to his Chief Inspector.

Taking the brandished, dried out item she looked at it carefully.

"Oh, the Place's You'll Go? What on earth has Dr. Suess got to do with this whole equation?"

"There's an inscription inside. You can still make it out."

Carefully opening the front cover of the book and looking closely, Isabel smiled slightly. So that was his name. And he was American. At least they could stop calling him 'Piano Boy' now.

My Dearest Ephram,

I've been sitting in our kitchen for the last half hour simply imagining you. Wondering what you must be thinking right now. What you must be feeling. How handsome you must look in your cap and gown.

If you're thinking about me, stop. Send a kiss to the sky, and then focus your thoughts on what's coming towards you, not what you left behind. I am forever entwined in your past, your present, and you future. You needn't pause to look for me. I'm right here. If you're feeling frightened about what comes next, don't. Embrace the uncertainty. Allow it to lead you places. Be brave as it challenges you to exercise both your heart and your mind as you create your own path towards happiness, don't waste time with regret.

Spin wildly into your next action. Enjoy the present, each moment, as it comes; because you'll never get another one quite like it. And if you should ever look up, and find yourself lost, simply take a breath and start over. Retrace your steps and go back to the purest place in your heart...where your hope lives. You'll find your way again.

Love,
Mom

Reading the inscription in the small book, she felt a sadness wash over her. What on earth was this boy doing here? How had he wound up falling away from what appeared to be such a caring family? There were deeper currents running here and she sensed that there was going to be much trouble before a resolution was reached, and oh, the American authorities… She'd have to contact them… A thrilling prospect in itself.

Walking back into the interview room C.I McMann jumped straight into her opening gambit, resulting, however unexpected, the first reaction she had seen from the boy.

"Ephram? I seriously need you to tell me what's going on here."

Turning his head to face the woman addressing him, Ephram looked briefly at her, his eyes rolled slightly and he collapsed from the chair where he was sitting onto the floor.

Jumping, C.I McMann let out a brief exclamation and hit the emergency button.