Warren
Parker’s farm in Louisiana was fun for his son, Missouri, mainly because of
their next door neighbors, the Smiths, whose son and daughter, Ohio and Virginia,
were Missouri’s best friends. Missouri’s mother was from Mexico, so Josefina
and Missouri’s surnames were Rodriguez. Often, Ohio and Virginia would come to the
Parker farm to play with Missouri.
One night, when
they were fifteen, Missouri, Virginia, and Ohio were lying in the field, staring
at the stars, when Ohio had to go to the bathroom, he ran to Missouri’s house
and left his younger sister with his best friend, lying in the grass. “Hey
Missouri,” Alice turned. “Yeah?” Missouri turned to face Alice. Alice leaned
closer to Missouri and kissed him. Missouri’s eyes wide, Ohio picked him up by
his shirt collar and punched him square in the face, “Ohio, no!” Virginia screamed. Missouri flew from his friend’s grip to the ground. Missouri was
introduced to a flash of white and unconsciousness.
Missouri
awoke to see Virginia and Ohio admiring a tall, white, glowing diamond. Alice
touched her hand to it and in a flash, she disappeared. Ohio ran to Missouri’s
now conscious body, “Missouri! Missouri!” he yelled, “It’s Virginia! She’s gone!”
Missouri sat up, eyes wide, “What!? We have to rescue her!” Missouri grabbed
Ohio by the collar and ran into the diamond.