Driving through a blizzard, my dog and I barely able to see the road. The motor home filled with fuel, food we also did get, just in case we got stranded somewhere on our long trek north to Alaska. The road not too wide, no vehicle from the other direction tells me that I am driving into oblivion. With each passing blast of wind driven snow, flakes so big they cannot last long, but they constantly cover my windshield, my wipers working overtime. According to the map, another 50 or so miles to the next rest stop, I wish someone were with me, just to keep me awake and make me feel the least bit safe.

There on the side of the road, what was that, I have to stop. It looked like a person, maybe a child, a boy or girl I know not. I open my door and in steps this cherub of a boy, his face red from the cold, barely audible is his voice; “Can I get a ride just up the road, please, sir? I won’t be any trouble, I just need to warm up and then I can continue my hike…”

His clothing soaked through to his skin, 11 or 12 years old at best! He needs to get out of those wet things before he catches his death! But no where to pull over, no where to help him to get into the hot shower and warm up.  We drive on, him in the passenger seat with the heat on full blast; I share with him some of my tea, at least it is hot, food is what he needs and a hot bath. Poor little guy, so small he is in stature, maybe he is less than the age I had originally thought, but he is so quiet, I am afraid to ask him anything.

We finally stop, we get to the rest stop, he did little talking in the last 50 miles, but when he did it came out in lengthy paragraphs, telling me of his reasons for being out on that cold dark wet road that night.

His mom was having a baby; he had gone for the doctor, got lost and ended up where I picked him up. He was of course cold and no one would pick him up. I got some food into him and called on my cell, his mother and was told she had her baby, a boy, just as cute as his older brother, who she lost in storm much like the one I had just experienced.

I told her I picked up her son, and explained what he looked like, and how our meeting came about. His mother did then start to cry, telling me that the boy I described was the same as the one lost in a storm 10 years earlier. He never came home, he went out looking for a doctor and no one saw him ever again. I asked how could that be? I had him there right in front of me, wait a minute where did you go, are you hiding, are you in the bed keeping warm, no!

He was here just a second ago, and the next thing I did know, the weather broke and the sun shined through, the temp did rise and it was like the storm had never existed. No snow on the outside, nothing on the road, vehicles passing like it was spring or summer, people dressed in shorts and t-shirts, what the hell happened, what did I just experience?

I looked all about, searching and asking questions if anyone did see this boy get out of my camper and walk away. No one did see him, nor was I able to find him again, so I called back the mother and told her he was on his way home I would guess. It turned out I was not far from her home, so she asked if I would care to stop before my next lengthy drive. Yes that would be great, I would like to see him again, and thank him for coming with me and helping me to stay awake that scary night.

I pulled into the farm, on which the mother and boy did live and was greeted by barking dogs and the mother, with a newborn in her arms,

and iced tea in her hand for me. She said her son always did like tea, be it iced or hot, he loved it with honey. Into her house we did go, the boys name turned out to be Corey Kyle, but his mom liked to call him Corky, much to the boys chagrin. He always did have a smile, for anyone he came upon, he loved his mom with all he had and she returned that love for him. She took me to his bedroom and showed me his pictures, and yes this was the boy I had picked up last night during a snow storm, he was wet and cold, and looking for a doctor.

She broke down into tears, and just then his father did come in, and I explained what had happened the night before. His father took me aside and with tears in his eyes, he told me thank you for helping his son that night, he wishes I was there the night it “actually” did happen. What? I don’t understand?

He explained that 10 years ago, their son then of 11 years old, did run out into a storm to find a doctor for his pregnant mother. The doctor did finally come, but the boy was never seen again. They searched and searched, all the fields, all the roads, they contacted the police, they contacted everyone and anyone that could help, but never was that boy seen again, until last night, during a snowstorm that never did happen! The boy came back to help his mom again, back from where, heaven, the twilight zone, wherever little boys do go to help their mommies when they are in need. His pictures in his room, the same cherubic face I had seen the night before and rode with me till this mornings disappearance…

                © ed ~ 9/13/04