Free Identity Issues by Claudia Whitsitt

cord and began to pray. This required divine intervention. The darned thing was stuck to her head, at the scalp no less. I couldn’t even grasp enough to loosen a single lock of hair.
    "Will, hold the handle of the vacuum very still. Nick, turn on more lights. Marie, put Rex outside and find me a comb. And Lizzie, hold your sister’s hand." Annie wore a look of shocked horror. Tears tumbled down her cheeks as she cried, "My hair, my hair."
    C’mon, I prayed. Help me out here.
    "Don’t worry, Annie, we’ll get you loose."
    I thought that the real solution might take the form of a pair of scissors and that bald style of some of the 80’s female rock stars.
    Angels flew to my side, the roller suddenly wobbled, and I freed almost all of Annie’s hair. The few strands we lost, I quickly hid in my pocket.
    "Can we call that enough excitement for one day?" I asked as I rubbed Annie’s head. "A shower and shampoo will make you feel better."
    Thank you, God.
    ∞ ∞ ∞
    Monday, a swimming day, would be another missed one for me. I drove the kids to the neighbor’s and made it to school just under the wire. As I dashed down the hall to my room, I spotted Di as she emerged from the office.
    "Hey, just the person I wanted to see," I said. "Did you go for coffee?"
    "Yes, and you were right. It was a good idea. I like him." Di smiled that smile that all women recognize. The smile that speaks…possibility.
    "Are you going to see him again?"
    "This weekend." Di looked more than a little enamored.
    "Well, good for you. Tell me more about him at lunch."
    "I will. I wanted to talk to you, too. I found a phone message in my mailbox this morning from Rosita Stitsill. She wants me to call her."
    "What about?" I asked.
    "Tutoring. I’ll try to call her on my prep, then let you know."
    "By the way, I found the photographs. They’re in my bag. I have to tell you, once I looked at them it brought back the willies. It made it so much more real to look at the photos and realize it was the same man. Every time I think about it, I want to throw up."
    "Are you headed to your room?"
    I nodded.
    "I’ll walk with you. I want to see them."
    Once safely in my room and sure we were alone, I showed Di the pictures. I’d feel horrible if Joey walked in and saw us looking at a photo of his mom and dad.
    Di’s eyes widened. "That’s him."
    "Yeah, that’s what I think."
    "This is spooky!" She shivered. "What the hell is going on?"
    "I’m wondering the same thing. Do you think Rosita knows he’s still alive?"
    "I don’t know." She looked pensive.
    "Here’s the thing. If this guy is still alive, who died in the car that night? I need to get a copy of that death certificate."
    "Sam, be careful. If that was really him and he’s still alive, what’s to say he isn’t dangerous? Watch your step. Ask Jack what he thinks. Did you tell Jon what we did the other night?"
    "No, I didn’t want to upset him, and he left for another trip on Friday morning. I feel bad not leveling with him, but he’d worry."
    "He’d be right to worry! You need to back off.
I’m nervous
. Let’s just let it go."
    I couldn’t blame her. I feared the situation was escalating. The whole thing.
    "I’ll talk to Jack," I said. "And you’re right. I’ll just back off and let it go." At least, I’d leave her out of it from now on.
    "I’d better get going. I hear the kids coming inside, and I want to get organized before the bell rings."
    "Listen, I’m sorry for dragging you into all of this," I said.
    "Don’t worry about it. Just drop it. Promise me. I’m worried that someone will get hurt."
    "I know." I nodded.
    Alright, I admit it. Concerned, in over my head, and clueless about my next move, I remembered that old saying about curiosity and cats.

Chapter Ten
    D I STOOD WAITING for me as I entered school the next morning. It seemed that developments in the "Stitsill" mystery transpired on a daily basis. Despite the fact that we had promised each other we’d give this