Free Stand by Me by Neta Jackson

With Peter still on the Manna House board, he and Avis often came with the SouledOut team. “But actually, why I’m calling . . . I’m wondering if my daughter Rochelle has been on the bed list at Manna House lately? You may remember, I brought her there several weeks ago, the day after Valentine’s Day, but she and her little boy, Conny, only stayed one night, and”—Avis felt her throat tighten—“we haven’t heard from her since.” She reached for the water bottle she kept on hand.
    â€œI’m sorry, Avis. That’s got to be hard.”
    Avis took several swallows of water, hoping Mabel would say more, but that was it. “So . . . has she been back? I mean, has she been on the bed list since then? I’m worried about her—her health, you know. And Conny. I need to find them.”
    There was an awkward silence. Then she heard Mabel sigh. “Avis, I’m sorry. The bed list is confidential. I mean, we can’t tell people over the phone if someone is here or not. Or whether they’ve been here. If Rochelle tells you, that’s fine. But . . .”
    Avis gripped the receiver. She couldn’t believe this! Mabel knew her personally, knew Rochelle was her daughter. Valentine’s Day hadn’t been the first time Rochelle had been an emergency resident at Manna House. So what was this all about?!
    â€œAvis? You still there? I’m sorry, your question about the bed list threw me. Even though I can’t tell you names on the bed list, I can tell you I personally haven’t seen Rochelle since she was here last. That’s not a hundred percent guarantee she hasn’t been here, especially if she came and went on a weekend, but I should have said that up front.”
    A knock at her office door was followed by Jodi Baxter poking her head in. “Oh. You’re busy. I’ll come back,” the younger woman mouthed silently and started to pull back.
    But Avis waved her in. “Thanks, Mabel. Guess that’s basically what I need to know.” It’ll have to do, anyway . She hung up the phone and turned to the third-grade teacher. “Hi, Jodi. What’s up?”
    Jodi closed the door behind her and pulled up one of the visitor chairs. “That’s my question. You didn’t make it to Yada Yada last night. What’s up? Was that Mabel Turner?”
    Avis nodded. “I was trying to find out if Rochelle and Conny have been back to Manna House in the past couple months, but she said the bed list is ‘confidential.’ ” She grimaced. “I’d think family would qualify for information.”
    â€œ Mm . I see your point—but also hers. Some women don’t want other people to know they’re at the shelter.”
    â€œThanks for the support.” Avis allowed an edge of irritation to slip into her voice but tried to soften it by asking what happened at Yada Yada the previous night.
    â€œIt was good. Everybody made it—except you, of course. But I shared that you hadn’t heard from Rochelle for a couple months and were looking for her. We prayed for you both.” Jodi looked at her quizzically. “So what happened yesterday?”
    Avis told her about Rochelle’s phone being cut off so she couldn’t even leave a message, and the dead end when she went to Rochelle’s apartment. “Doesn’t sound like she’s been back to Manna House either. Mabel did say she hadn’t personally seen her. Guess that’s almost as good as saying she hasn’t been on the bed list.”
    Jodi reached across the large desk and touched Avis’s arm. “I can hardly imagine how I’d feel if I hadn’t heard from one of my kids for a couple months and didn’t know how to contact them. And not knowing whether little Conny is okay either! You must be going nuts, Avis. Can I do anything? Help you look? Something!”
    â€œThanks, Jodi. I’ll let