“The Falls,” Maya was saying, “really was just like the painting I told you about.”

“Uncle?” Lee asked.

 

 

“What are you doing here? I tried to call you. Why do you have Mom’s phone?”

 

 

“Mike, why did you let them in?” Uncle Monroe asked.

 

 

“They’re not in,” Mike said. “Not by a longshot.”

 

 

“Mitch?” Maya asked.

 

 

“You know them?” Uncle Monroe asked.

“Nope,” Mitchell said.

“I love poker,” Lee said. “I’ll buy myself in.”

 

 

“Get my nephew back home, Mike, or at least off the property.”

 

 

“Home’s great, I’ll see Mom that way,” Lee said.

“Not my home, your home. Or hotel room or whatever. No visits today, not today Lee, of all days.”

“What?” Lee said. “Why… why didn’t you answer your phone today?”

Monroe asked, “You called?”

“Yes,” Lee said.

“Did you leave a message?”

Lee thought about it. “No.”

“Leave a message next time. Mike?”

 

 

“That crap?”

“I see what you mean, yeah.”

“That’s why I skipped town. He controls everything. It got to where I couldn’t even go to my favorite places. Places like this.”

“So sorry, Lee.”

“I just want it to stop. I’m tired of fighting stupid battles with him that don’t mean anything.”

“Let’s check on Thulani,” Maya said. “After telling that story again he’s probably…”

“Yeah,” Lee said. “Yeah, okay.”

“And maybe get some sleep.”

“Alright, yeah. Sleep lots of sleep.””

“Not too much, we have to get up early.”

“For what?”

“We gotta go to the one place I wanted to avoid.”

“Where?” Lee asked.

“A church,” she said. “Keep an eye on the water fountains when we go. I might melt.”

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brought to you by the Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau

photographed & directed by Mark Neuenschwander

written & directed by Lance Schaubert 

produced by Carrie Puffinbarger