A Nymph on Ogygia

Date: January 10

It was only when Leo pointed it out that Hazel realized that Calypso had been missing from school since winter break. They were partnered together to practice their throwing and catching skills because the snow prevented them from having to do the mile that day. As they took turns tossing and catching the soft dodgeball, they discussed what Calypso's disappearance could mean.

     "When did you last see or hear of her?" Hazel asked Leo, throwing the ball towards him.

     "I last saw her the day before Christmas," Leo said. "I invited her over to my house. My foster parents really liked her and she enjoyed the Texas toast and eggs they made. She was supposed to come over the next day, but she didn't. I called the center where her mother had been saying and they said she had left. I haven't heard or seen Calypso since."

      "They have no car, right?" Hazel asked, catching the ball Leo had just thrown to her.

      "She's been walking two miles to school everyday," Leo said.

     "Could the weather be making it hard for her to come?" Hazel asked as she threw the bell back at him.

For the past month, the town had been buried in snow. School was rarely canceled because the district hated canceling school and because they were up north, they were used to it. Many people owned four wheel drives and the roads were well salted, but walking in the snow was still difficult.

"That wouldn't keep Calypso away," Leo said. "Something feels wrong. I'm really worried about her."

Hazel had caught the ball, but quickly dropped it. She closed the distance between Leo and her and quickly gave him a hug. He was a good friend and she hated to see him look so dejected. Normally, he joked to avoid sharing his feelings, so the fact that he was so open and had not cracked a single joke made Hazel feel nervous.

A ball whizzed near them and hit Hazel in the head. She stumbled backwards. Coach Hedge came marching towards them and Frank was hurrying after him, looking worried as he saw Hazel rubbing her forehead, which was starting to turn purple from a bruise.

"You'll need to see Nurse Hygeia," Coach Hedge decided, "which wouldn't be necessary if you hadn't been hugging Leo."

Frank gave Hazel a look as if he was a confused and dejected giant goldfish. Hazel mouthed that she would explain what was going on later and followed Coach Hedge to the school nurse. ****

After school ended, Hazel got into Leo's car, which he had nicknamed Festus, instead of her brother's. She had texted Frank already and explained the situation. Frank told her that she was kind and he would help if he could, but his grandmother was making him clean her video cameras. He was tempted to smash them, but he knew she would just buy new ones.

       Hazel and Leo has decided to check out the hotels in town and see if Calypso was staying at any of them. After having no luck at Circe's Resort, Hermes's Hotel, and the chain hotels like Super 8 and Motel 6. They were almost out of town when they saw a hotel that looked beaten-up and worn down.

     "Maybe they're staying in Ogygia," Hazel suggested, pointing to the faded hotel sign.

     Leo sighed, but they decided to go in and take a look. When they got in the lobby, they saw a familiar figure reading a book. She looked up and smiled at them, but her puffy eyes revealed that she had been crying.

     "Sunshine, what's wrong?" Leo asked. "You haven't been at school. We're all worried about you."

"My parents finally got divorced," Calypso said. "My mom gets enough in child support to stay here until we find somewhere else, but I've been working to help support us, so I have not been able to go to school."

     "You could stay with me," Hazel offered. "And maybe my dad could hire your mom. He needs someone to organize funeral bouquets and help decorate the place."

     Calypso's face brightened. She stood up and hugged Hazel.

     "Now I can see why Leo liked you first," she whispered. "You're a sweetheart."

     "And he loves you because you're a trooper," Hazel whispered back. "You'll make it as you always have."