Jonathan had just arrived on the outskirts of the city, winding through the suburbs. He followed the map in his hand, scanning house numbers until he reached the most recent address tied to his father.
The house was rundown. A dull tan paint job clung to cracked siding. Cheap, plain. Just like he remembered.
Jonathan parked across the street, hesitated for a moment, then crossed to the front door. He could hear music coming from inside. He knocked, loud and sharp.
"Hello?" he called, knocking again. "Lonny?"
A couple minutes passed before a woman with heavy eyeliner, tight neon green pants, and a blue tank top finally opened the door. Cynthia—Lonny's latest.
She looked Jonathan up and down. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah," Jonathan said. "Is Lonny around?"
"Yeah. He's out back. What do you want?"
Jonathan stepped inside. "Just looking around."
"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing? Hey!"
"I'll be fast."
Jonathan moved through the house, calling out. "Will? You here, buddy? Will?"
As he walked down the hallway, Lonny came through the back door and slammed him against the wall.
"Get off!" Jonathan shoved him back.
Lonny smirked. "Damn. You've gotten stronger."
Cynthia stepped back, arms folded. "Will someone please explain what's going on?"
Lonny shrugged. "Jonathan, Cynthia. Cynthia, this is Jonathan—my oldest."
Cynthia popped her gum and looked him up and down.
Lonny stepped forward. "Come here." He tried to hug Jonathan, but was pushed away again.
"Get off me, man."
"What are you doing here?"
"Will's missing. You seen him?"
"No."
"Well, I'm gonna look around." Jonathan searched the rest of the house, but came up empty.
Lonny followed. "See?"
Outside, Jonathan checked the backyard, then opened the trunk of the old car sitting in the driveway.
Lonny barked, "Really? Want to check up my ass too? I told the cops—he's not here. Never was."
Jonathan turned. "Then why didn't you call Mom back?"
"I don't know. I figured she just forgot where he was. You know how that kid is—never very good at taking care of himself."
"This isn't a joke, all right? There are search parties. Reporters—"
"Hopper's not still chief, is he?"
Jonathan looked away.
Lonny smirked. "Tell your mother she needs to get you out of that hellhole. Move out here to the city. People are more real here, you know?"
Jonathan shrugged. "I've got a friend who'd disagree."
Lonny ignored the comment. "Then I could see you more."
Jonathan shook his head.
"You think I don't want to see you?"
"I know you don't."
Lonny grunted. "That's your mother talking. She even know you're here?"
Jonathan shook his head again.
"Great. One kid goes missing, and the other runs wild. Some real parenting, huh? Look, maybe I'm not the asshole here."
Jonathan shoved a flyer into Lonny's chest. "In case you forgot what he looks like." He turned and walked away.
Lonny stood there watching, a frown on his face.
Cynthia walked up behind him and draped her arms around his neck. "He's kind of cute. Maybe I'll trade you in for the younger model?"
---
Back in Hawkins, Hopper sat in the station with Earl—the old man Benny had talked to the day before.
"You have any idea why Benny would've killed himself?" Hopper asked.
Earl shook his head. "Don't make no sense, Chief."
"Notice anything… off about him lately?"
Earl took the cigarette Hopper offered. "No. We were fixin' to go fishin' down at Etowah next Sunday. He was lookin' forward to it."
"He got any enemies? Someone who might want him gone?"
Earl took a long drag. "Exes didn't like him, that's for sure. But... nah."
"When's the last time you saw him?"
"Yesterday. Lunch. Same as always."
"Just you and the boys?"
"Yep. Me and Henry and..." Earl hesitated. "Well, there was this kid."
Hopper perked up. "A kid? What're you talking about?"
Earl nodded. "Yeah. At lunch. There was this boy trying to steal food from the kitchen. Can you believe that?"
"What'd he look like?"
"Yea high," Earl said, holding his hand low. "Tiny. Didn't get a good look. He stayed in the back."
Callahan walked over and held up a poster. "Look like this?"
Earl studied it. "Oh, no. That's Lonny's missing kid. This one had short hair. Buzzed real close."
Hopper frowned. "Forget the haircut. If this kid had a buzz cut... could it be him?"
Earl looked again. "Didn't get a clear look. About the right height, though. I mean... could've been."
Hopper sighed, thanked him, and left.
---
John and April had been searching the woods for hours. It was now 3:00 p.m.
"Let's head out," John said. "I've got a package coming."
"A package?" April asked. "What is it?"
John smirked. "Secret."
April pouted and walked ahead.
"It's a surprise," he admitted.
Her eyes lit up. "Really? For me?"
John nodded. "Wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, right?"
April beamed and grabbed his hand. They walked back to the car and drove to John's house.
When they pulled into the driveway, April gasped. "John... what are all these boxes?"
"This is your surprise."
"Wait—what could possibly be in this many boxes?"
"Why not open one and find out?"
April walked to a box and tore it open. Inside was a chrome-rimmed car tire.
She looked over, puzzled. "Why is there a tire in here?"
John grinned. "I wonder."
Box by box, April opened them—revealing mirrors, panels, doors, a hood, even a steering wheel. One look at the parts, and it clicked.
She turned to him, eyes wide. "No way."
John smiled. April squealed and ran into his arms, jumping on him. He caught her and spun her around as she kissed his cheek.
"Thank you, John!"
He set her down. "You wanna help me build it?"
"I don't know how."
"That's fine. I'll give you simple stuff."
April nodded. John got to work organizing the parts. After lining them up neatly, he fetched jack stands from the garage, positioned them, and placed the car frame down on them.
Bit by bit, he bolted the chassis together while April tightened bolts with a ratchet.
"You having fun?" he asked.
April beamed. "This is so cool."
Two hours flew by. The body was built, the electrical finished. All that remained were the doors, wheels, and convertible roof.
April bounced on her heels with excitement as John installed the last of the panels. The car was a sleek, bubblegum pink Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz—a retro beauty.
"Will you do the honors?" John asked.
April nodded eagerly. Together, they put on the tires. By the time they were done, the sun had dipped low in the sky.
"It's so beautiful!" April gasped.
John hugged her from behind. "How about we get her off the jacks and go for a ride?"
She nodded, still stunned. He lowered the car, and she turned toward the passenger seat.
"Whoa," John said. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Getting in the car?"
"Whose car is this?"
"Mine... right?"
"Exactly. So why are you going to the passenger side? You're driving."
April blinked. "I don't know how."
"I'll teach you. Get in."
Nervous, April slid behind the wheel. John took the passenger seat.
"All right," he said. "What do you know about driving?"
"I know what the pedals do... and turn signals. That's it."
"That's more than enough. Put it in reverse. Back out slow."
She nodded, shifted into reverse, and rolled out of the driveway. The road ahead was clear.
They were off.
---
At the Wheeler house, Nancy lay on her bed, phone tucked to her ear.
"Why do I have to come?" Barb groaned.
"Because I don't want to go alone."
"But—"
"Barb, c'mon. Remember when I covered for you?"
Barb sighed. "Fine. But if we get caught, I'm blaming you."
"Fair enough. So you're coming?"
"Yeah."
"Nancy!" Karen called. "Dinner!"
Nancy said quickly, "Gotta go. See you in an hour."
She ran downstairs and joined the family at the table. Dustin and Lucas sat there too, poking at their food.
The room was quiet—just clinking forks and knives.
Karen looked around. "Is there something wrong with the meatloaf?"
Dustin said, "Oh, no. I had two bologna sandwiches for lunch."
Lucas added, "Me too."
Nancy smiled. "It's delicious, Mommy."
Karen smiled. "Thank you, sweetie."
Nancy hesitated. "So... there's this assembly tonight. For Will. At the school field. Barb's driving."
Karen raised an eyebrow. "Why am I just now hearing this?"
"I thought you knew."
"I told you not to be out after dark."
"I know, but it'd be super weird if I'm not there. Everyone's going."
Karen sighed. "Fine. Be back by ten."
She looked at the boys. "Why don't you go too? For Will."
"No!" "Mm-mm." The boys shook their heads wildly.
Just then, El came down the stairs.
Mike—mid-sip—spit his milk. His eyes went wide.
Karen started to turn, but Dustin slammed the table.
"Sorry. Spasm," he said, grinning awkwardly.
Holly shrank into her chair, on the verge of tears.
Karen leaned over. "It's okay, Holly. Just a loud noise."
Nancy shot Dustin a look. "Nice."
Dustin stared at his plate.