Lost in the Woods: Missing

"Do you think Dad might be lost in the woods?"

"Our Dad, I doubt it. He's pretty smart."

Nancy, the mother of three teenage children, overheard them talking about their father, as she walked into the kitchen. "Hi, I am back. Someone want to help me with the groceries?"

"Sure, Mom," one of the boys replied. 

"Those country roads are getting really slippery now."

"Where is Dad?" asked Mike, the oldest son. "I had a feeling that something was wrong when he asked me to go hunting this morning. I should have gone with him, but I'd already made plans of my own."

"Have any of you heard anything from your father yet?" Nancy asked. 

All three teenagers shook their heads.

"Normally, your Dad will call home, if he is going to be late," said Nancy. "Check and see if there are any messages on the phone."  

There were no messages.

"Check your Blackberry too, Mike."

There were no messages on there either, and it was starting to get dark.

"Mom, Dad should have been home a long time ago, shouldn't he?" asked Andrea, her daughter. Andrea had always been very close to her father. She was worried about him.

"Should I call Search and Rescue?" asked Tim, the youngest son. "They'd look for him. I really don't like it, when Dad is alone in the woods, particularly after dark. He may be lost, in trouble or hurt."

Earlier, Nancy had advised Ted not to go hunting alone, but as usual, he had a mind of his own. She knew that he trained as a hunter with wilderness training and excellent survival skills too, but now, even Nancy was becoming alarmed. 

"What do we do, Mom?" asked Andrea, who was on the verge of tears.

"He'll be fine, dear." replied Nancy. "Give him some more time."  

The next few hours passed slowly, as they all waited patiently.

"I hope he didn't go drinking with the boys, somewhere," Nancy thought to herself. "Ted, where are you?"

Just then, the telephone rang.

Everyone jumped.