Last week Joe was asked if he could work bank holiday Monday, it wasn't definite at that time but his manager said he'd confirm it on Sunday when he had a shift.
Originally he was planning on going out to a club on Sunday night but said that if he had to work he wouldn't. His shift was confirmed and when he got home he said he was going out but wouldn't be late back. His friend Blair picked him up at 6. He and Blair go way way back to nursery school together, he's a good kid.
Anyway, later in the evening he texted saying that he'd be back between 11 and Midnight.
A bit later came another text saying Midnight and 1am but he had his key.
John went to bed just after 11 and I followed at Midnight. I don't usually worry when they're out, I'm not one of those who lies awake waiting to hear the door and neither is John (which is a good thing as he didn't come in until 5 on Saturday morning) but I just couldn't get to sleep. I think it was because he'd gone out in Blair's car, he's a new driver and it was playing on my mind that their school friend had recently been killed in a crash and another friend has just written his car off.
It was also playing on my mind that he had to be at work for 9am. I'd already texted him but the text hadn't even been delivered and I tried calling when it got to 2.30am but it went to voicemail.
John was restless too, I checked when the club closed and it was 3.30am. At 4.15 John got dressed and went to look for him, he drove past Blair's house on the way to town and his car was at home so he let me know. In the meantime I called Shirley, Blair's mom, and asked if Joe was there with Blair but she was awake and waiting too. They'd left Blair's car there and walked into town but she said that Joe had said he wasn't going to the club, that he was just going to the pub for a couple of drinks before heading home, because of work.
Anyway, John came back, he'd had a good drive around and there was no sign of Joe.
He went out again just before 5 and this time came back with him. His phone had died and he'd lost track of the time. Blair made it home, via McDonalds, just after 8am.
If he'd stayed a bit longer he'd have seen Joe arrive for work
