Wait for Me

On a late August evening, a meteor strikes the earth near the small Appalachian town of Lenora. The event produces contradictory witness accounts. Various observers describe the phenomenon as a strange trail of smoke, a fire in the clouds, or the sky tearing in two. Those closer to the point of impact do not see the object but experience an otherworldly groan, a powerful tremor, and a foul stench, which they misinterpret as a local explosion or earthquake. The narrative clarifies that the meteor struck 30 seconds after it appeared, and its roar reached the river valley a minute after impact. The event occurs near woods where, according to the narrator, a woman on the run learned nearly 20 years earlier that those who entered did not come out.

In 1991, 18-year-old Marijohn Shaw works at the gas station owned by her father, Abe Shaw. The station doubles as an unofficial museum dedicated to Elle Harlow. Abe believes he was the last person to see the singer alive in 1973, but Marijohn knows the signature on his prize artifact, a gas pump, is a forgery. Marijohn plans to confess her love for her best friend, Lazarus Wright, before he leaves for college the next day. She has also been accepted into two college music programs but cannot afford to attend without a scholarship. Meanwhile, Abe buys another fake artifact, a rhinestone barrette. Marijohn discovers a Claire’s sticker inside it, revealing the deception. The discovery upsets Abe, who begins questioning the authenticity of his other artifacts, and Marijohn comforts him by playing her broken mandolin. Marijohn’s history is revealed: She was abandoned as an infant in a wicker trunk beside the gas pump by a woman Abe believed was Elle Harlow. The woman disappeared while Abe was inside the station looking for a marker so she could sign the pump. Abe discovered Marijohn after hearing her cry and subsequently raised her as his daughter.

Lazarus arrives to pick up Marijohn for their last night together before he leaves for college. He brings a camcorder, intending to record one of her songs as a keepsake. Before they leave, they argue about his decision to study accounting, and Lazarus hurts Marijohn by comparing his future profession to her work at the gas station. They drive to their secluded spot at the edge of the woods where they have spent summers making music. A flashback shows how they first bonded years ago over a conversation about death. The chapter also reveals that Marijohn was abandoned with a broken mandolin and a note reading, “Call her Marijohn” (26). Marijohn has written a song called “Namesake” about being abandoned; overcome with emotion, she kisses Lazarus. He stiffens and pulls away, saying he doesn’t want to repeat what her mother did by becoming someone who leaves her. He also encourages Marijohn to leave Lenora, but she insists that her father needs her. They then record “Namesake,” with Lazarus singing because Marijohn is too upset to do so. She accompanies him on the mandolin. Just after sunset, a meteor streaks across the sky and crashes into the nearby woods and ravine. Lazarus throws himself over Marijohn to shield her as the ground shakes.

After the meteor crashes into the nearby ravine, Marijohn and Lazarus recover from the impact. Lazarus discovers that his still-running camcorder captured the meteor strike. Afterward, Marijohn climbs down into the ravine to investigate, using blankets tied together as a rope while Lazarus remains above. The meteor has sunk into the river, but its impact has dislodged long-buried debris. She finds a fragment of plastic with a pink-and-white gingham pattern, which she recognizes from Elle Harlow’s custom guitar. The discovery makes Marijohn question whether Abe’s account of Elle’s disappearance might be true and whether Elle could have died in the woods. On the drive home, the ongoing emotional tension over the kiss erupts into an argument, with Laz warning Marijohn to guard her heart. When Abe sees the plastic fragment, he declares they must call the police to search the swamp; Marijohn dissuades him, telling him no one will believe them after 18 years, and they make a silent vow to search the river themselves. Lazarus interrupts by asking Abe to inspect his truck, preventing them from immediately entering the woods. Before Lazarus leaves, Marijohn asks him to play music with her one last time, but he refuses, saying it is too late.

Lazarus gives the video footage of the meteor strike to the news media. The clip, featuring Marijohn’s song and Lazarus shielding her, airs on television with the caption, “METEOR IGNITES YOUNG LOVE” (45), and brings Lazarus attention beyond Lenora. As news spreads that a large, valuable piece of the meteor is still missing, treasure hunters descend on Lenora. After Marijohn ignores his repeated calls, Lazarus returns and tells Marijohn he only shared the video so her music would be heard, but she is furious he made their private moment a public spectacle without saving the recording for her. Soon after, Lazarus appears on a national news program in Pittsburgh, performing Marijohn’s song “Namesake” by himself. When asked about the experience, he declares, “I swear to God I thought it was the last night of the world” (51).

Abe and Marijohn go to the ravine, where they manage to pull a chrome Studebaker bumper out of the river. The discovery prompts Abe to abandon his obsession with collecting artifacts after acknowledging that his efforts to give Marijohn a past have kept him from helping her build a future. He resolves to help Marijohn get financial aid for college. Later, Lazarus returns and reveals that a Nashville record company saw his television performance and invited him to record demo songs at its studio. He tells Marijohn he has already turned it down because they write songs together and he cannot do it without her. Recognizing that this could be his chance to pursue music instead of accounting, Marijohn insists he call them back and pursue the opportunity, and lets him go. Three days after Lazarus leaves, a woman arrives at the house. It is Elle Harlow, alive. She says she saw Marijohn on the news and demands to know where she got the broken mandolin. Marijohn holds her ground, showing Elle the pink-and-white plastic fragment from the ravine and asking her to explain where she has been.