The grocery selection is limited to the tiny grocery store and two gas station convenience stores-one of the 4,724 reasons I want to escape this town.

“Hear my whippoorwill?” I ask, moving on to lighter topics. “You won’t hear those in Des Moines or Chicago.”

“I hear your annoying little friend,” he teases. “He’s probably warning you it’s too late to be out and to go home.”

“I can’t go home.” I confess what he already knows to be true. ...