Question: where have you been where are you going short story

title: Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
text: The story was originally named `` Death and the Maiden '' . The main character of Oates ' story is Connie , a beautiful , self - absorbed 15 - year - old girl , who is at odds with her mother -- once a beauty herself -- and with her dutiful , `` steady '' , and homely older sister . Without her parents ' knowledge , she spends most of her evenings picking up boys at a Big Boy restaurant , and one evening captures the attention of a stranger in a gold convertible covered with cryptic writing . While her parents are away at her aunt 's barbecue , two men pull up in front of Connie 's house and call her out . She recognizes the driver , Arnold Friend , as the man from the drive - in restaurant , and is initially charmed by the smooth - talking , charismatic stranger . He tells Connie he is 18 and has come to take her for a ride in his car with his sidekick Ellie . Connie slowly realizes that he is actually much older , and grows afraid . When she refuses to go with them , Friend becomes more forceful and threatening , saying that he will harm her family , while at the same time appealing to her vanity , saying that she is too good for them . Connie is compelled to leave with him and do what he demands of her .