After a few minutes I decide to go for it, as I get bored of lying awake in the dark. I move as quietly as possible, opening and closing the door without even a sqeak. Mission sucessful!
Now...to find something to do. I wasn't in the mood for tv, and I wasn't hungry either. I look at the kitchen, seeing the laptop. Bingo! A little online time would do him good. Maybe email Joan and Ted...
I turn on the computer, and only a minute later I'm surfing the web. I debate about whether I really should send out emails to my 'parents', and then decide to go for it. Afterall, they took me in for eight years, and I haven't spoken to them for several months. I feel slightly guilty for that.
I opened outlook express and signed into my private account, one for only friends and family.
To: Joan_Mann@Harrisonco.com
From: Alex1556@hotmail.com
Hey...it's me. Sorry I didn't write or phone for a long time. Got kind of busy for a while. Though, I suspect you've heard about that on the news.
I puase, thinking about what happened just about five months before. The trilobugs going out of control, teaming up with X, ...and Brandon getting his body back. It was a turbelunt time, but he hadn't let himself get caught up in it, since soon after X re-captured his airship and disappeared. Untill three weeks ago. I sigh, and force myself to continue.
Anyway...I was thinking, that after this next upcoming race, the team and I would stop in Bismin. For a few days at least. We might visit dad as well.
I stare at the computer screen for a few minutes, deciding what else to put. Why was it difficult to talk to them now-a-days? Of course, the burden of keeping what thier business with X and the Council of Doom a secret was a problem. But there was something else...I shake my head and continue on.
Brandon has been staying with us. We *met up* with him again soon after the incident in New York.
I wince slightly as I type this. After Brandon first disappeared from the circiut, both Brandon's relatives and my parents are asking for an explanation. I couldn't very well tell them the truth, so I lied and told I had idea where Brandon had gone. I probably could have made a better excuse, but I couldn't put my head into it. Even after Brandon apparent *death* I couldn't bring myself to tell them everything. Another rift...
Well, I hope you doing well, and that dad is doing well. I'll write again soon. I promise.
Love,
Alex
Well, one email down, one more to go. I click send and quickly fill out the form for a new email.
To: T_Mann12@earthlink.net
From: Alex1556@hotmail.com
Hey dad, Alex here. I just emailed mom. Didn't write much, but here's a recap, of sorts. Hopefully we'll be in town after the next race. And Brandon is back with us. Long story, I'll tell you in person. Not much else to say. Guess I'll see you later.
Alex
That was shorter then the last email, but I was running out of things I could say. I click send for the second time, close the program. Now that was over, I could relax a bit. I browse over to some of my favorites sites, Sluggly Freelance, Amazon...I blink as I look at a semi-familar site in the bookmarks. Neopets.
Ah, yes. That one. The one Fidget convinced, or more like begged, me to sign up on, claiming it was one of the greatest sites of all time. I explored it once, then went on to other sites. That was over a year ago. Now curiousity was driving me to check the status of my *pet*. Hmm...a year without food and it was dying, but not dead. I shrug and continue elsewhere.
I sigh, getting bored. I decide to check my email one last time before logging off, then stare as a new message is highlighted on the list. An email...from Joan...Mom. Dang, that was quick. A storm raises withen me as I debate on opening it. What did she have to say after months without word from me? Would the email be angry? Sad? ...Hopeful?
I start shaking as I stare at the screen. I can't do this. Hard to talk to her, even though email. I shut down the computer, and pace around the kitchen. I look back to the laptop, seeing my cell phone on the some table. I could call....surely I owed it to her. But what would I say? Still, words allude me.
I stare a few minutes longer, strangely my doubt was waning. Afterall, Joan is the only woman I called mom. She loved me. She loved me the same even after she and Ted divorced. I had nothing to fear from her. With that thought in mind, I stroll over to the table to pick up the phone. With a final sigh, I dial.
"Hello...mom?"