Beware of the Parker Boys *UNDER EDITING*

Chapter Thirty Six

      “How do I owe it to you?” he asks, his voice sounding breathless.

      “Because you didn’t tell me when the funeral was. You weren’t there for her and me both when you left, and you weren’t there for her when she was gone.” I snap.

      Silence.

      I wait a moment longer. Letting him digest this into his head.

      “She is buried in her home town, Bridgeport.”

      That’s in California.

      “That’s all I needed to know.” I say before hanging up and grabbing my duffle bag from the bed, scribbling a note down on a piece of paper and running downstairs, placing the note on the counter in the kitchen then running out the door.

      I run down the sidewalk until I am at the Parker’s house. I sprint across the yard and through the door. Without thinking about who I am about to encounter I run down the hallway and up the stairs.

      “Hey! Your back!” Someone yells to me.

      “Told you I would be back at the end of the week didn’t I?” I call back to them before reaching the top of the stairs.

      “What’s the rush!?” the call, laughter slightly hanging in their words.

      “Going on a road trip.” I say before opening the door of my room and stepping inside. I shut it quickly and lock it again before hurrying to the bed and placing the duffle bag down next to Sandy.

      She is about the size of my hand now and research says that it is time to let her back into the wild. I run to my laptop and open it, finding it already on and open Google.

      I Google how long it is going to take me to reach Bridgeport before Googling directions to the local cemetery. I write down the directions and then jump from the chair and put some things into my duffle bag.

      It is going to take two hours to reach Bridgeport so I have decided to leave tomorrow. That way I can spend a little bit of time with the others before leaving again.

                                            

      With the duffle bag hid in the closet I walk from the room a few hours later. I can hear the TV blaring from downstairs and drag myself towards the sound. As I am passing the kitchen I can see Wendy out of the corner of my eyes and I stop and walk into the kitchen.

      “Hey.” I say softly, leaning against the counter.

      She jumps slightly and turns away from the stove to face me, her eyes shimmer with something for a moment and she smiles.

      “Hey, glad your back.” She says brightly.

      “Yea… sorry about that… and that I didn’t tell you….-…”

      “Don’t worry about it. I understand this is just as hard for you as it is for us if not harder, you needed a break.” She nods with understanding.

      I smile slightly, happy that she understands.

      She turns back to the stove quickly when the water in a pot boils over.

      “I am going to visit my mom tomorrow.” I say and she turns back to me even faster. “Her grave I mean.”

      She opens her mouth to say something but then shuts it again. Then she nods slowly.