Chapter two
A different world
Virgil held onto his mother until she gently pulled him away, "Sweetie, you're scaring me."
Virgil looked at his mother then his father, still a little in shock, "Dad, mom, you don't think that a thought, Well- a wish- could-."
"What?" his parents looked confused.
"Forget it," Virgil said as he hugged his mother again.
Virgil?" Lucy said again.
"I'm sorry mom, I just can't believe it, you look beautiful," Virgil said as he once again released her.
Lucy looked at her son with a worried look then looked to Jeff with a questioning look. Jeff shrugged and watched as Virgil walked over to the shelves lined with pictures.
"When I was little was the family ever in an avalanche?" Virgil asked as he started looking at the pictures.
"No never, why?" Jeff asked he was beginning to get worried now.
"I thought we were," Virgil said as he continued to look at the pictures.
There was a picture of the family on the island as the family vacation home; all the boys were in front with Jeff and Lucy standing behind them. Virgil remembered taking that picture he was ten years old that summer, it had been the year before their mother had been killed. Though the pictures didn't stop there, it went on to Scott's graduation from high school; there was a picture of him with all his brothers and a little girl that he didn't know, and a picture with him and their mom and dad. Virgil eyes scanned the rest of the pictures, John's high school graduation and his own. There was a picture of Scott by his airplane the Tracybird. One of Scott's graduating basic training in his Air Force uniform. One of John sleeping on his widow sill by his telescope. One of Alan sitting on their mom's lap. The girl was a lot of the pictures and Virgil couldn't place her. Finally Virgil's eyes landed on the picture of Gordon with his WASP Equipment with a big smile on his face.
Virgil smiled as he picked up the picture frame to take a better look at the picture, "Gordon and his WASP activities."
Lucy smiled, "Yeah, he sure loved that WASP team."
Virgil turned to face them again, "Loved, Gordon's-dead?"
"Virgil, Gordon died in that hydrofoil accident almost a year ago, he died instantly you know that," Jeff said trying to put his hand on his son's forehead.
Virgil dodged his father's hand, "It's okay dad, I'm okay."
"Virgil?" Lucy said.
"Really mom, I'm fine," Virgil said quietly.
"Mommy, why is Virgil here," a voice came from the stairs.
"Virgil just came to say hi sweetie, go on and go back to bed," Lucy said to the girl that appeared at the stairs.
"Okay, good night Virgil," She said as she turned around.
"Yeah, good night," Virgil said with confusion.
"Virgil please tell you remember your little sister's name," Jeff said noticing Virgil had not said her name when he had said good night.
"Oh course I do, it's-," Virgil looked around the room looking for a clue for what the little girl's name could be, his eyes landed on a notebook on the table by the couch, there was a name written across the front of it, Riley. "Riley, it's Riley."
"Good, you had me worried there for a minute," Lucy said with a smile.
"You know what Virgil, I am going to call John and have him come pick you up okay," Jeff said as he reached for the phone but Virgil's hand stopped him.
"Dad no don't do that, I want to stay here, please," Virgil was nearly bagging.
"Why?" Jeff asked.
"I just miss it here, you guys don't worry, you go ahead and go to bed, I'll be fine," Virgil said as he sat down on the couch.
"Okay, you know where the blankets are if you get cold, make sure you get some sleep alright?" Jeff said as he headed for the stairs.
"Yes sir," Virgil said as he watched them go.
"We love you," Lucy said with a smile.
"I love you too," Virgil as his parents disappeared upstairs.
Virgil lay down on the couch and started thinking, his mother was alive, something that he had wished ever since he was thirteen. He had a little sister, something that he would have to get use to, Riley, Riley; he had to remember that name. The only thing that he was having trouble with was the fact that Gordon was gone. Suddenly getting a headache he slowly fell asleep as a single tear trailed down his cheek.
T.B.C.
