Chapter Three

Mowing and a

Gravesite visit

Virgil slowly opened his eyes; they came to rest on the frame on the table in front of him. The picture of the family at Christmas by the Christmas tree: Dad, Mom, Scott, John, himself, Gordon, Alan, and Riley. Riley! Virgil sat up and took the picture into his hand, yes it was real, he looked around the room. It looked just like he remembered, the chairs, the couch, the pictures everything, everything was the same as it was when he was a kid.

"Okay, what has the Hood done to me now?" Virgil asked himself movement by the stairs made him turn.

"Hi Virgil," Riley said with a smile.

"Oh hi Riley, you scared me," Virgil said putting a smile on his face he was going to try this and see what happened.

"Sorry, why are you here? I thought you would come with John when he came later," Riley said with confusion. She looked to be about twelve years old, her light red hair went just past her shoulders, her bright green eyes reminded him so much of Gordon.

"I um, missed you guys so much I um, thought I would come early," Virgil said hoping that it would enough for the girl.

"Oh okay, you know I'm always happy to see you big brother," Riley said as she gave Virgil a hug.

"Yeah, me too," Virgil said as Riley skipped into the kitchen Virgil slowly followed.

……………

"Good morning mom," Riley said as she sat down on one of the stools at the counter.

"Good morning sweetie," Lucy said with a smile.

"Good morning Virgil," Jeff said from his seat at the table.

"Good morning dad," Virgil said as he looked around the kitchen.

"Sit down sweetie, Breakfast will be ready in a minute," Lucy said with a smile.

"What is for breakfast?" Riley asked as Virgil sat down beside her.

"Pancakes," Lucy said as she put a plate in front of Virgil, "Here you go Virgil."

"Thanks mom," Virgil said the first bite melted in his mouth like it did when he was little, making him dwell on the taste, "Mom, these are the best pancakes ever."

"Thank you," Lucy said as she walked back over to the table with the plate of pancakes and handed them to Jeff.

"Thank you sweetheart," Jeff said as he handed a few pancakes to Riley and Alan he nodded to Lucy as she brought the coffee to the table.

"Virgil sweetie, don't get me wrong, your father, brother, sister, and I are thrilled that you're-hanging out her all of sudden," Lucy said Virgil smiled the best he could with his mouth full as Lucy added, "But um, shouldn't you be in class?"

"Class?" Virgil asked.

"At the university," Lucy said getting a little worried.

"Right, Class, at the university, um I don't have any classes today," Virgil said trying to think of something that made sense, then he changed the subject, he took another bite and then got up to look out the window, "You know that lawn looks like it could use some mowing."

"Wait, you what to mow the lawn?" Jeff asked he looked from Virgil's back to Alan who was suppose to mow the lawn there was a hopeful smile on his face.

"Are you kidding, I'd love to mow the lawn," Virgil said not turning around.

"Well then go ahead," Lucy said with a confused smile.

"Yeah son, knock yourself out, some may thing you've never mowed a lawn before," Jeff said also with a confused look.

Virgil gave a sheepish look and then walked towards the door.

"Cool," Alan said with a laugh as he turned to Riley as Virgil walked outside, "I think all that studying has warped his brain."

…………………………………..

Virgil couldn't believe this was happening, but there he was mowing his family's old lawn, waving to the neighbors and nearly mowing over his parent's lawn knob. As he finished the lawn two cars pulled up beside the driveway, one blue, one black, Scott in one John in the other.

"Hey guys," Virgil said as he turned off the mower.

"So this is where you went, why did you come home last night? You missed three classes this morning," John said with a little concern in his voice.

"I um had to see mom and dad, it's hard to explain, but John please don't tell mom and dad I missed any classes, I told them I didn't have any classes today," Virgil said.

"Why did you tell them that?" John asked Scott also had the same question in his eyes.

"It's just- it's hard to explain," Virgil said as he led the way into the house.

"Scott, John it's so good to see you," Lucy said as they walked in, she hugged both of them and whispered into John's ear, "Do you know why your brother came over here in the middle of the night, is everything alright with him?"

John smiled at everyone else and whispered back, "I have no idea, he was fine yesterday."

"Hi boys," Jeff said as entered the kitchen again.

"Scottie, Johnny!" Riley yelled as she jumped into Scott's waiting arms.

"Hey Riley, how's our favorite little sister?" Scott said as John pulled one of her pony tails playfully.

"Yeah right, I'm your only little sister you weirdo," Riley said as she pulled her pony tail out of John's hands.

"Hey guys," Alan said as he came up behind them.

"Hey sprout," Scott said ruffling the boy's curly mop most people called hair.

"Did you guys hear about that rock climbing accident just north of campus," John asked as they sat down.

"Yes how did that end up?" Lucy asked as she passed around the coffee.

"Two kids were killed, along with their mother," Scott said sadly.

"Oh that's so sad," Lucy said.

"Wait, when did this happen?" Virgil asked.

"Three days ago, you know that, it happened during your English class remember?" John said his concern for his brother was slowly growing.

"Where did it happen?" Virgil asked.

"You know where it happened Virgil, What's up?" Scott asked.

"Scottie, humor me," Virgil said.

"It happened on the cliff faces just north of campus, the family was climbing the cliffs and there was a rock slide," Scott said concern showing in his eyes.

"No, we stopped that slide, we saved that family," Virgil said to himself.

"What Virgil?" Scott asked his concern growing looking around he could tell the rest of the family was equally concerned.

"Nothing, you know what, I just remembered something I need to check out at the campus library, I'll be back," Virgil said as he got up and headed for the door.

"Virgil, are you alright?" John asked as he stood up too.

"Yeah I'm fine, I'll be back," Virgil said over his shoulder.

…………………………

The Library:

Virgil was at the library for hours, looking up every accident in the past four years. Everything, everyone who he, his brothers and his father had saved with international Rescue were dead, the other avalanche were he had gotten caught in a small enclosure with some kids, all of them had died because he wasn't there to save them. All the rock slides, mud slides, oil fires, everyone they had pulled from all of them were dead.

Virgil's eyes suddenly landed on the story of Gordon's hydrofoil accident.

"Gordon Cooper Tracy age 17 was killed today in an exploding hydrofoil accident. The details are not clear but it appears there were no rescue swimmers close enough to him to get to him in time. The boy is survived by his parents Jeff and Lucy Tracy, four brothers, Scott, John, Virgil and Alan, and one sister Riley. It is terrible to loose someone so young and our thoughts and our prayers go out to the family for their loss."

Virgil couldn't believe what he had just read, no rescue swimmers that was impossible. Virgil took the news paper and put it in his packet and left the library.

…………………….

The Graveyard:

"I'm so confused right now, yesterday we were on the island where you were playing you jokes on everyone, and now you're-well you're not here anymore, the Hood did something, but I don't you what. You know-I like it here though, I love having mom back, and having a little sister is great, but- it's gone Gordon, it's all gone everything we've done, everyone we've saved, their dead, and so are you," Virgil knelt by the gravestone, on the top there was a small picture of Gordon, under it read simply:

Gordon Cooper Tracy,

February 14th 1992-April 14th 2009

A caring son and a loving brother

Gordon you will never be forgotten.

Rest in Peace.

"I love you Gordon, but I can't do it any more, I can't wait around for something to go wrong and have one of you guys pay the price for it. I'm done, I'm sorry Gordon but I'm not holding that responsibility anymore. I don't know what the Hood did to me and I will find out somehow, and maybe someday I'll be able to get back to that world where you are alive. I like it here for now, I love you little brother, rest in peace," and with that Virgil got up and walked out of the cemetery.

T.B.C.