Chapter 10: Going home

Sunday evening

Bill came back from his conference at about half six,

"Hello?"

"Oh, hi Bill, we're in here"Grandpa John's voice called out from the living room.

His emotions were happy to be here and able to rest at last; it had been a tiring day after all.

"Oh, a seat! I recommend entering the sitting sequence, sir" called out Bill's Disgust, which was accepted by Anger.

"Agreed, make it so."

"Sitting sequence initiated...and we're down!"Confirmed Joy, which made Anger and the others smile.

Not long after Dad's arrival, dinner was ready and everyone gathered around the table. Jill's brothers (and wives) also came over for dinner as well that night, along with Riley's cousins. And as much as Riley barely ever saw them nowadays, it was almost like they'd never been away. They fought over who would get the last potatoes, they probably told too many jokes, and not to mention the conventional sing along, where grandma would sit down and play a tune on her piano. Tonight it was "Going Home by Annie Haslam", an old favourite of grandma's, and she got really into the song, giving everyone else a standard to try and reach. Riley struggled to get the tune right, but did considerably better than her cousins, who all seemed to be tone deaf. Reaching the end, everyone in the room continued onward, and Riley pushed through the verse:

"Going home, going home

I'm just going home

It's not far, just close by

Through an open door

I am going home

I'm just going home"

And after that song, they went around telling stories about what's been going on since they moved away; they already knew about how much the move had affected Riley to begin with, so no one brought it up, but Sadness and Joy both wanted to tell the story about how Riley had managed to score a place as captain for her school soccer team during the season, and also continues to perform well at her new hockey club.

But again, time caught up with the regathered family and it was time for Riley's cousins to go home, and she herself went to one of the spare rooms to bed.

"I guess it's my turn on dream duty tonight, I hope I don't have to wake Riley up tonight, that would make me feel so bad…*sigh* Well, goodnight everyone…" Fear wrapped his arm around her and comforted her

"Yeah, see ya tomorrow Sadness, be careful eh?" And with that Fear and the others left the console room, leaving her alone in the dark, watching the monitor, ready for all that dream productions had to throw at her.

Monday morning

"Bye Mom, Bye Dad. We'll probably come back up for thanksgiving, see you then?"Jill was saying goodbye to her parents once again, and was, despite everything, really glad to see them.

"Sure honey, we just wish that you could come a lot more, you think you could make it for Christmas too?"

Bill came over as that was being said after loading up the taxi with all the luggage.

"Possibly Marie, but it depends on how much it would cost to get down here. This time I had expenses paid by the company"

"Ugh! Why are adults SO boring? It's like, time to go already!"

"We can't wait around all day, we'll miss the flight back, then we'll miss the party we've got planned! Oh dear, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO!?"

Anger smacked Fear right across the room just to shut him up, and as Fear came back, rubbing his head, it was finally time to go. Riley said bye to her grandparents, and Marie asked Riley to come with her for a minute. Fear was apprehensive, but the rest just went with it, and for good reason.

"It's your birthday tomorrow, correct?"

"Yes Grandma."

"And you are going to be 13 am I right?"

"Yes Grandma."

"Well then, I think we should give you a present that you can unwrap from us. You will be becoming a teenager after all. Here you are." And Marie passed her a wrapped up present that was hidden behind a tarp, and it was a fair size,

"Nothing too big, but I hope you will enjoy it anyway"

"Thanks Grandma!" Both Riley and her emotions shouted, and once they were all on their way back to San Francisco, her emotions were all too busy and excited, wondering what her Grandparents had got her

"I hope it's a new stick, maybe the one that we've been looking at for a while. Our old one is almost in pieces."

Joy seemed to roll her eyes at Anger jokingly, but he didn't notice anyway

"Oh come on Anger, you know full well it can't be, the box isn't the right size or shape for a start. Hey! It could be the new book by Malorie Blackman, the review we read on it made it look so good, I just hope that is what it is"

"To me it just looked depressing, I guess I'd enjoy it though…"

"Aww, Sadness, don't be like that, I'm sure it wouldn't be so bad, think positive."

"I am positive. Positive that it would be depressing."

The airhost came along with his little trolley, and Riley was prompted to look over out of curiosity.

"Oooh! Look, they're serving fishcakes!"

Monday evening

Crashing onto their bed was the best moment of the day so far, and as Riley fell asleep, without even getting changed, everyone in headquarters decided to stay up for a while, and they all watched their favourite memories all night, preparing for the big day tomorrow.

"Yes! You picked that one did you? It was such a good day!" This particular one was greeted extremely well by Joy, because, with it being a completely happy memory, it was one where Riley was starting out at school for the first time. And it was when she first met Meg.

"Next one...oh, I remember this one...I so wanted Riley to smash that little brat's skull, and I would have if you hadn't held me back you beanpole…"

"And I saved us from a potential beating I'll have you know."

"Hey guys, how about this?"

"Nyan cat was the worst video EVER! It so ruined our status at school when we said we liked it, no thanks to you Joy!"

"I didn't know that people found it that annoying at the time, cut me some slack!"

Sadness piped up again, and intervened in the debate between The blue haired star and the Broccoli girl.

"I think you too shouldn't have a go at one another. How about we pack it in for today? It's Anger's time on duty tonight, right?" They nodded in agreement, but they seemed surprised by Sadness' sudden conviction and authority "Okay then…. I guess I'll see you all later then…"

And she skulked off to bed, pretty much sliding to the floor, and all but Anger followed suit, whom stayed behind at the console and began reading his latest copy of the mind reader, and stayed awake until morning.

Second out of three chapters for 11th November, Please do remember all of those who were lost in the First World War, which ended 98 years ago. Lest we Forget…

Now onto the the next chapter and the last of today's releases, I hope you are enjoying them all so far, ONWARD!