Chapter Twenty-Two/Looking Back:
David sat in his room, alone. He was feeling very depressed, as he often did having clinical depression. He just felt as though his existence didn't matter, that he was just another useless speck of life. David had spent the past few weeks not talking to anyone, not even his family. He heard a knock at the door, it was his father with a plate of food.
"Hi son, I brought some dinner." Alvin said.
David remained silent. He didn't refuse to eat, he knew he had to do that, but he just kept himself completely shut away that he never ate in public. Alvin's eyes were welling up, he couldn't stand to see his son like this. He wanted to help, but he wasn't sure how.
"I'm here for you if you need me son, we all are." Alvin said.
He was about to leave, when...
"Dad...?"
Alvin heard the sweet euphoric sound of his son's voice.
"Yes?" Alvin asked.
"How do I know that I matter?" David asked.
Alvin sat next to his son.
"You have people who care so much about you. You have no idea how much we love you, and how much we worry over you. Everyone has been worried about you ever since you locked yourself in here. I understand you have to cope with this, and I'm sorry. I know it hurts son, but things will get better. I promise." Alvin said.
David remained silent, trying to process what his father said.
"Son, how would you feel if we took you out tomorrow, to do whatever you wanted?" Alvin asked.
David thought about that, he figured he needed some open space.
"Sure." David said.
Alvin smiled.
"Great. Get some rest big guy, you got a big day tomorrow." Alvin said.
He began to exit the room.
"Thanks Dad." David said.
Alvin smiled as he closed the door.
Later that night, Alvin called everyone in the family and told them his plan for the next day. Everyone advocated to join him given that they were all concerned for David to begin with. He went down the list, until he finally got to Cicely, David's loving girlfriend. He called her cell, and within a couple rings she answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey Cicely, it's Alvin. Listen, you know David's been in kind of a depressive slump lately." Alvin said.
"I know. I feel so sorry for him, my poor sweetie."
"Well me and the family are taking him out tomorrow, try to lift his spirits. Would you like to join us?" Alvin asked.
"Sure."
"Great. Meet us here at the Seville house at noon." Alvin said.
"Will do."
"Thanks." Alvin said as he hung up.
The next day, David was getting dressed for the day. He hadn't stepped out of his room in weeks, this was the first time in a long time he saw the hallway. He walked down the stairs to find his family standing around him. Everyone was there, his parents, uncles and aunts, even Noah, Austin and Gigi were there.
"What's all this?" David asked.
"It's your day son, who better to spend it with than with people who care about you?"
David was touched, he felt cared for. Then Alvin noticed something, someone was missing. Cicely hadn't shown up yet. He wasn't sure what to do.
"So, what are we gonna do today?" David asked.
Alvin snapped back to his son, trying to find the right words.
"Whatever you want son." Alvin said.
"Hmm, how about we go see a movie?" David suggested.
"That sounds wonderful." Alvin said.
David allowed a small smile.
As they arrived at the movie theater, Alvin was trying to frantically text Cicely, telling her that they were going to the theater. Unfortunately, he hadn't gotten any responses from her. He began to worry.
As the day went on, David saw a movie with his family, went to dinner, and had a karaoke party. David had fun.
After everything was done, Alvin felt slightly empty. He felt bad that Cicely couldn't join them, but at the same time was really worried about her. He tried again texting her, this time she wrote him back.
I'm so sorry Alvin, I tried to be there but one thing led to another. I feel awful, I hope David isn't too broken up about this.
Alvin decided to call Cicely.
"Hey Cicely..."
David was returning to his room after having just used the restroom, when he passes by his fathers door and hears something odd.
"Cicely, are you okay?"
His dad was talking to Cicely? This was strange to David, but he kept listening.
"I'm so sorry, that's terrible."
David began to worry, this didn't sound too good.
"I don't know how well he's gonna take it, but it's like a band aid, you just gotta do it fast and quick."
Then David thought, who's the he in question and take what?
"Well it's not likely considering he just got back on his feet."
Finally, tears started streaming down David's face. He pieced those words together as if they were a puzzle. David was under the impression that Cicely just told Alvin that she wants to leave David. He ran into his room, holding back the tears. The sound of his door closing alerted Alvin.
"Hold on one second, Cicely." Alvin said.
Alvin entered the room to find his son in tears.
"Son, what's wrong?"
No answer from David.
"Cicely's on the phone, do you want to talk to her?" Alvin asked.
Still nothing.
Is everything okay Alvin?
"I'm sorry Cicely, I'm gonna have to call you back." Alvin said.
He hung up the phone, and just stared at his son. It broke Alvin's heart to see him this way.
The next day, Alvin approached David's door. He knocked.
"Son, can I come in?" Alvin asked.
No answer. He walked in gently
"It's gonna be okay son." Alvin said.
As he walked in, his heart stopped. His son... wasn't there.
"David?!" Alvin said worriedly.
He found a note on David's bed.
I'm sorry.
I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, but what I heard was too much to handle. I can't stand this anymore, any of it. I'm going away for a while, I don't know where but I just need to leave. Please don't come after me, please. All I do is make things worse.
-David Seville.
Alvin panicked, he didn't know what to do.
After a few hours, he gathered the whole family, and presented the letter.
"And he was gone?" Noah asked.
"Gone. Like he was never there to begin with." Alvin said.
"This is terrible, poor David. He can't handle himself out there." Simon said.
"I need your guys' help to find him." Alvin said.
"You can count on us." Austin said.
Alvin smiled.
"All right, let's start a search party. Noah, Gigi and Jeanette, check the west side of town. Austin and Alvin, you check the east. Me Theodore and Eleanor will ask around as much as we can." Simon said.
With that everyone left to find the missing munk.
After a few hours, someone approached the Seville house. It was Cicely. She knocked on the door, which soon creeped open.
"Hello? David? Are you here?" Cicely asked.
She walked inside, until she heard the sound of paper being squished. She noticed she stepped on the note that David left behind. Once she read it, her heart sank. She was nearly in tears.
Alvin and the rest of the family returned home after searching for a solid 10 hours for David. Everyone was silent, sad that they had no success. Alvin picked up the phone and dialed 911.
911, what's the state of your emergency?
"I'd like to report a missing person's case." Alvin said.
Meanwhile, at Cicely's house, she was desperately trying to get a hold of David. Unfortunately, no success. She felt so helpless, she didn't know what to do. She heard the TV in the other room say the name "Seville". She rushed to the TV to see that the media had caught wind of David's disappearance. She thought that would just drive David even further. She was so scared.
The next day, a camera crew were at the Seville house. Alvin made a public announcement of his son leaving.
"If anyone has seen my son, please call us. And David, if by any small chance you're watching this now, come home son. We miss you, Cicely misses you."
Tears began to stream down Alvin's face.
Alvin sat by the phone, waiting for a response, but nothing. Dead silence. He began to lose hope. He kept thinking what he could have done to prevent this, he thought about what happened before he left. All he could remember was the phone call.
*RINGING*
"Hello?" Alvin said.
I think I know where your son is.
Alvin rushed as fast as he could, he was going to meet up with someone who has information on where David went. When he arrived at the given location, he felt a little uneasy. He found himself at a pier, and standing at the docks was an elderly man in a yellow rain coat. He turned and saw Alvin.
"Ah, Mr. Seville I presume?" He asked.
"Yes, you called regarding my son." Alvin said.
"That I did. Come with me." He said.
They entered a small office near the pier, and inside were filing cabinets. The man approached and opened one to pull out a large file labeled "Transactions". He pulled out a document with yesterday's date written on it.
"This here is your son's file, he took a small row boat out west. Said he was heading for Ireland." The man said.
"Ireland?" Alvin asked.
"Aye. The lad was in tears when he showed up." The man said.
Alvin couldn't shake the feeling of his son out to sea by himself. What if he got hurt, or worse?
As the family were waiting at the house for Alvin's return, Noah started tingling. Just then, Alvin returned and as if on cue.
"HE'S IN IRELAND!" They both said in unison.
"Noah, how did you know?" Alvin asked.
"My senses gave it away. I could feel him approach the heartland." Noah said.
"Can you get us there?" Alvin asked.
"Not all of us, it would drain me energy to try and take all of you." Noah said.
"How many can you take?" Alvin asked.
"Two of you." Noah said.
"I'm going with you." Jeanette said.
Noah nodded. He, Alvin and Jeanette joined hands.
"We'll be back." Alvin said.
And then they were gone.
Meanwhile, in Dublin, they arrived on the streets of Ireland.
"Ah, home." Noah said.
Alvin started asking around if anyone had seen his son, holding a picture of him, but no one had recognized the chipmunk they saw. Noah tried sensing where David was, but every time he tried he got a slight sting.
"Noah, is something wrong?" Jeanette asked.
"I can't find David, something's blocking my connection to him." Noah said.
"He's probably blocking you as not to be found." Alvin said.
"How would David know how to block me?" Noah asked.
"He knows your weakness is gold, maybe he's wearing a gold necklace, or a gold headband." Alvin suggested.
They continued to search for David.
Back in the U.S., Cicely was pacing her room trying to get a hold of David. To her surprise, someone answered the cell.
"Hello?"
"David? Is that you?" Cicely asked.
"Who is this?"
"It's me Cicely, don't you remember?" She said.
"Lass, this phone does not belong to me. I was strolling down the street when I heard it ring."
Cicely felt slightly heartbroken, but then an idea struck.
"Look at the photo on the back of the phone. The male chipmunk, have you seen him before?" She asked.
A moment of silence passed.
"Aye, that be the lad who fed me family."
"Are you sure it's him?" Cicely asked.
"As sure as I'm an Irishman."
"When did you last see him?" She asked.
"Oh well, he was making his merry way down the streets of Dublin, said something about running away from his past. Are you by any chance 'the past' he was talking about?"
"Yes, but I'm trying to help him. Please, I'm his girlfriend." Cicely said.
"Aha, now I know you're lying. He said he was dumped before he ran off."
"Dumped? I never dumped him. Sir please, I swear in the name of Ireland I only want him to be safe and come home. I love him." Cicely pleaded.
"My conscious tells me not to trust you... but a much higher power is telling me to help you, and his will is a will I live to. The boy said he was settling down here, said something about 'restarting'. Whatever that means."
"Thank you so much, you've done a good thing sir." Cicely said.
"Aye, me pleasure."
Cicely hung up, and ran to the Seville house to warn them.
Alvin, Noah and Jeanette were roaming Ireland, desperately trying to find the missing munk, but with no success. Noah didn't lose hope, but without being able to track David he was unsure if he was even still alive. Alvin was determined to find him, and bring him home.
"Alvin, maybe we should take a break." Jeanette said with a winded breathe.
Alvin too felt tired. No matter how much he wanted to keep going, he knew he had to rest.
"You're right. Noah, any nice hotels here?" Alvin asked.
"A few." Noah responded.
They were gone within a flash.
Back at the Seville house, Cicely came bursting in.
"Guys, I know where David is." Cicely said.
"We do too, he's in Ireland. Noah, Jeanette and Alvin just left to find him." Eleanor said.
"Oh no, I wish I had gotten here sooner. I wanted to help find him, just so I could hold him again." Cicely said.
Austin could feel the poor soul's pain.
"I can take you to where Noah is now if you like." Austin suggested.
Cicely hugged Austin.
"Thank you Austin." Cicely said.
"Don't mention it." Austin said.
He then sent Cicely to Noah.
Back in Ireland, Cicely ended up in a hotel room with Noah, Jeanette and Alvin.
"Cicely? How did you...?" Jeanette asked.
"Austin sent me, I wanted to help you find David." Cicely said.
Nobody seemed to disagree.
Now let's go back to the Irishman that Cicely was speaking with before. He returns to his family, and he hugs his daughter and wife.
"How was work sweetheart?" His wife asked.
"It was alright, Josie." He responded.
His mind then went to the little chipmunk boy that helped his family, who gave them food. He then felt an urge to help the boy, as if it were God calling to him.
"Remember that boy that was here yesterday?" He asked.
"That I do." Josie said.
"Where did he say he was going?" He asked.
"He said he was going to the Celtic sea, near Cork. I'm not sure why though." Josie said.
The Irishman then had a growing impulse.
"I'm going to look for him. He's family is looking for him, and if I can help bring them back together then all will be well." He said.
"You're a good man, I'm glad I married ya." Josie said.
He smiled as he walked out the door. He walked down the road, and saw the same cell he came across not too long ago. He thought perhaps if he found this boy, he could return the phone to him.
After hours of traveling by foot, the Irishman made it to the Celtic sea. He saw the majesty in the sea, and the beauty that was creation. He saw the engine houses that rested on the land adjacent to the sea, and he saw a figure standing near the engine houses. He couldn't make out who it was, the sun was beaming in that direction. All he could see was a silhouette. He decide to venture further, and see if this was the boy he had been searching for.
Cicely was walking around, asking if they had seen David. Unfortunately, no one she encountered had seen him. She began to worry, what if he became winded and passed out? What if no one was around to help him? She kept trying, until she noticed something odd. Alvin, Noah and Jeanette had left signs around town letting people know that David was missing. Well, Cicely came to notice that someone had taken red paint, and splattered the sign so that it would be unintelligible. The face was covered, as well as the name by red paint. This was curious, someone was trying to stop them in their tracks. Suddenly, Cicely's cell phone started vibrating.
"Hello?" She said.
"Hello, lassie? This is the Irishman from before."
"Oh Hi, have you heard anything?" She asked.
A moment of silence passed.
"Are you still there?" She asked.
"I saw him."
Cicely froze.
"You did?!" She asked.
"Aye, but when I told him you were looking for him he ran off. I couldn't keep up with him. I don't know where he's gone. I'm sorry, I failed you."
"It's okay. You were willing to help and I appreciate it." Cicely said.
"T'was nothing."
"Thank you." She said.
She hung up the phone, back to square one.
Meanwhile, the Irishman made his way home. But on his way back, he saw a church. He decided to go inside, and pray. As he entered, he saw another Irishman praying. This one, he recognized.
"Noah?" He said.
Noah turned around, and was shocked beyond all belief.
"Thomas. It's good to see you again my friend. How is your wife and daughter?" Noah asked.
"Ah, they're doing good. How is your family?" Thomas asked.
"Well, we're going through a bit of a crisis right now." Noah said.
"Oh no, what happened?" Thomas asked.
"A family member of ours ran away, and he's here in Ireland somewhere..."
At that moment, Thomas thought. 'No way, it can't be'
"...We don't know where he is." Noah said.
Thomas then pulled out the cell phone and showed it to Noah.
"Is it him by any chance?" Thomas asked.
Noah flipped for joy.
"YES, THAT'S HIM!" Noah cheered.
"Noah my friend, I saw him. He helped me family, he gave us food. However, I tried to tell him you were looking for him and he took off. I don't know where he is." Thomas said.
Noah frowned.
"Can't you track him?" Thomas asked.
"No, something is blocking me from him." Noah said.
"Oh dear, that's unfortunate." Thomas said.
"Did he say anything about where he was going?" Noah asked.
"All he told me was he was trying to 'start over', and I don't know what that means." Thomas asked.
Noah pondered this for a second, until something hit him.
"Did he by any chance mention 'settling down'?" Noah asked.
"That he did." Thomas said.
"I think I might know where he is. I mean it's a little obscure, but I think he's trying to find a place to live." Noah said.
"Noah, there are many places here in Dublin that have not been rented out yet. He could be anywhere." Thomas said.
"The only thing I know to do is to search until I find him." Noah said.
"I'll help you, I owe it to you and your family Noah." Thomas said.
"Thank you Thomas, you're a good friend." Noah said.
Cicely kept roaming around, trying to find David, and nothing came up. In fact she found more and more splattered signs. At this rate, she'd never find him. But then, she noticed something. A trail of the red paint, leading off somewhere. She decided to follow it, through streets and alleyways until she finally saw the end of the trail. There was someone in a brown trench coat and a top hat with red paint dripping from the bottom of his coat. This was the culprit splattering the signs.
"Hey!" Cicely said.
The figure started running. Cicely chased him. This one was fast, they had some practice running. But eventually, Cicely caught up, and tackled the figure to the ground. The face she saw was that of a bearded man, he looked frail and weak.
"Why are you doing this?!" Cicely asked.
The man held his hands in front of him, his eyes closed in fear.
"Tell me, or I'll make you tell me." She said backing her hand.
The man still said nothing. Cicely then proceeded to slap the stranger.
"Do you have any idea how important this is? DO YOU KNOW HOW BAD THIS IS?!" Cicely screamed.
"STOP PLEASE!" The man said.
She stopped slapping, she noticed not just red marks on his face, but his beard was... tearing off. It was fake. She quickly tore it off...
"David?"
She found him. She hugged him tight, and didn't let go.
"I'm so sorry I slapped you, my poor sweetie." She said.
David took Cicely's hands and took them off of him.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"What I should have done before. Cicely, I can't be a burden to you guys anymore. It's starting to effect you all." David said.
"What do you mean 'effect' us?" Cicely asked.
"I heard Dad on the phone with you the other night, saying how I wouldn't be able to handle it, how it was like a band aid..."
Cicely finally understood what the Irishman meant when he said David claimed to have been dumped.
"Sweetheart, did you think I was trying to dump you?" She asked.
"What else could that mean?" David asked. Tears were falling from his eyes. She hugged him.
"David Seville, I love you more than you could ever know. I want you to come home, we need you. We miss you." Cicely said.
David shook his head.
"I can't... I can't let my depression tear you guys apart." David said.
He began to walk away.
"David... if you don't come home... you really will tear us apart." Cicely said.
David stopped, it seemed as though he was gathering his thoughts.
Noah and Thomas continued searching, until Noah spotted someone familiar. It was Cicely, she was with someone. Could this be him?
"Cicely?" Noah said.
The man turned, he was right. It was David. He hugged him.
"Oh thank God." Noah said.
Thomas smiled, and he handed the boy his phone.
"I believe this is yours." Thomas said.
"Thanks." David said.
"Come on, we're going to get your dad." Noah said.
Alvin was pacing in the hotel room, and Jeanette was resting her eyes. Noah entered, well teleported, inside with Cicely and David. Alvin was in shock.
"Son?" Alvin asked.
"It's me Dad." David said.
He hugged his son, crying tears of joy.
After all the commotion, they returned home. David was in his room, just thinking. He heard someone knock on his door.
"Come in." He said.
He was expecting his father, but instead it was Cicely.
"Hi sweetheart." David said.
"Hi. Can I ask you something?" Cicely asked.
"Sure." David said.
"Why were you depressed to begin with?" Cicely asked.
David remembered very well.
"I kept thinking about how my life, and how I contribute nothing. I feel like the past 20 years of my life has just passed by and I have nothing to show for it." David said.
She hugged him.
"David, that's not true. You're life is just as important as anyone else's. And you do contribute, you make me so happy." Cicely said.
He allowed a little smile. She kissed him, which made his smile grow bigger.
"I love you." Cicely said.
"I love you too." David said.
They spent that day together, just talking and being in each others presence.