(Break Part II)

Part 2.5

Dear Everybody in the Underland,

Ok, Ok. I feel like I've been hit over the head about my family, so I'm following the advice I got from all of you. Lizzie has probably already told you the highlights, since this happened about 2 months ago according to you. Except I'm reading your letters about those events now, so I'm a little behind the times. But I'll tell you about the most important parts. I figure even if you already know about them, you won't know EVERYTHING.

Me and Mom and Dad and Lizzie and Boots had a family meeting with Mrs. Cormaci. Well, Boots mostly roamed between all of us and pretended to talk to Temp, but she said a thing or 2 that was real good, so even having her there wasn't a waste of time. Boots gives you a hug, Temp. Lizzie is going to see Nike in just a few hours, so she can give this letter to her to carry to you. Still I've gotta write fast because I have so much to tell you.

First of all, I'm still reading your letters. I plan to write more letters to you when I'm done, but I'm not done yet. But I thought I should tell you what's going on so you don't worry. Not that I think you're worried, especially now after all this time. But here goes.

Mom and Dad were real impressed with how all of you gave the same advice about fixing what was going on in my life back then with them. I thought I should let you know that. That helped a lot. You all seemed to be real people to Mom then, not just some name I said before I got grounded again. So that helped a lot. Mrs. Cormaci was like our referee to keep us from interrupting each other all the time while we talked. I went first.

I told all about Steve and trying not to fight him and how dumb school seemed and how I want to be homeschooled and about Luxa and everybody and the Underland and my rager thing. Then I must have talked about all my frustration about making decisions. I think I talked for a long time. At least it felt like a long time. Then it was Lizzie's turn.

She mostly talked about Ripred. I know that the way she makes cookies for him was in there somewhere. She thinks he's mostly hungry. (He's always hungry - aren't you, Ripred?) And she misses him. He's just about the only one who gets her. School is okay as far as she's concerned, but nobody gets her at school. She likes the Underland better.

Boots just said 'Hi you!" to Temp.

Then it was Mom's turn. She was fingering the purple bump on her cheek that the plague left while she talked. That said quite a bit all by itself. She started with saying she understood what we were saying about having friends in the Underland, and wanting to see them rather than forget them and how Lizzie just wants to be understood instead of patronized (I don't know what that means either) and about my rager thing (I'm not sure, but I think she thought I was making this part up. She hasn't seen me fight yet. Maybe I'll show her someday) But the Underland wasn't so nice to her and -

That's when I interrupted to say what I thought about Solovet and the plague, but Mrs. Carmaci told me to pipe down (that means be quiet). So I shut up.

Mom told us how she met some nice people at the Fount (hey Howard, she really liked your mom) but she still doesn't like the Underland.

And that's when I said something about needing to bond with one of them, and Mrs. Cormaci told me to stop interrupting . She sounded really irritated this time, so I shut up again real quick.

Mom still doesn't like the Underland so much and can't understand how we can. I opened my mouth to say something again but Mrs. Cormaci said she has a handkerchief with my name on it and she'll gag me if she has to. So this time I shut my mouth before I could say anything.

Turns out Mom's worried about money again since she and Dad can't work. It's not a sure thing Dad can stop shaking long enough to work even at a factory, and mom keeps needing naps. Neither me or Liz are old enough to work, so no money is coming in and all she can think of is to let me go back down to the Underland to the museum and try to find something valuable we can sell for us to live on for a while. And she hates that, but can't think of anything else.

I had no idea she felt that way. And it's not like all the things I've been doing wrong lately has helped. No wonder she's always mad at me.

Then Dad suggested that he teach school again, that his shaking is much better now. So we decided that he can try to find work doing that, but it's not a good time for finding a job right now (I don't know why) and in the meantime, we have enough money for another month if we don't splurge. Then we'll talk some more about me maybe going back down to the museum. So I get to see everybody again.

IS THAT COOL OR WHAT!

Better tell them what cool means, Nike.

Mrs. Cormaci said she had to go back home then, that some man was coming to fix her leaky sink. So we broke up to do some thinking. I sat down to write this letter. So here I am.

Dad still hasn't really stopped shaking long enough for a job interview for teaching again. Hey Howard, you got any more of that medicine he takes for his shaking? He doesn't want to shake in front of the kids he teaches if he can help it.

Ripred, can you teach me how to control this rager thing? Actually, anything you can tell me will help a lot.

Luxa, I know you said you think it's best to give me up. But I looked ahead in my stack of letters and noticed quite a few more from you, though I didn't read any of them yet. It seems that you didn't quite give me up though you said you would. So do you want to come with me to the museum to look for stuff if I ever get back down there? I want to talk to you. Not about anything in particular. Just want to talk.

Nike, I guess I'll set up a time to meet you later. Lizzie will tell you.

Hazard, I don't know why there aren't rats and bats on your animal wheel toy. Maybe because as far as us Overlanders know, rats and bats don't do more than squeak, and that isn't very exciting for an animal wheel. Rats and bats aren't considered very important in the Overland. I don't understand it either. But that's my best guess why they're not on your sound wheel.

And that's the news. But I get to see you again - sometime. But wow! This is great!

I'm so excited I'm shaking. And I know it won't happen for a while yet, but I can't help it. I'm still shaking. (Shaking in excitement, not because I have the same thing Dad does.)

Miss you all, Gregor