Note: I make no claims to the IZ characters. They are property of the one and only JHONEN VASQUEZ.
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Chapter Two
A Knock at the Door
"DIB!" yelled Gaz with fury as she slammed the refrigerator door shut, "Where's the last slice of pizza!?"
Her brother sauntered into the kitchen, holding a large slice of pizza dripping with cheese. As he sat down at the kitchen table, he took a big bite out of it. "I'm eating it," Dib said through a mouthful of cheese.
So much for my dinner, thought Gaz, Well, if I can't eat the pizza, I at least can nark on Dib for taking it. "DAD!" yelled Gaz down the stairs leading toward the laboratory. Within seconds, Professor Membrane answered.
"What's wrong, daughter?" the Professor called up the stairs in his usual tone.
"Dib's eating all the food." He didn't answer. Instead, he came upstairs. "Dib's eating all the food!" Gaz repeated as her father came to the top of the staircase, "Punish him."
"Now, now, no need for that!" replied Prof. Membrane. He thought for a moment. "Why don't cook a real meal tonight? We always have it delivered and we haven't spent much time together lately." Gaz raised an eyebrow at Prof. Membrane. He had never suggested anything like this before. She shrugged it off and took a seat adjacent to Dib, who quickly finished off his slice of pizza.
Prof. Membrane walked over to the pantry and opened its doors. "Hmmm . . ." he pondered. He looked into the open pantry looking for ideas for dinner. After a moment, he pulled out a box of uncooked spaghetti noodles, and a jar of tomato sauce. "How about spaghetti?" said Prof. Membrane cheerily. He sat it down on the counter and then headed for the pot rack above the stove and pulled down a saucepan and a cooking pot.
As Prof. Membrane filled the cooking pot with water, Dib leaned over to his sister. "Dad's gone crazy, hasn't he?" he whispered. Gaz nodded as she raised her eyebrow up at her father.
"At least we get to see him tonight," she whispered back. Dib shrugged and walked over the refrigerator/freezer and opened up the freezer door. Gaz soon followed him. As she pulled out a bag of frozen meatballs, Dib pulled out a bag of breadsticks. After glancing at the expiration date, he suddenly felt better his father came up with the idea to cook dinner that night
For the next half-hour Dib, Gaz, and Prof. Membrane worked together as a family fixing their diner. No fights broke out, and Dib even thought he saw Gaz break down and smile once. Maybe twice. Soon, however, their efforts paid off as the wondrous smell of spaghetti and meatballs filled the house. Quickly the table was adorned with plates, forks, and knifes. Just as the napkins were being laid down and the breadsticks being placed on the table, their came three quick knocks at the door. Gaz quickly sat down the rest of the napkins and went to answer the door, wondering who it could be.
When Gaz opened the door, she was greeted by a woman in her late twenties or early thirties. She had red hair that reached just above her shoulders and glasses with silver, oval rims framed her brown eyes. A high collar, black, leather trenchcoat was worn over an emerald green, turtleneck sweater, a grey skirt, and purple leggings. The black trenchcoat fell just above a pair of glossy black boots that went halfway up her calf.
"Hello?" said Gaz uncertainly as she looked up at the stranger with an odd expression upon her face. The woman immediately smiled at her and reached out a black gloved hand as if to touch her, but drew back at the last second.
"Um," said the woman, wringing her hands awkwardly, "Is your father home?"
"Uh, yeah," said Gaz still clutching the doorknob. She turned around and faced the kitchen. "Dad! Someone at the door for you!"
Dib emerged from the kitchen doorway first. "Who is it?" asked Dib, looking up at the stranger. Gaz shrugged as Prof. Membrane came out of the kitchen.
"Yes, who is. . ." started Prof. Membrane. Then he spotted the woman in the doorway, immediately recognizing her. "Peg?" he asked after a pause. The woman nodded. For a moment, they stared at each other in awe, then at a sudden impulse, Prof. Membrane quickly crossed the room and the two adults embraced each other. Neither Dib nor Gaz could tell what was said, but Prof. Membrane whispered something into Peg's ear. They let go of each other and he ushered her in and closed the door behind her.
Dib looked suspiciously at the woman as if she were an alien, but Gaz just gave her a blank yet defiant stare. She was hiding her true feelings though. To her this woman, Peg as her father had called her, was a stranger but Prof. Membrane had greeted her warmly.
"We're having dinner," said Prof. Membrane, gesturing towards the kitchen, "Want some?"
"Uh, sure," Peg said somewhat uncertainly. Prof. Membrane took her arm and led her to the kitchen table. Dib and Gaz followed behind them in a state of confusion.
Once in the kitchen, Prof. Membrane quickly set up another place setting at the table where the empty chair sat. Smiling, Peg sat down and soon, everyone followed and they began to eat. They got thru the meal by making nervous small talk, with periods of awkward silence in between. Nobody knew what to say.
When the meal ended, Prof. Membrane led Peg out of the room, looking at each other with dreamy eyes. Dib and Gaz began to clear the table without question or argument. That was only because both of them anted to speculate on the stranger that had just entered their home.
"I wonder where she's from?" thought Dib aloud. Gaz picked up a plate and 'accidentally' hit him on her way to the sink. "Ow!"
"Sorry," said Gaz, not sorry at all as she put the plate into the sink.
"Anyway," said Dib, giving his sister a sideways glare, "She does look familiar to me. Vaguely, but familiar."
Gaz grabbed two glasses of the table and stomped over to the sink before throwing them into the sink so hard they almost shattered.
"You better stop being so weird," said Gaz angrily. They finished their work in silence. During this period of time, Gaz couldn't help but wonder whether or not Dib had the same suspicion that she did. That maybe the void in her life would finally be filled, and maybe, just maybe, her prayers had been answered.
After they'd finished clearing the table and all the dishes had been either been washed or thrown into the sink, Dib and Gaz joined their father and Peg, who were occupying the couch in the living room. Prof. Membrane, who was obviously entranced by something (*cough*Peg*cough*), was brought back to reality when his children entered the room. He watched as Gaz plopped down in the chair, wearing the look of annoyance she always wore and Dib sat on the floor, cross-legged.
"Ah! Children," said Prof. Membrane, "I was just telling yo . . . I mean . . . telling Peg that we all cooked dinner together tonight."
Peg suddenly sat up straighter on the couch. "Yes!" she replied smiling, "It was delicious. You all did a fabulous job!"
"I guess so," said Gaz darkly, crossing her arms over her chest. The smile on Peg's face flickered for a moment, but was supported by Prof. Membrane's reassuring touch as he gave her hand a squeeze.
Dib caught a glance at the entwined fingers of his father and Peg. He raised his eyebrow cautiously at this. Gaz noticed as well, and began scowling. Although this may have been what she was hoping for, suddenly the idea didn't settle so very well with her. The very thought angered her.
Suddenly, Dib decided to break the silence. "I'm sorry, exactly who are you?" Dib asked, "And how do you know my dad?"
Prof. Membrane and Peg exchanged glances. "Well," Prof. Membrane began, "I wondered when I'd have the chance to tell you two. . ."
"Tell us what?" said Gaz sharply. Prof. Membrane cleared his throat.
"Children," said Prof. Membrane, shaking with excitement, "this is Peg Membrane, your mother."
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Interesting ending for the chapter, eh? I bet you expected an evil cliffhanger. Oh well. I hope you all continue reading, I have the next chapter written, just gotta type it. J . Stay tuned and don't forget to review!!!