Day Seven
That morning. My family had been doing casual things before lunch, Rocky was doing a kata in a corner of the room, Tum tum was playing Sorry with Grandpa and Mom was doing some paper work while Dad was on his cel phone arguing with someone. Even 'Lissa who was usually hanging out with me lately was sitting off by herself reading some book she brought with her.
It was times like this that made me feel alone now adays...I tried to think of what I would be doing if this were any normal day- if I were still me and not what I think is me, but nothing really came to mind. Mom glanced up at me and I looked back but yanked my vision back to the television so she wouldn't read anything from them. 'Channel 8. Nothing. Channel 29. Nothing.' As I flipped the channels I was beginning to think that I wouldn't find anything on any way so I might as well quit trying, but when I let the remote drop beside my hip-......
"Oh a family is people, and a family is love- that's a family." It was Barney and some little girl was singing her 2 dollar voice out about families but for some reason I just sat there and listened. "They come in all different sizes and different kinds, and mines just right for me, yeah mines just right for me." What about mine? There's a good chance that I have the wrong one and a good chance that this is all in my head......Or that I'm living with a group of kidnappers. But how will I know? If this family loves me then why did they steal me away from my real family? And if my real family loved me why did they let me get taken in the first place?
"Hey!?" I heard a voice breaking through my concentration. "Are you crazy or something, turn this crap off." Tum tum said and Mom gave him a sharp look that he made an apologetic face to while grinning impishly. I changed the channel to any random thing and walked out of the room to my own.
'The flyer!' I walked over to the bed and slipped my hand between the matress and felt around for it. 'Got it.' Pulling the paper out I looked down at myself smiling up at me and cocked my head. "Maybe I am seeing things?" I said outloud to see if it made any sense when the words were spoken.
I just wish I could get a good lead.....It wasn't until now that I saw the phone number and let it sink in. Their phone number is right there...."If I could just call them-...." What was I saying? What if they recognize my voice, well no I guess they couldn't really know my voice after 15 years but......Maybe 'Lissa would call for me?
I walked over to the bedroom door and pulled the knob but when it opened I saw someone I didn't expect to see. "Rocky!?" I jumped back out of his range as he grabbed for me. "What's going on with you Colt? You've been acting weird since we got home, so spill it." He demanded but I didn't owe him an explanation and who is he to demand one- he's one of the others now. Rocky was born before me so he must have known something.
"What's it to you?" I snapped.
"What?" He replied dumbly then looked at my hand. "It's that piece of paper again, why do you keep looking at that when you think nobody notices?" He asked and walked further into the room. "It's none of your business so back off!" I almost shouted but kept my voice low so it wouldn't get everyone elses attention. "Let me see it, Colt." Rocky commanded. There is no way he is my real brother because my real brother would respect my privacy in the matter so it was time to bail myself out.
"Get out of the way." I mumbeled brushing past him and surprisingly he let me. When I made it downstairs I signaled 'Lissa as casually as I could then grabbed my coat from the closet. "I'm going out Mo-..." The words hung in my throat and I couldn't say them. "Yeah, I'm leaving."
"Okay honey be back by dinner." She replied not taking her attention away from what she was doing. "Actually I was gonna go out to eat, and um I'm gonna stay at an old friend of mines is that okay?" I asked not really wanting to what did it matter to her whether I was here or wasn't.
"Okay sweety becareful." She said and I bit down on my tongue sharply before I said something I wasn't entirely sure I'd regret. Why would she tell me to be careful is she afraid someone might snatch me up and she'd never see me again- afraid some loon would kill me and I'd never be heard from again? I can't believe how fake they all are and here I thought they loved me. "Jeffrey?" 'Lissa said when she got over to the door and gave me an odd look then mouths, 'Where are we going?' I shook my head incase anyone were looking, grabbed her hand, then walked us out of there.
"Where are we going?" She asked again. "To a hotel or something, we need to talk and they'll be in the way this is serious this time." As we got into the car I saw Rocky from the upstairs window looking down at us oddly and I just grinned at him and waved, he waved back but his solid face never changed the expression of what I could only guess was wonder, but I didn't have time to wonder if Rocky was gonna rat out my behavior or not I needed to get to a phone.
* * *
When we pulled into the lot of a Super 8 motel, I glanced across the street then at 'Lissa. "Tacos?" I asked her and she shook her head. "I'm not really hungry, you go on ahead and I'll get the room." She got out of the car and I turned it back on pulling away when she was out of sight. I hope she isn't getting sick of this whole ordeal, I need her more than anything right now and if I lose her than I might just as well give up.......
After grabbing a bite to eat I walked into the hotel where Neilissa was waiting for me. "I got you something anyway." I said to her, explaining why I had an additional KFC bag. The two of us were eye balled by the guy behind the counter but that was the only real attention we got from anyone as we got on the elevator and went to our room.
The room was bigger than I expected and she got one with two beds. While she took off her jacket and things I went over to the phone right away and grabbed the reciever holding it out to her. "I need you to call them." I said to the questioned look on her face. "You have too, I'll be right here helping."
"Then why don't you do it?" She asked and I made an exasperated noise then shook my head. "Because I can't," Oh that was logical.
"Here," I said taking the phone back and dailed the number into the base.
"Hello?" A woman said and I handed the phone back to 'Lissa. "What do I say-.....Uh, Hello, is this Mrs. McRea?" She said getting her professional voice over the phone and I snickered off to the side then slid over to her bed and sat down beside her. 'Lissa turned the phone outwards so we could both here what she was saying. "This is she, what can I do for you?" Mrs. McRea asked.
"Um, I am collecting for um....."
"Say the C & N found....say it."
"The C&N found..." She moved the reciever back and covered the mouth piece looking at me saying, "The what?" I shook my head and she put the phone back to her ear.
"Is that some kind of television station or something?" Mrs. McRea asked her and Neilissa nodded then said. "Yes, we wanted to offer you the station at a lower price than what you'd normaly pay if you decide to switch over to our company." This was classic, I could hardly keep in my laughter there was no way this woman was buying this act.
"You don't get the station? Well would you like to purchase it?" 'Lissa asked. "Okay thanks anyways, goodbye Ma'am." And she hung up.
"That was great, now we know the number isn't invalid anymore." I said to her throwing my arms around her for a hug and she raised her forearm the best she could and patted mine. "I think she was a little suspicious," She was saying.
"Of what, our initials make the perfect back up plan." I answered feeling her hands drop from my arms.
"Colt, when are you going to tell your parents about all of this?" She asked me plain and simple but I just looked away from her. I wanted to tell them after the holidays but keeping it in was getting harder and harder, because if there's anything I've learned from the past is that nothing stops Rocky from getting what he wants that trait he got from Dad- his Dad. "I don't know how," I replied sitting beside her and grabbing my lunch. We sat long ways on the bed at the top beside each other and ate quietly while the tv played the Fairly Oddparents.
"I'll be there for you, Jeffrey, you know that...." 'Lissa was saying sweetly and rubbed my leg a second then went back to eating a taco while I had a chicken leg- neither of us really cared for what the other person was eating, haha we were like a miss-matched set sometimes.
"I just don't wanna ruin the holidays for them, I mean I think they're jerks for lying to me but they still deserve a decent holiday right?" She didn't answer me, mostly because she didn't know what to say back but I could tell she was thinking I should just get it over with now because tomorrow is what Tum calls Christmas Eve's eve.
"Break it to them carefully and it won't be as hard as you think it is.....I hope." I looked at 'Lissa and thought about it long and hard. I want my family back....at least I think I do.....but what's gonna happen to the Douglas's? "I'll do it, just as-....just as soon as we get back home." I answered finally.
"Which will be?" She asked and I was hoping never but I knew I couldn't keep running from them I didn't wanna end up hating them I just wanted to know the truth and possibly let my real Mother and Father know that I'm ok, why should they worry when nothing was wrong. I mean, I'm happy and healthy what parent wouldn't wanna know that about their kid....Yeah, nothing will change once this is out of my system everything will be fine again.
"Lissa, lets go home, I think I'm ready now."
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"Yeah, it's time I stopped beating around the bush with them, everyone has a right to know what's going on even if it might make them mad at me for snooping I can't keep this a secret forever." Neilissa smiled at me and gave me a single kiss on the lips. "It's nice to see my students growing up and taking responsiblity for their actions." She said and slid off the bed. I grinned impishly to myself then closed my eyes. Even if the world changes tomorrow its nice to know that some people will stay the same.
That morning. My family had been doing casual things before lunch, Rocky was doing a kata in a corner of the room, Tum tum was playing Sorry with Grandpa and Mom was doing some paper work while Dad was on his cel phone arguing with someone. Even 'Lissa who was usually hanging out with me lately was sitting off by herself reading some book she brought with her.
It was times like this that made me feel alone now adays...I tried to think of what I would be doing if this were any normal day- if I were still me and not what I think is me, but nothing really came to mind. Mom glanced up at me and I looked back but yanked my vision back to the television so she wouldn't read anything from them. 'Channel 8. Nothing. Channel 29. Nothing.' As I flipped the channels I was beginning to think that I wouldn't find anything on any way so I might as well quit trying, but when I let the remote drop beside my hip-......
"Oh a family is people, and a family is love- that's a family." It was Barney and some little girl was singing her 2 dollar voice out about families but for some reason I just sat there and listened. "They come in all different sizes and different kinds, and mines just right for me, yeah mines just right for me." What about mine? There's a good chance that I have the wrong one and a good chance that this is all in my head......Or that I'm living with a group of kidnappers. But how will I know? If this family loves me then why did they steal me away from my real family? And if my real family loved me why did they let me get taken in the first place?
"Hey!?" I heard a voice breaking through my concentration. "Are you crazy or something, turn this crap off." Tum tum said and Mom gave him a sharp look that he made an apologetic face to while grinning impishly. I changed the channel to any random thing and walked out of the room to my own.
'The flyer!' I walked over to the bed and slipped my hand between the matress and felt around for it. 'Got it.' Pulling the paper out I looked down at myself smiling up at me and cocked my head. "Maybe I am seeing things?" I said outloud to see if it made any sense when the words were spoken.
I just wish I could get a good lead.....It wasn't until now that I saw the phone number and let it sink in. Their phone number is right there...."If I could just call them-...." What was I saying? What if they recognize my voice, well no I guess they couldn't really know my voice after 15 years but......Maybe 'Lissa would call for me?
I walked over to the bedroom door and pulled the knob but when it opened I saw someone I didn't expect to see. "Rocky!?" I jumped back out of his range as he grabbed for me. "What's going on with you Colt? You've been acting weird since we got home, so spill it." He demanded but I didn't owe him an explanation and who is he to demand one- he's one of the others now. Rocky was born before me so he must have known something.
"What's it to you?" I snapped.
"What?" He replied dumbly then looked at my hand. "It's that piece of paper again, why do you keep looking at that when you think nobody notices?" He asked and walked further into the room. "It's none of your business so back off!" I almost shouted but kept my voice low so it wouldn't get everyone elses attention. "Let me see it, Colt." Rocky commanded. There is no way he is my real brother because my real brother would respect my privacy in the matter so it was time to bail myself out.
"Get out of the way." I mumbeled brushing past him and surprisingly he let me. When I made it downstairs I signaled 'Lissa as casually as I could then grabbed my coat from the closet. "I'm going out Mo-..." The words hung in my throat and I couldn't say them. "Yeah, I'm leaving."
"Okay honey be back by dinner." She replied not taking her attention away from what she was doing. "Actually I was gonna go out to eat, and um I'm gonna stay at an old friend of mines is that okay?" I asked not really wanting to what did it matter to her whether I was here or wasn't.
"Okay sweety becareful." She said and I bit down on my tongue sharply before I said something I wasn't entirely sure I'd regret. Why would she tell me to be careful is she afraid someone might snatch me up and she'd never see me again- afraid some loon would kill me and I'd never be heard from again? I can't believe how fake they all are and here I thought they loved me. "Jeffrey?" 'Lissa said when she got over to the door and gave me an odd look then mouths, 'Where are we going?' I shook my head incase anyone were looking, grabbed her hand, then walked us out of there.
"Where are we going?" She asked again. "To a hotel or something, we need to talk and they'll be in the way this is serious this time." As we got into the car I saw Rocky from the upstairs window looking down at us oddly and I just grinned at him and waved, he waved back but his solid face never changed the expression of what I could only guess was wonder, but I didn't have time to wonder if Rocky was gonna rat out my behavior or not I needed to get to a phone.
* * *
When we pulled into the lot of a Super 8 motel, I glanced across the street then at 'Lissa. "Tacos?" I asked her and she shook her head. "I'm not really hungry, you go on ahead and I'll get the room." She got out of the car and I turned it back on pulling away when she was out of sight. I hope she isn't getting sick of this whole ordeal, I need her more than anything right now and if I lose her than I might just as well give up.......
After grabbing a bite to eat I walked into the hotel where Neilissa was waiting for me. "I got you something anyway." I said to her, explaining why I had an additional KFC bag. The two of us were eye balled by the guy behind the counter but that was the only real attention we got from anyone as we got on the elevator and went to our room.
The room was bigger than I expected and she got one with two beds. While she took off her jacket and things I went over to the phone right away and grabbed the reciever holding it out to her. "I need you to call them." I said to the questioned look on her face. "You have too, I'll be right here helping."
"Then why don't you do it?" She asked and I made an exasperated noise then shook my head. "Because I can't," Oh that was logical.
"Here," I said taking the phone back and dailed the number into the base.
"Hello?" A woman said and I handed the phone back to 'Lissa. "What do I say-.....Uh, Hello, is this Mrs. McRea?" She said getting her professional voice over the phone and I snickered off to the side then slid over to her bed and sat down beside her. 'Lissa turned the phone outwards so we could both here what she was saying. "This is she, what can I do for you?" Mrs. McRea asked.
"Um, I am collecting for um....."
"Say the C & N found....say it."
"The C&N found..." She moved the reciever back and covered the mouth piece looking at me saying, "The what?" I shook my head and she put the phone back to her ear.
"Is that some kind of television station or something?" Mrs. McRea asked her and Neilissa nodded then said. "Yes, we wanted to offer you the station at a lower price than what you'd normaly pay if you decide to switch over to our company." This was classic, I could hardly keep in my laughter there was no way this woman was buying this act.
"You don't get the station? Well would you like to purchase it?" 'Lissa asked. "Okay thanks anyways, goodbye Ma'am." And she hung up.
"That was great, now we know the number isn't invalid anymore." I said to her throwing my arms around her for a hug and she raised her forearm the best she could and patted mine. "I think she was a little suspicious," She was saying.
"Of what, our initials make the perfect back up plan." I answered feeling her hands drop from my arms.
"Colt, when are you going to tell your parents about all of this?" She asked me plain and simple but I just looked away from her. I wanted to tell them after the holidays but keeping it in was getting harder and harder, because if there's anything I've learned from the past is that nothing stops Rocky from getting what he wants that trait he got from Dad- his Dad. "I don't know how," I replied sitting beside her and grabbing my lunch. We sat long ways on the bed at the top beside each other and ate quietly while the tv played the Fairly Oddparents.
"I'll be there for you, Jeffrey, you know that...." 'Lissa was saying sweetly and rubbed my leg a second then went back to eating a taco while I had a chicken leg- neither of us really cared for what the other person was eating, haha we were like a miss-matched set sometimes.
"I just don't wanna ruin the holidays for them, I mean I think they're jerks for lying to me but they still deserve a decent holiday right?" She didn't answer me, mostly because she didn't know what to say back but I could tell she was thinking I should just get it over with now because tomorrow is what Tum calls Christmas Eve's eve.
"Break it to them carefully and it won't be as hard as you think it is.....I hope." I looked at 'Lissa and thought about it long and hard. I want my family back....at least I think I do.....but what's gonna happen to the Douglas's? "I'll do it, just as-....just as soon as we get back home." I answered finally.
"Which will be?" She asked and I was hoping never but I knew I couldn't keep running from them I didn't wanna end up hating them I just wanted to know the truth and possibly let my real Mother and Father know that I'm ok, why should they worry when nothing was wrong. I mean, I'm happy and healthy what parent wouldn't wanna know that about their kid....Yeah, nothing will change once this is out of my system everything will be fine again.
"Lissa, lets go home, I think I'm ready now."
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"Yeah, it's time I stopped beating around the bush with them, everyone has a right to know what's going on even if it might make them mad at me for snooping I can't keep this a secret forever." Neilissa smiled at me and gave me a single kiss on the lips. "It's nice to see my students growing up and taking responsiblity for their actions." She said and slid off the bed. I grinned impishly to myself then closed my eyes. Even if the world changes tomorrow its nice to know that some people will stay the same.