DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters created by Alexander Key and
owned by Walt Disney Pictures. This is fan fiction, and not endorsed by
Mr. Key, his estate, or Walt Disney. No copyright infringement is
intended, and no money is being made from this story. It is based on plot
elements used in both the book Escape to Witch Mountain as well as the
movie of the same name, although the book and the movie differ extensively.
Please direct all queries, comments, etc. to kevinpkhaynes@yahoo.com. It
is my sincere desire that you enjoy the story as the pure entertainment it
was intended to be.
LIFE ON WITCH MOUNTAIN
By Kevin Haynes
CHAPTER 13
Tony and Tia had spoken almost daily since they had arrived at their assignments, but this time Tony couldn't wait to talk to his sister. He was so excited about possibly finding another Homedweller already! He almost couldn't form the words, and wished he could just transmit thoughts as pictures so she could understand it all . but he wasn't able to do that at will.
Tia was very excited as well. She told Tony to call her, day or night, as soon as he found out for sure what was happening. He promised he would.
The next day, Ty didn't show up, and at lunchtime Tony finally became concerned. Ty had not passed up a free lunch so far! Tony wanted to check up on him, but realized he had no idea where Ty lived. He thought about trying to get a mental fix on Ty, to locate him as if he were a Homedweller, but wasn't sure how that would work, either. He decided to try to be patient, knowing that things that are supposed to happen often do.
He was roused from his thoughts by the man taking one of his business cards. Something seemed very familiar about the tall, red-haired man with the piercing eyes, but Tony wasn't sure what. The man took the card, looked it over, put it in his pocket, then looked at Tony. Their eyes made contact briefly, and the stranger nodded his head toward Tony and then walked away.
Boy, that was bizarre. He could have at least said something! Tony thought. Wait . those eyes. There was something about the eyes . no, not the eyes, but the gaze, the glare, the way he looked at Tony. What was it?
Not wanting to fret over the strange man or Ty, Tony got back to painting. Today he was trying to capture the lightning he had seen over the sky the night before. It hadn't rained much, but the electrical storm had been spectacular. He was having fun trying to make the lightning look just right when he sensed someone was behind him.
He was going to turn around slowly, but before he could, he heard a young voice say, "Hi, Tony. Sorry I'm late." Tony turned around to see Ty standing there with a woman. She looked so much like Ty she had to be his mom.
Tony wasn't sure whom to address first, so he decided to respond to Ty. "No problem, Ty. You know you can show up whenever you want." Then he looked at the woman and said, "My name's Tony." He extended his right hand.
She shook his and said, "I'm Trina, Ty's mom. Are you the one that's been keeping him out of trouble?"
Tony smiled and said, "Well, to tell you the truth, I've just given him a place to hang out. He's the one who's keeping him out of trouble." At that Ty's face broke into a huge smile. He looked so proud of himself. Trina noticed it and mussed his hair as she laughed.
"Well, I just wanted to thank you. Ty's dad died about 5 years ago, and life isn't easy for a single mom in New York. I just didn't have anywhere else to go, and no family I knew of to help. I make too much at my jobs to get help from social services, but not enough to really get ahead, so we've just had to make do. You've really been a godsend."
Tony smiled and said, "I'm so glad I could help. Ty is a bright kid, and a very hard worker. You should be proud of him."
"Oh, I am. I always knew he could go far with the right opportunities . I just haven't had the chance to help him get any of those opportunities. Speaking of which ." she started digging in her purse, "how much do I owe you? I understand you've paid him quite well."
Tony held up his hands in front of him, palms out, and said, "You don't owe me a thing. Ty earned all of that money. The errands he runs for me allow me to keep my stand open. He's helping me earn more money by the work he does, and I don't mind paying him. I have to admit that I was concerned about him missing school, but I was glad that he was at least safe."
Trina nodded, "Oh, me too. It's almost summer anyway, so I'm not going to worry about it until next year. Do you mind if he keeps helping you? You wouldn't believe how much good it does me to know he's OK."
"I'd love to have him keep working here. I'm glad it's fine with you - I'd hate to see him go!" He winked at Ty, and Ty grinned again.
"Great! Well, I have to get to work. Ty, remember I won't be home until midnight, and I expect to find you in bed, TV off and lights out, when I get home!" She looked at Tony and said, "Thanks again!" and started to leave.
Tony said, "Trina, wait just a second." He turned and got a business card for her and handed it to her. "I know it's not much information, but I wanted you to at least have that." He was watching her face to see what it might say that her words would not.
The color practically drained from her face when she saw the card. She was silent, then looked up with a faraway expression and said, "Nice logo. Where did you get it?"
Tony replied in a quiet voice, as if talking to a skittish deer to keep it from running away, "It's my family's emblem. I use it as a way of honoring them."
"Your family?" Tony could see her mind working, the wheels turning, trying to put it all together. "What is your family's name, Tony?"
"They go by Castaway. . I know it's a strange name." he started.
"Castaway?" Her eyes went wide. "Tony, I have to get to work, but some time we need to talk."
Tony said, "You know, I don't have a family to go home to, and my schedule is whatever I want it to be. Would it help if I watched Ty tonight, and we could talk when you get home? I don't want to intrude, but I'd love to talk about this family thing. I don't want to put it off. If you're not sure about me being in your home, I completely understand. I just thought I'd offer."
He wasn't sure what her reaction would be. He didn't want her to think he was trying to make a play for her or trying to abuse Ty. He was honest when he said he didn't want to put it off - this conversation could be the most important thing he'd ever done.
She didn't seem offended. She said, "You know, I trust you Tony. I don't know why, but I do. I think it's because you've been so kind to Ty so far and have done more than even a Good Samaritan would do. Yeah, once you close up your stand, Ty can lead you to our house. It's not nice, and I'm never there to clean it, but we need to talk. I'll see you around midnight."
"OK. Take it easy at work! We'll see you tonight."
As she walked away quickly, apparently late, she said, "See you then! Ty . be good!" And she went around the corner, out of sight.
Ty ran over and hugged Tony, nearly knocking him over. Tony wasn't expecting this! Ty said, "Wow, you get to come to my house! Oh Tony, I hope you and my mom figure out that we're in the same family . that would be the best thing I could ever imagine!"
Tony rubbed the boy's head, then hugged him back. Tonight would definitely prove to be interesting!
Across the street, in a small café with large windows, the redheaded man sat at a table. Even if Tony had been looking that way, he wouldn't have seen him. But the man could see Tony and Ty, and had been watching when Trina was there. He was taking notes, and had a camera trained on the group.
LIFE ON WITCH MOUNTAIN
By Kevin Haynes
CHAPTER 13
Tony and Tia had spoken almost daily since they had arrived at their assignments, but this time Tony couldn't wait to talk to his sister. He was so excited about possibly finding another Homedweller already! He almost couldn't form the words, and wished he could just transmit thoughts as pictures so she could understand it all . but he wasn't able to do that at will.
Tia was very excited as well. She told Tony to call her, day or night, as soon as he found out for sure what was happening. He promised he would.
The next day, Ty didn't show up, and at lunchtime Tony finally became concerned. Ty had not passed up a free lunch so far! Tony wanted to check up on him, but realized he had no idea where Ty lived. He thought about trying to get a mental fix on Ty, to locate him as if he were a Homedweller, but wasn't sure how that would work, either. He decided to try to be patient, knowing that things that are supposed to happen often do.
He was roused from his thoughts by the man taking one of his business cards. Something seemed very familiar about the tall, red-haired man with the piercing eyes, but Tony wasn't sure what. The man took the card, looked it over, put it in his pocket, then looked at Tony. Their eyes made contact briefly, and the stranger nodded his head toward Tony and then walked away.
Boy, that was bizarre. He could have at least said something! Tony thought. Wait . those eyes. There was something about the eyes . no, not the eyes, but the gaze, the glare, the way he looked at Tony. What was it?
Not wanting to fret over the strange man or Ty, Tony got back to painting. Today he was trying to capture the lightning he had seen over the sky the night before. It hadn't rained much, but the electrical storm had been spectacular. He was having fun trying to make the lightning look just right when he sensed someone was behind him.
He was going to turn around slowly, but before he could, he heard a young voice say, "Hi, Tony. Sorry I'm late." Tony turned around to see Ty standing there with a woman. She looked so much like Ty she had to be his mom.
Tony wasn't sure whom to address first, so he decided to respond to Ty. "No problem, Ty. You know you can show up whenever you want." Then he looked at the woman and said, "My name's Tony." He extended his right hand.
She shook his and said, "I'm Trina, Ty's mom. Are you the one that's been keeping him out of trouble?"
Tony smiled and said, "Well, to tell you the truth, I've just given him a place to hang out. He's the one who's keeping him out of trouble." At that Ty's face broke into a huge smile. He looked so proud of himself. Trina noticed it and mussed his hair as she laughed.
"Well, I just wanted to thank you. Ty's dad died about 5 years ago, and life isn't easy for a single mom in New York. I just didn't have anywhere else to go, and no family I knew of to help. I make too much at my jobs to get help from social services, but not enough to really get ahead, so we've just had to make do. You've really been a godsend."
Tony smiled and said, "I'm so glad I could help. Ty is a bright kid, and a very hard worker. You should be proud of him."
"Oh, I am. I always knew he could go far with the right opportunities . I just haven't had the chance to help him get any of those opportunities. Speaking of which ." she started digging in her purse, "how much do I owe you? I understand you've paid him quite well."
Tony held up his hands in front of him, palms out, and said, "You don't owe me a thing. Ty earned all of that money. The errands he runs for me allow me to keep my stand open. He's helping me earn more money by the work he does, and I don't mind paying him. I have to admit that I was concerned about him missing school, but I was glad that he was at least safe."
Trina nodded, "Oh, me too. It's almost summer anyway, so I'm not going to worry about it until next year. Do you mind if he keeps helping you? You wouldn't believe how much good it does me to know he's OK."
"I'd love to have him keep working here. I'm glad it's fine with you - I'd hate to see him go!" He winked at Ty, and Ty grinned again.
"Great! Well, I have to get to work. Ty, remember I won't be home until midnight, and I expect to find you in bed, TV off and lights out, when I get home!" She looked at Tony and said, "Thanks again!" and started to leave.
Tony said, "Trina, wait just a second." He turned and got a business card for her and handed it to her. "I know it's not much information, but I wanted you to at least have that." He was watching her face to see what it might say that her words would not.
The color practically drained from her face when she saw the card. She was silent, then looked up with a faraway expression and said, "Nice logo. Where did you get it?"
Tony replied in a quiet voice, as if talking to a skittish deer to keep it from running away, "It's my family's emblem. I use it as a way of honoring them."
"Your family?" Tony could see her mind working, the wheels turning, trying to put it all together. "What is your family's name, Tony?"
"They go by Castaway. . I know it's a strange name." he started.
"Castaway?" Her eyes went wide. "Tony, I have to get to work, but some time we need to talk."
Tony said, "You know, I don't have a family to go home to, and my schedule is whatever I want it to be. Would it help if I watched Ty tonight, and we could talk when you get home? I don't want to intrude, but I'd love to talk about this family thing. I don't want to put it off. If you're not sure about me being in your home, I completely understand. I just thought I'd offer."
He wasn't sure what her reaction would be. He didn't want her to think he was trying to make a play for her or trying to abuse Ty. He was honest when he said he didn't want to put it off - this conversation could be the most important thing he'd ever done.
She didn't seem offended. She said, "You know, I trust you Tony. I don't know why, but I do. I think it's because you've been so kind to Ty so far and have done more than even a Good Samaritan would do. Yeah, once you close up your stand, Ty can lead you to our house. It's not nice, and I'm never there to clean it, but we need to talk. I'll see you around midnight."
"OK. Take it easy at work! We'll see you tonight."
As she walked away quickly, apparently late, she said, "See you then! Ty . be good!" And she went around the corner, out of sight.
Ty ran over and hugged Tony, nearly knocking him over. Tony wasn't expecting this! Ty said, "Wow, you get to come to my house! Oh Tony, I hope you and my mom figure out that we're in the same family . that would be the best thing I could ever imagine!"
Tony rubbed the boy's head, then hugged him back. Tonight would definitely prove to be interesting!
Across the street, in a small café with large windows, the redheaded man sat at a table. Even if Tony had been looking that way, he wouldn't have seen him. But the man could see Tony and Ty, and had been watching when Trina was there. He was taking notes, and had a camera trained on the group.