I looked at the clock. 5:00 PM... damn. Caitlin was still out with her friends. I sighed. I know that Caitlin needs time with other girls, but without her... I'm alone. I sank back into the couch cushion. Stitch already thinks I'm lazy; why should I embarrass him by proving him wrong?

Jumba walked into the room. He was carrying some sort of... evil genius invention or something. I didn't wanna know what it was. If I asked, he might want to test it on me.

I tried to make myself look invisible by sliding as far back into the couch as I could, but he still saw me.

"Hello evil genius creation. Why havingk long face?" Jumba asked.

What?!? Did he really want to talk to ME about my problems? I didn't want to talk to anyone- especially not Jumba. I can't even understand half of what he says!

"Um... I'm okay." I said.

"You have been mopingk around house for very long time now." He said.

I congratulate your powers of observation. I sighed. "I'm fine, really."

"Okay then, I shall be seeingk you later, 626-2."

626-2?

I tried to sleep that night, but I couldn't. I was tossing and turning. Caitlin was next to me, fast asleep, completely unaware. Good, I didn't want to trouble her. I kept thinking about it... my name. 626-2.

I knew why Stitch hated me. I hadn't just come into his house, taken his shelter and care ungratefully. It wasn't just that. I had taken his identity. I was in a cold sweat. I wanted to sleep, if only to forget about it. Then maybe I could wake up with the chance that it only had been a dream. Jumba hadn't really said 626-2. That wasn't really me. But I wasn't going to sleep. It wasn't going to be a dream. That's who I was. No one. I was just a second Stitch. He hated me because I made him look bad. I gave him a bad name.

I put my hands over my eyes. Please... make it stop. Something, make it shut up! Did God hate me? Why was He doing this to me? What had I ever done?

I turned onto my side and let the tears fall out. I didn't sleep that night.
Caitlin convinced me to go out with her the next day. She said that if I stayed inside all day like this, I would turn so pale that I'd be grapefruit-colored. I rolled my eyes and walked outside with her after that.

She brought me to the beach with Angel and Stitch. Just the two people I wanted to see that day! Augh... this was gonna be hell. Stitch glaring at me like some free-loader, and the sun!!! I haven't seen that thing in two days straight. And now it's right there, so bright and shining- AUGH!

Caitlin sat down next to me while I tried to hide my eyes from the burning light. "Charles, you seem upset lately." She said.

Oh no. How could I tell her? What was I supposed to do? "Ungh... it's just... ya know... stuff."
She looked at me. She had that genuine concern in her eyes. It cut through me like a butcher's knife. "Caitlin, I don't wanna talk about it." I said. Short and painless, right?

She stared down on me- that look again. I wanted to hide. I felt like one of those dumb five-year-olds that burry their face in their hands when they've done something wrong. I looked up at her. She wanted to know"It's nothing I can explain." I told her.

She smiled. I guess she could understand that. She leaned down and kissed me on the cheek.

Another Monday came. Nani was at her job, Lilo was at school, Caitlin was busy with friends, Jumba and Pleakley were God knows where and Angel and Stitch were busy doing stuff that I'd rather not think about. Just me and the TV again.

After an hour or two, I heard the back door slam shut. Angel and Stitch must be leaving. Looks like I'm home alone again.

I started singing The Siren Song to myself again. I had had the dream again last night, but somehow... it had seemed more vivid. I could almost make out mom's face in it. I stopped singing it after awhile... but the noise was still coming. I could hear the song. Someone else was singing it! And this wasn't in a dream.

It was coming from the backyard. Mom had come back for me! She had remembered me! I walked slowly and cautiously to the back of the house, yet my heart was racing. I could finally meet her! I would have parents!

I creeped into the room. The song was coming from behind the back door. I peeked through it carefully. There was someone singing the song, I heard it! I looked out through the crack in the door and there she was.

Angel.

I saw her singing The Siren Song. I knew it was her. No one else was there. She must have stayed here while Stitch left.

If Angel was my mom, then that meant my dad was...

I turned around. I didn't want her to see me. I started running. I ran out the front door. I kept going. When would I stop? I don't know. It didn't seem like there was a reason to.