R & R Hmm... I can't even imagine.
What happened next didn't happen in a week or a month. It happened only less than a full day worth of hours later. It wouldn't have gone this way if Ephram had more friends and got out more often like the other kids at his age. But then again, Ephram Brown wasn't like other kids. He was special. And in his case, he may be special bad or special good.
An hour ago, he woke up, brush he teeth and washed his face. "Well that's half of my schedule." He said to himself in the mirror. The day couldn't have started off better. Ephram did everything a minute faster that the day before. He was one roll. Before leaving the bathroom, he thinks to himself what will he do that day; read two newly bought manga. (Manga: another way to say Japanese comic books) The books are expensive but are well worth it. Today he'll read Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. (Was the writer a guy or a girl?)
The next thing he planned was to browse the internet for anything interesting.
Then he would go watch television until the day is over.
Life was becoming a repeat. Never escaping the day before. Never moving forward. There was no tomorrow only, in his mind, a today-from-yesterday. He was becoming one of those convicts trapped in prison for ten years. Life's a bitch.
The television in the living room has become his best friends. Then at night his bed became his best friend. Now he sits in one of his bonding rituals with the television. He flips and flips until there is something interesting to watch.
Out in the rest of the world a beautiful sun rests it's light on a familiar car, which is parked in front of his house. The door opens and an age old man comes out. The old man walks heavily to the front of the house and turns the knob. To his surprise, the door isn't locked. The man walks in and yells, "Ephram!"
The slump on the couch responds, "For a second there I thought someone was trying to rob us." Ephram's head barely moves, but it moves. "I guess we lucked out."
"Get up. I'm taking you somewhere." His father, Andrew or Andy for short, shuts the door behind him then walks closer to the couch.
"Are you finally giving me those drugs?"
"...Yes, I'm going to give my son drugs."
"Good, I can finally start a business at school. Thanks, dad."
Andy was kind of amusedbut then reminded himself why he came home so early. "I'm serious. Get up. I want to do something."
"I think you'll have to bribe me, then."
"Bribe? How about I cut your allowance."
Ephram has a smug a look on his face; he had lost the battle. "Fine. Let me change first." He got up and went up the stairs to his room. In the living room, Andy smiles to his victory.
Andy drove them to Mama Joys for lunch. The diner was crowded as always. Nina at the counter serving the regulars. She saw Andy and Ephram came in and gave them both a wave. They sat down at a booth. "This is what you wanted to show me?" Ephram asked. "I'm sorry, but Amy beat you to it."
"Just wanted to grab a bite before I show what I have to show you." Andy looked into his menu, which on a side was no point since he knew what he was going to order.
"You didn't want to eat alone, huh?"
He saw right through him. "Well, yeah. Uh... this isn't everything. There's more."
"Oh, boy."
A sandwich, two order of fries and two cokes later, they are finally leaving. Andy, acting as the adult figure pays the check. They both exit the diner, with an extra wave to the woman behind the counter; Nina.
In the shroud of suspense, Andy breaks the silence. "I think you'll like this." He had always had a large ego.
"If there's drug, then probably." His father had the ego, but his son had the lighter side of everything; jokes.
"You keep saying those things, I might start believing in them."
"Good."
Ephram sits in the passenger seats, and waits. And then continues to wait. They're still in Everwood. Knowing the town is small, it won't be long until they arrive. Ephram tried to pass the time by looking out the window at the passing houses, then before he started to daydream, the car began to slow down to a stop. "Lost, dad? I didn't think it was possible to get lost here. But you did it," He turned to his dad. "I'm so proud of you."
"You-- uh-- don't remember this place?"
"Why? Should I?---" Listening to his dad's words again. He looked around. A row of trees, and behind the trees are evenly lined up, well-built houses. That was on his, nothing exciting. It looked like the neighborhood he lived in. As of all the rest of Everwood. His head turned slightly to the side of his dad's side, and he faintly remembered everything. It was so long ago. He almost forgot about the street. The old, rundown-paint of the fence. All the leaves fell already fallen to the ground from the trees in front. A white bench on the porch. Her car was still parked on the street. She was home.
"W-Why?"
His dad shrugged. "I'm trying to be a dad after seventeen years." He leaned toward Ephram. "Did I do good?"
He looked around, still amazed, "Good. Real good. You're starting to come around."
"Aw. Thanks."
"Okay, don't have a heart attack. And at your age, it comes easy."
"Hey! My doctor said I am very healthy at my age."
"Well, you're doctor isn't very reliable then."
Andy ignored him. This bickering could go on forever. "Go. Have fun. But not to much fun. I don't want any accidents. Or any will be accidents."
"C'mon dad. If I wanted to make you mad, I would've done it a long time ago."
"Uh... We don't have to hug or anything, do we?'
"Let's just shake hands."
"Okay. I can do that." A real dad-and-son bond.
They hugged and that was the end of it. Ephram was about to get out when he said. "Thanks dad."
He took a breath of fresh air into his lungs before crossing the street, (just like in the chicken joke.) Though this wasn't a joke. It was the rest of his life. Coming back. Having it back. Everything. The leaves under his shoes as he walked crunched. The stairs of her house was still squeaking, each time he took a step up. The wind was blowing up against him, toward the door. It seemed everyone was eager to find know what would happen. The suspense grew, his hand drew nearer and his heart was beating faster than ever.
Was he trying to delay this? Was it that he didn't want to see her anymore, especially since it's been so long? Standing alone by himself, he took another breath. This is the moment of truth he thought. This is the beginning of everything... His body shivered, the wind was still blowing hard. The tip of his finger reached the destination and the bell rung. He could hear it clearly.
The next thing he heard was footsteps. And then the door opened. Her room mate answered the door. "Look, he's finally old enough to go out by himself." Rude as always.
He sighed, "Yeah...Is--"
"You two act like idiots in a wading pool. Not even with a barely enough water to drown a baby. And yet you two are stupid enough to."
"Th-That was really beautiful." Beat. "Could you... get her?"
She snickered and then left. By the door way he stood, her turned his head back and still, his dad is parked across the street. In his mind he wonders why. Maybe his father knows this won't work out...
It was only moments from when her roommate left, when he heard footsteps coming closer. And then the footsteps stopped. Ephram turned around to see her. "Ephram. Hey."
He sighed, relief. "It's been so long."
She nodes. "Months. But I try not to keep track."
"Keeping busy then?"
"Yeah. The band is improving. There may be hope."
"Should I lie or tell the truth about what I've been doing 'cause the truth," he leans in, "isn't very interesting."
She laughs; beautiful. "Boring or interesting. I'll pick the lie."
"Good choice. I went skiing. Got captured by aliens. Met Amadeus Mozart. And made a hit-and-run."
"Hit-and-run? All the others seem probable, but you hitting someone? You don't have the heart."
"Well, this squirrel and I wanted the same acorn. When I wasn't looking, he stole it from. So after that I saw him running across the street and... You got the idea."
"The acorn must've been a really good one."
"Uh... actually no. It didn't mix well with my whole acorn ensemble." A moment of relapse.
"So, why are you here?"
"My dad," he pointed to the car across the street, "he drove me here. Wanted to be a dad, finally."
"This. You're dad's idea."
Ephram nodded.
"Really?"
Ephram nodded again, then smiled.
"Then---," She leaned in slightly, "it worked. Our planned worked."
"Three months. The old man finally cracked." Ephram hugged her. Her body was warm, making him warm too. "Madison, it's really happening."