Chapter 19: The Place I Once Lived
As told by Mark
2 August

I could see the sun beginning to show in the sky. Ella had wanted to spend the whole day getting to know my family; she really wanted to make a good impression. So, I had made Cade, Kenna, and Ella get in the car at the ghastly time of 5:30 A.M.. I knew it didn't take too long to get there but I wanted to take my time, one, to prepare, two, it's been a while since I've driven anywhere. Besides, if we did arrive early and something went wrong we could leave at noon with it still being constituted as the "whole day".

All three of them had groaned at leaving so early, but they we're asleep before we had even pulled away from the loft in Roger's car. It had surprised me that Cade had been the one to protest the most. She said it would be imposing, she even tried to equivilate her going to my parents to the atom bomb droppingon Hiroshima. However, she went along with it after Maureen had slipped her fifty bucks and promised to take her shopping tomorrow with the twins if she just let me have my way, but I wasn't supposed to know about that. I had overheard her confiding in Ella last night.

Well, I've been attempting to figure out how to introduce them. Roger had been trying to mumble tips from his own exprierence earlier this year as we made our way out that morning, but was interupted by Benny who's been agitated all this week.

"Mhmm..." I looked into the rear view mirror to see Cade making an attempt to stretch as she woke up.

"You're up." I said.

"Not intentionally." She says. "So, what's this place like?"

"Semi-typical surburbian last time I was there."

"What made you run?"

Run? Good question...but before I had a chance to answer Ella began to stir in the passenger seat.

"Any good dreams?" I asked.

"...I dreamed I ate a ten pound marshmellow and when I woke up the pillow was gone."

"I love that quote. My grandfather likes to read his quotes. Tommy Cooper, right?"

"Who is he?" I attempted to ask.

Ella shrugged, "I just like the quote."

Before long I had turned the car down a familiar street and soon into the familiar driveway.
The women in front began to go bezerk, nearly squaking at the man sitting next to her in front of the house.

"Jo, they're here, they're here."

"Arlene, I can see that. I'm not blind yet for heavens sake."

"They're here."

Any last words, Cohen?

My own thoughts once again mocking me...

Here goes...I open the door...

"Mark! You're here!"

"I'm sure he knows that." I could hear my dad calling.

"Good Morning, Mom. Morning, Dad."

"Son, who'd you drag with you?"

"Mom, Dad, this is my girlfriend Ella and th..."

My mom pulled Ella close to her, "You're not Maureen! Thank God!"

"Arlene! Mo likes girls now."

"I know, I know, but Marky's always been desperately stupid about Maureen."

"Thanks, Mom."

"Oh, Mark, you're here."

My father mumbled, "We've already covered that. While my wife is busy out here laying her eggs, why don't the rest of come inside."

Ella quickly made her way in followed by Cade, neither who seemed to remember Kenna was still sleeping in the car. I made my way back to the car, gently unbuckled her the best I could without awaking her and carried her towards the front door where my parents were still waiting. My mom looked at the five year old questioningly, but before she could speak my father gently guided her in the door. I could hear him mumble,

"Not now! I want them to stay a while."

He turned to me, "Go lay her down in your old room."

When I had finished that task I came back downstairs to find the four of them sitting awkwardly in the living room. However, I all honesty this is so much better than I had saw it going in my head.

"Why don't I go start breakfast?"

"I'll help you Mrs. Cohen." Ella offered and I held back a teasing laugh as the two went to the kitchen.

"So..um?" My father began, but it wasn't me he was talking to.

"Oh, sorry, Dad this is Cade...she's a friend of mine."

He looked at me, "Friend my ass."

He turned to look at her. "Cade, huh? Well, it's a right side better than Isobella. Thank god, you look like a Cohen. It's good to see you found him. Oh, don't look so shocked, son, I used to always listen in to your phone conversations, it's the only way I knew what was really goin' on. You were always a shitty liar...you got that from your mother."

"He still can't lie." Cade chimed in.

I left the two of them of them to critisize my short fallings...or as my father used to say, "what I got from my mohter" traits...instead going outside to get our stuff, which I knew was similar to a death sentence, but it gave me something to do. WHen I got back inside I could see Kenna standing at the top of the stairs, I grabbed her bag and went upstairs..

"Welcome to today, princess, let's get you out of those pajamas."

She nodded and we walked back to my old room,

"Where are we?"

"Well, this is where I used to live, before I moved to the loft. And this is where I used to sleep.

"What's that?" She asked pointing to strategically hidden object as I handed her one of the sun dresses she insisted on bringing.

"That is a troll and it's our little secret, okay? Now, hurry up, breakfast is almost ready.

...The morning went by well, My father and Cade were able to hit off real well, my father even allowed her to talk about politics. He says she knows what she's talking about.

Ella was making her wish come true, my mother had already offered three "secret recipes" though I knew I would probably never actually see any result of those.

My Dad and I took Cade and Kenna to were I used to roam...although we avoided the middle school. Apparently, my nephew, Bryant, grafitied the back of the building on the last day of school and had to serve detention two days a week and Saturdays during the summer.

By the time three o'clock came around I was actually feeling good about this...maybe too good..

As if on some sort of cue the door opened, and I could hear my sister Lizzy,

"Oh, Marky. I'm here."

Author's Notes:
I made an executive decision and divided Mark's visit in to two parts,...this was just getting too long...By next Tuesday the 2nd part will be up...unless my computer crashes...

carsonheir: Thanks of course...and I think everybody is a closeted something or another

BwayDiva: You'll see soon...not the next chapter but the one after that...I think, but patience you will know but I bet you can guess...

ShatteredTruth: Hence the reason I used it...Not too many characters I hope. When re-reading things one can find clues and forseshadowing...maybe...

Bits1212: Oh trusts me, I have...Thanks for the review...

Lils: Ch. 17: I guess that review will go into the file marked "mysteries never to be solved"...I did hope you were still reading...hope it hadn't gotten boring
Ch. 18: Thanks...I think.
Ch. 19: of course, and yes you mentioned...and yes I read as many of my reviewers' profile pages as I can...I can't decide if it's because I have no life or because I'm genuinely interested...I'll claim the latter

Until next time, this is me...signing out