The next morning, everyone was seated around the breakfast table as Holly, Will, and Jack recapped the past two years for Rick, who was curious about how the Land of the Lost was after the earthquake that forced him through the time doorway home. Jack managed to find some of his old clothes that still fit, while Will found some of his and Holly borrowed some things from Melissa, as they were about the same size. Finally, Rick spoke up.
"It tore me up inside that I wasn't able to be there with you or bring you back home with me," he said to his children.
"You couldn't help it, Dad," Will replied quickly.
"Yeah," Holly added, "and we made it okay."
Jack chimed in, "I tried my best to keep them out of trouble and it wasn't easy," he said with a mock-serious look toward Will and Holly.
"I bet," Rick answered with a smile.
That afternoon, Rick had fallen asleep in the living room while watching TV, while Will had gone to talk to Jack. Holly began to grow bored, causing Melissa commented with a smile, "I think I know just what you need. C'mon. We're going for a drive."
"Where to?" Holly asked.
"You'll see."
About 15 minutes later, they were walking into a nearby mall. After a few seconds, Holly recognized it as one she used to go shopping at with Will and their parents, and later with just Will and Rick. She couldn't believe how much it had changed since she was last there only (to her) a few years earlier. Sure the building itself looked mostly the same, but many non-anchor stores were now gone, replaced by others she'd never seen before. There were kiosks set up for various wireless carriers, which reminded her of how glad she was that Melissa had explained smartphones to her the night before. It seemed they were a key part of life, now.
Holly also noticed how different many of the mall customers looked, from what she was used to. This was to be expected, she knew, but it was strange going from seeing bellbottoms and other '70s fashions to some of the more...interesting styles she was seeing. Not having experienced the changes through the '80s, '90s, and '00s, this was quite a shock to her.
As they continued walking, Melissa noticed Holly was beginning to settle down and enjoy herself. For her part, Holly was much more comfortable, but she still didn't quite feel in her element.
"I don't believe this," she thought, "I'm actually more comfortable running from dinosaurs than walking around the mall."
Regardless, it was fun to just be a normal teen for a change.
Jack and Laura were glad to have some time to catch up. It was difficult for each, after being separated for what to Jack was three years, but for her 40. After a somewhat awkward start, they began warming up to each other.
"I felt so bad leaving you and your mom while I was stranded," Jack admitted regretfully, "I tried my best to get backâwe all did."
"I know, especially now. For a few years, I was angry with you. I felt like you'd abandoned us. Then, as I got older, I thought something had happened to you when you went rafting in the Grand Canyon and, like you said, fell into the same portal Uncle Rick, Will, and Holly did. You were listed as a missing person for a long time. They wanted to just give up and declare you dead, but couldn't find any evidence, so they just left the case open."
He explained, "Yeah. My raft and supplies all went through with me. I probably disappeared into thin air. I'm just glad none of the people searching hit the waterfall, too."
Laura half smiled as she replied, "Probably because they actually made sure to stay away from it."
Both laughed at this before continuing the conversation.
Will sat in the living with them for a while, but then drifted outside. He tried to explore a little, and enjoyed technically being home. While walking around the block, hoping to clear his head, he still was unable to fully relax.
"It's great to be back, but it really feel right," he thought at one point. "We've missed out on so much time, it's like this isn't even home anymore."
Then, forcing a smile, he added, "I'll probably get used to it."
Wandering back inside, to the living room, he saw his father was now awake and watching TV. "Sit down, Will. I want to talk to you about something."
"What is it, Dad?" Will asked.
"You've looked like something's bothering you, ever since you got here. What's wrong?" Rick asked.
"Nothing, Dad. It's great being back in our world."
Rick looked his son in the eyes and replied softly, "You know I've always been able to tell when you' kids aren't being honest with me. You haven't looked comfortable since you've been home."
"I guess that's the problem. It's home, but it doesn't feel like our home. Holly seems to be fine, but I don't really belong here. The last time I was out of the Land of the Lost, it was 1974. I've missed 42 years! I fit in more at High Bluff or in the Lost City and I hate it! I want to be happy, but I can't," Will explained, frustration gradually building in his voice.
Rick nodded thoughtfully. "I understand. I'd feel the same way. You feel like you've missed out."
"Is that bad?"
Rick shook his hood and smiled reassuringly, "Of course not."
Father and son continued talking until Holly and Melissa returned from the mall.
"Hey, Dad," Holly commented somewhat cheerfully.
"Hey, Honey," Rick replied. "How was the mall?"
Her eyes widening for emphasis, Holly replied, "Different."
Rick laughed knowingly as his daughter followed Melissa to go put away the things they bought.
A few hours later, everyone was at the dinner table, preparing to once again eat as a family. In the meantime, Melissa had been introducing Holly and Will to personal computers, which was very interesting to both. They were astounded at the amount of information readily available on the Internet. They also had a chance to watch a little TV and were equally as surprised at how much things changed there as well. Finally, they had come into the kitchen and were ready to eat.
After both sat down at the table, Rick asked, "So how do you like being back?"
"It's great, Daddy couch, next to," she said cheerfully, despite a hint of unsureness in her voice.
"Think you can get used to all the differences?"
"Sure. I'll be fine," she said, her voice coming closer to revealing what she was really thinking.
"Are you sure, Holly?" her father asked questioningly.
Holly paused a moment, before replying, "Well, it's just that everything feels so strange. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. It's great to be here with you, but it just doesn't feel like home. I know I'll get used to it, though."
"Wait," Will asked, "I was telling Dad the same thing. I don't really feel like I belong here."
"Whew. I thought it was just me," came Holly's relieved reply.
They went back and forth like this for a few minutes, as Rick thought quietly for a moment. Finally, he spoke up. "I guess I should be honest, too. I've been regretting all the years I lost with you two. All the time I searched and failed, leaving you to find your own way back."
"It's okay, Dad," Will chimed in, "We made it out."
"But I also want you to be happy. You're my kids and I know we're all glad to see each other again, but I think you would've been happier if you'd been able to get back when we originally planned."
"Well, it doesn't matter since we can't go back, anyway," observed Will.
"Actually, there might be a chance, but there's no guarantee and it would mean having to get back to the Land of the Lost temporarily."
Holly perked up, "Oh, I almost forgot about Enik. Maybe he could help, but what if it doesn't work and we never see you again?"
"That's why you've got to decide. I'll leave it up to you and will support whatever choice you make."
"But how would we get back? The waterfall again?" asked Will.
"That's the only way I know of going from here. If Jack went through 2 years after we did, it could be a fixed point, so that means you could probably make it. You said it dropped him and the same place we first showed up, right?"
"Yes, sir," Will replied.
"Then you could plan on showing up there. If you can keep away from Grumpy and the others, you'd need to go straight to the Lost City and talk to Enik. Of course, you'd also have to hope it dropped you into the right time there. It sounds like something is throwing off the time doorways, so there's no guarantee when you'd arrive."
Holly then spoke, "Wow. That's a lot of stuff that could go wrong. Maybe we should just stay here."
"You don't have to decide this afternoon. Just give it a few days."
"We'll do that," Will agreed as Holly nodded.
At this point, everyone resumed their day, continuing to enjoy each other's company and, in Jack, Will, and Holly's case, not having to constantly be on alert for danger. It was nice just to relax.
TO BE CONTINUED...
