Chapter 2: Eric
SPRING, 1980 -- POINT PLACE, WISCONSIN
Eric finished unloading the final box onto his kitchen counter. He repeated over and over in his head that living in this small, one bedroom, dingy apartment was only temporary until he could move up to bigger and better things. Point Place had never seemed so small to Eric until he had the ability to compare it to the vast horizons of Africa, but he had to rebuild his life, and that meant living humbly for a while.
Not that Eric wasn't just the absolute epitome of 'humble.' Heck, if anything he was underconfident. That was why he moved to Africa in the first place. To DO something, to stop wasting away in his parents basement. And then there was Donna. He hated leaving her behind, but what the hell kind of life did an underconfident, skinny little boy have to offer her? He was starting to feel his weight in the world, and it made him sick to know what their life would be together. Sure, they'd be together, and that was enough for him. But that would never be enough for Donna.
No. Eric Forman had to grow up.
He had sent it in a post card only two weeks ago: Donna, I'm coming home.
He never signed it, she would know who it was from, and he didn't have the nerve to call her. Leaving once was necessary. Leaving twice was a mistake.
So here Eric was, the dingy apartment unwelcoming him, but he was happy to know it was his. He had received the motivation he needed, and his new job at Point Place Elementary school started in September, only 3 months of summer and a lot of figuring out to go. The door swung open and Kitty bounced in with a plate of cookies, Red dragging his feet and observing the room behind her.
"What's that smell?" Kitty asked, all smiles. Eric shrugged.
"The apartment? It just stinks.' Eric said somberly. Kitty laughed nervously.
"Well it's still just…so…" her eyes fell upon a giant brown stain in the carpet, "lovely. Eric, Honey, are you sure you don't want to stay at home?"
"No, but thanks. This is where I need to be."
"Kitty, the boy is fine." Red chimed. "I bet this is like royalty after staying over in those mosquito ridden huts in Africa. It's a wonder he never caught Malaria."
Kitty placed the plate of cookies on the counter and grabbed Eric's cheeks.
"I'm just so happy my baby is home!" she gushed. Eric let her have her moment; he had been gone a long time. He owed it to her. He owed it to everyone. Red sat on the dilapidated couch and opened a newspaper while Eric and Kitty began unloading boxes. He felt Donna's name climbing his throat. He didn't even want to ask why she didn't come. He didn't want to know how she was about his second return. He was terrified. But he didn't even have to ask.
"About Donna-" Kitty began. Eric turned to her, his arms crossed.
"So, did…did she get my postcard?" Eric asked. There was a hint of pain in Kitty's eyes, like she had to give him the bad news that his dog had run away when he was eight years old. He didn't like it.
"Not exactly…" Kitty said, pulling the postcard out of her purse. Eric's heart sank.
"What the hell? She's that mad?" Eric whined. Kitty shook her head in disbelief.
"Eric, she's been gone for months. Since you left the second time. And can you blame her if she is that mad?" There was a long silence. Finally, Eric caved in.
"No." he choked. Kitty placed her hand on her son's cheek.
"We don't even know where she went. The only one she told was Bob, and he won't say. All we know is what Jackie told us; she left with Casey." Eric dropped into a chair next to him in shock.
"Now when you say Casey, you mean-"
"Kelso." Kitty finished. Eric placed his head in his hands. If Donna was with Casey, she would have to come back. There was no way Donna would be snowballed by Casey all over again.
"Donna's with Casey?" Eric asked. Kitty nodded slowly.
"I'm afraid so honey." Kitty placed her hand on Eric's shoulder in a comforting gesture, and he winced away. This hurt. This hurt right down to Eric's core because all he wanted was a future with her…a future she deserved. And she was off God-Knows-Where with the devil himself. Hadn't she learned her lesson the first time? Wasn't Casey old news?
The faucet was leaky, the floors were creaky, and all of that Eric could live with. Donna? That was another story.
The only thing Eric could do, despite his despair, was wait for her to return. He would just do exactly what he was doing in Africa. Better himself, better his life. He was going to be everything she needed, even if it took her years to return.
And that's what pissed Eric off the most. Wait. That's what you do for the one you love. You WAIT. She couldn't wait for him, but by GOD he would wait for her. He owed it to her, even if she couldn't wait for him.
"Honey?" Kitty chimed. Eric glanced up through laced fingers over his face.
"Could…could I just be alone right now? I have a lot of unpacking to do."
Kitty nodded in silence and Red rose from the living room.
"You know where to find us. Come over for dinner if you want.' Red extended. Eric nodded.
"We'll see….maybe."
Red and Kitty left in the manner they came in. Parental, scrutinizing, non-judgmental. They had always been that way for Eric, and when he was freeloading and taking advantage of that, well…he couldn't do that to them either. There were many reasons why Eric had gone to Africa.
Eric pulled a picture of him and Donna from his pocket. There they were. Her hair was red then. Long, wispy, free-falling. He missed her. Their ups, their downs; he even missed her ability to over react and his to do all the wrong things. He would make things right with Donna…he just really didn't know how yet.
First things first…he needed to find her.