Happy Mother's Day!
I do not own.
Walter tossed his clipboard across the desk. It hit the edge with a bang and landed on the floor with a sharp crack. Everyone jumped in surprise.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you guys. But I'm done… both literally and figuratively. Not one person on my list knows what I'm talking about and a few just thought I was a telemarketer." Walter got up and stretched. "I hate talking to people. You know I don't even like ordering take out. I'm going to get myself some chips. Waste of time."
Circe couldn't help but agree. She too had almost run out of names to call. Some of the numbers were disconnected, others she left a message. The others looked like they had the same amount of luck. Only one number left on her list. Then she could join Walter in some chips.
Dialing the number, she listened to the rings. When she heard the click, she automatically went into her rehearsed speech. "Hello, I'm looking for Jason…"
"Circe?" A female's voice responded hesitantly.
Suddenly, everything around her froze in time. It was just her and the speaker on the phone.
"Yes, this is Circe." She said in a strained voice.
"Oh my lord! I can't believe. I prayed every day that you were all right." The woman on the other end sobbed.
"M…m…mother?" Circe's voice was no higher than a whisper.
"Circe, darling, where are you? Are you okay? Wait, don't go anywhere. We'll come and get you." The woman babbled.
"No, no. Stop." Circe was saying it as much to her mother as to herself. Her already chaotic world was threatening to spin completely out of control. "Mother, I'm fine. I've been fine for many years now." That was partially true. "Why don't I come to you? Where do you want to meet?"
There was silence on the other end as if she was taken back by the question. "Well, how about we meet at a public place like a coffee shop?"
"Sure." Although Circe would have suggested a public place as well, she felt slightly hurt that her family would not want her to go directly to their house. Circe picked up a pencil and wrote down the time and place. "Yes, I got it. Oh, would you mind if I bring my boyfriend?"
"You have a boyfriend?" Her mother sounded surprised.
"Yes, I do." Circe wondered why she would be surprised.
"Of course, bring him. We'd love to meet him." Her mother recovered smoothly.
"Sure, see you soon." Circe hung up. Leaning back into her chair, the world resumed its activity.
"Well, that's the last one." Tuck announced hanging up his phone.
"Me too." Rex put his clipboard down.
"Count me out." Cricket groaned. "How did you do, Circ? Circ?" She noticed for the first time Circe staring off into space.
"I found them." She said flatly.
For a second, no one responded. Then all at once they began speaking at the same time.
"What? How? Where are they? What did they say? Are you okay? Anyone want a chip?" The last question was from Walter, who just stepped into the room.
Everyone glared at him.
"What?" He asked. "If you don't want any, more for me." He crunched into a chip.
0o0
"Wow, I can't believe you found her." Kenwyn said as she mixed her mash potato with gravy.
Family dinner night on Fridays was still a tradition when Rex was at Providence. Kenwyn was there. Everyone at the table brought her up to speed to Circe's situation. All eyes were on Circe who listlessly stabbed at her meatloaf.
"Yeah. I can't believe it either." Circe said. "I mean they kick me out for being an EVO and then she sounded so excited to hear from me…. I don't know what to think."
Holiday and Six gave each other a look before Holiday turned to Circe. "That's a lot to take all at once. How are you feeling?"
Circe thought a moment before laying her fork down. "I'm not sure how I feel. It's like there's so much… sometimes it's so overwhelming, I can't even breathe." She looked down.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm here for you." Rex placed an arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze.
She gave him a wry smile. "Thanks. But no offense, it doesn't really make me feel any better."
"Well, I say you shouldn't go." Walter piped up.
Everyone looked at him.
"Why not?" Kenwyn asked.
"They haven't been parents to her for the last seven years. Why subject yourself to all that drama?" Walter said aloofly.
"That doesn't mean they still aren't her parents." Kenwyn protested. "Family is family, no matter what."
"Puh, where does it say that just because you're born into a family, it makes you family?" Walter scoffed. "This is my family." He pointed to his old gang.
"As nice a sentiment as that is, I think Circe should go see them." Cricket interjected. "She needs to clear the air."
"Why? How does that help?" Walter countered. "It's just gonna bring up old hurts."
"Which needs to be addressed." Cricket interrupted.
"I agree with, Crick." Tuck added.
"Of course you would. She's your girlfriend." Walter sniffed.
"No, but if you run away from things, you just become bitter and resentful." Tuck argued.
"Look, families can be toxic and I say cut your losses and enjoy the family you make." Walter leaned back.
"But families also teach you how to get along because you can't choose family." Beverly spoke up. "If you surround yourself with people you like, you can't grow. You just get an echo chamber."
"Hey, you got a great family. Some of us don't have that kinda luck." Walter responded.
"See them, don't see them. You humans make such a big deal about everything." Bobo looked up from his food. "Family is what you make of it."
"See, the monkey gets it." Walter nodded.
"Yeah, family is what you make of it but if you can't make it in your family, you're going to have dysfunction in the rest of your relationships too." Kenwyn said.
"You know, I always found it fascinating how homo sapiens are constantly seeking community or a family. Psychologist found that our brains are wired to seek it out." Caesar shoveled a spoonful of mash potatoes into his mouth.
Everyone waited for him to continue.
"And?" Rex prompted.
Caesar looked at him surprise. "There's no and. I just find it fascinating."
Everyone groaned. A few people tossed their napkins at him.
Six and Holiday watched the exchange quietly. Holiday studied Circe who remained silent as her friends argued around her. She glanced over at Six who was finishing his meal. Six cleared his throat. The gesture was enough to bring everyone's attention on him.
He wiped his mouth with his napkin and placed it on his plate.
"You all make valid points. You don't get to choose your family, sometimes they are toxic and you need to cut yourself off or have as little contact as possible." He paused as he took a drink from his glass. "But I also know the past always catches up with you. If you don't deal with it now, you will have to deal with it later. The question is… when do you want to face it?" He directed the last question to Circe who stared back at him.
Her gaze shifted back to her plate.
"Circe? If you want to go, I'll support you. If you don't, go I'll support you too." Rex said quietly.
They waited as she took a deep breath. "I'm scared." She finally spoke. "I hate to feel this way. I don't want to see them. I want to pretend that they're dead. Then I can so oh well."
"So you're not going?" Beverly asked.
Circe met her friend's eyes. "No, I'm going. Because they're not dead and I have to know, for better or worse, I need to know, so I can move on."
"That's my chica." Rex said proudly.
"But you better be there." Circe smirked.
"Not even a horde of EVO's can stop me." Rex replied giving her hand a squeeze.