We got back to Midtown, and it was the end of the day, so I hopped right back onto my bus. As soon as I got to my stop I walked straight into my aunt and uncle's house. My Aunt May was in the kitchen fixing dinner.
"Welcome home Peter!" She said while chopping onions. She was a short woman, her face was barely wrinkled. Her brown hair fell just past her shoulders. "Is lasagna okay for dinner?"
"Oh, yeah. That's fine." I said.
"Is somethi-"
"Is Uncle Ben home?" I blurted out.
"Oh, yes. He's in the basement. There's some bad news, it flooded last night." She said. "He's trying to save some stuff. I don't think any of your stuff was damaged." I heard a door shut as she finished speaking, in came Uncle Ben. He too was a shorter man, only about three-fourths of a foot taller than Aunt May. He had a little bit of a round belly under his button up with palm trees on the front. His gray hair was styled back, and I saw his brown eyes through his full moon glasses. He put a box which's bottom seemed to be damp on the table.
"Hey Pete, how was your fiel-" He started.
"Ben Parker! Take that filthy box off of our dinner table!" Aunt May scolded.
"These are my bowling trophies!" He pleaded, half joking with her.
"Oh please then, leave your filthy bowling trophy box on our table. Please!" She said dryly. I noticed his pants were rolled up and slightly wet around the ankles.
"How bad is it?" I asked.
"Not too bad, come on, I'll show you." He said. He lead me into our dark basement. At the bottom of the blue steps, an inch of water covered the floor. I took off my shoes and socks and rolled up my jeans a little bit.
"Any idea what happened?" I asked.
"Just a short leak. Already got it fixed, nothing a little duct tape can't fix. And uh, don't tell your Aunt May, but there's also a plumber coming tomorrow while she's at work." He winked at me as he said that. I laughed.
"Nothing damaged too bad though?" I asked.
"Nah," he started, "you might want to move your boxes around a little bit just in case. I'm gonna go see if your aunt needs any help. Be up soon for dinner Pete."
"Got it." I called as he headed up the stairs. I headed over to my boxes. I looked through a few things. I stumbled across a few pictures of me through the years. Then I found one small picture. It was me sitting with two adults who I only remember from faint memories and photos. Richard and Mary Parker, my parents. I smiled and thought about the picture. Then remembered my question for Uncle Ben. I sloshed my way through the water and made it to the steps. Five steps in, I tripped over something. As I got myself up, I picked up the object I tripped over. It was a leather folder. I sat on the step and observed it. As I turned it, I saw a name scribbled in in marker, it read 'Richard Parker.'
I rummaged quickly through it. There was so few items. I found a few coins that were clearly not U.S. certified, some pencils, a few drawings, and the item that stuck out the most to me: his glasses. I walked upstairs, staring at the leather in my hands.
"Find something?" Uncle Ben asked, his voice trailing off as he saw what was in my hands. "You know... I remember the day your father bought that bag. You know who sold it to him?"
"Who?" I asked.
"Your mother! That's how they met, then they started talking science, and then they were married and you came along." He said, smiling.
"There- there's nothing in here." I said. "Just some little stuff. And his glasses..."
"Your father was a very secretive man Peter." Aunt May said quickly. "Now get that out of here! Go wash up!" She said. I could tell she was worried. I walked upstairs to my room and it was silent downstairs. I quickly washed up and went downstairs. We said our prayers and we quietly ate Aunt May's lasagna. The silence was uncomfortable, I tried to bring up some small talk about OSCORP, but it didn't help very much. We finished, and we did the dishes quickly. I went upstairs after to my room. I was alone now for the first time all day. I could finally clear my mind.