On Saturday afternoon, Alison sat with her mother at a restaurant. They had finished lunch and her mother was, as usual, more interested in making herself look better than in what Alison was telling her. It came as no surprise when she interrupted Alison to say she had to leave for work and that she would be home late. Alison sighed and waited until her mother paid the bill before she stood up and walked out of the restaurant. Thinking about what her father had said the night before, she headed to Erica's house, the opposite direction of her own, and hoped that she could get through to her today.
There was clearly a conversation going on when Erica's little sister, Jedda, led Alison into the backyard of their home, but Jedda just inserted herself into the conversation as if she had heard everything.
"And four, here's Yuk's friend, Alison Ashley," announced Jedda, holding Alison's hand.
Alison smiled, hoping that the people she was looking at weren't about to kick her out of their house just because she wasn't like them. She looked over at Erica for an indication of what was going to happen, but Erica just looked shocked. Next, Alison looked over at Mrs Yurken, who was also shocked, but seemed pleased too.
"Nice to meet you Alison," said Mrs Yurken finally. "It's not everyday Yuk has a friend drop by."
"Like ever," said Jedda.
"Jedda," warned Mrs Yurken.
"I was just, um, passing by, and I thought I'd come visit," said Alison shyly.
"Thought you lived in the Heights?" asked Erica, who now seemed confused.
"Yeah, I was at the restaurant with mum, and she had to go to work, so..."
"Your mum is a waitress too, is she?" Mrs Yurken asked kindly. "I work at the Happy Leprechaun."
"Oh, uh, well, actually, mum's a partner, so she has to do a bit of everything."
"Oh, what place?"
Alison told them where her mother worked, feeling almost shy about it.
"Oh... the French place up at the Heights," said Mrs Yurken in awe.
Behind Erica, a man spoke up. "Bet you those frog legs keep her hopping, hey?" He laughed, with Erica turning to give him a strange look while her mother laughed as well.
"This is Lennie. That was one of his better jokes. I tell you what love, why don't you stay for dinner? We're having a barbie. Erk would love you to stay, wouldn't you? Erk?" Erica just nodded.
Half an hour later, the barbecue was ready. Lennie was just finishing up when Valjoy came in with her friend. She came straight over to annoy Erica then headed to the barbecue, taking the burger that Lennie offered to Alison. Pretty soon, everyone had finished eating and were sitting around talking. Alison felt comfortable there, like Erica's family was perfect, a real family, unlike her mother. Even with how mean her sister was, Erica was clearly loved by everyone in the family. Alison felt herself smiling and laughing along with everyone, at least until everyone looked up at the newcomer.
Erica was up in a flash, grabbing Alison's hand and dragging her up. "Um, Alison Ashley has to go now." She dragged Alison inside, leading her into Valjoy's room. "Let's go into my room." She sat on the bed, Alison sitting on the beanbag. "So?"
"Your parents are cool," said Alison honestly.
"You think Lennie is... Lennie's not my dad, he's just this truck driver my mum's... I mean, like, you know, we hardly know him. My mum's real boyfriend owns a stud farm, race horses, I help train them, cause I'm really good with horses."
"Oh."
"Oh? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, it just, it explains your little sister."
"Nothing explains my little sister."
"So, do you see your real dad much?"
"Well, if you must know, my real dad's dead."
Alison looked up, feeling bad. "Oh, I'm sorry. If it's any help, my dad lives in LA with his girlfriend, and I never get to see him."
"That's not like having a dead father though, is it?"
"Not really," Alison said, feeling bad again.
"You're so competitive, you know that Alison Ashley?" Erica took a deep breath and went on to explain who her father had been and how he had died to rescue his friends. It was a lie and Alison knew it, though she kept quiet. "But don't mention it to mum, cause she's not really over it yet."
"But doesn't she have a boyfriend?"
"Pardon?"
"Her boyfriend, with the stud farm?"
"Yeah, but, well, you know, people deal with their grief in different ways. Look, can I trust you?"
"Yeah."
"My brother, Harley, he's a spy in training. He researching the use of astral travel for espionage on an urban setting. We're just his cover."
"So, he's not your brother then?"
"No, no, he's my brother."
"Then your mother's not you mother."
"No, my mother's my mother, my brother's my brother, and so are my sisters."
"And Lennie?"
"Harley's supervisor."
"So he's not a truck driver?"
"Nope."
"The truck out front isn't his?"
Erica shook her head and Alison stared at her, confused. "Oh, yeah, the truck, yeah, no, that's his. He just drives it for authenticity."
"So he's a... a method spy?" Erica smiled and nodded. "Got it."
Alison smiled wryly, something that Erica missed.
After another hour together at Erica's house, the two girls were walking back to Alison's home in the Heights. It seemed to Alison that they had made some progress in their friendship.
"So, about my family..." started Erica.
"It's okay. Your secret is safe with me. I know it's a matter of national security."
"You have no idea what it's like."
"Think so? You don't know my mother," said Alison. She felt like she had a secret rather than Erica.
"At least she works in a nice place, not like the Happy Leprechaun."
Alison stopped walking to say hello to her neighbours. Erica continued on, leaving Alison to try and decide who to follow. She was about to tell her neighbour that she was busy with a friend when they pulled her along with them, leaving her to continue to look back at Erica, a pleading look on her face.