It was silent in the Chase household. Mike made breakfast quietly, while Jessie ran out to throw some feed to the chickens. Donald flapped around the house, tidying up some toys and clothes that were left out. Irene was bathing.
When the three of them returned to the kitchen, Mike served cereal.
"After all this time, you'd think you'd learn how to make breakfast." Jessie groaned.
"Cereal is breakfast!" Mike mock glared at her, and she laughed.
The entire scenario seemed forced. Irene watched them with wary, indifferent eyes.
Mike sighed and drained his bowl. "Come on, Reeny. I told you I would take you to the library today."
Irene didn't answer, but she finished her cereal too.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us, Jess?" Mike called out to her.
"Nah, I have a boatload of clothes to finish stitching. Some of these people have no fashion sense whatsoever, and I have to physically keep myself from adding sparkles, or ribbons, or bows, or anything to keep the drab out." Jessie replied. "Donald will keep me company, right Donald?"
Donald winced. He looked like he was ready to make a break for it.
Irene walked back into the kitchen, buttoning up her big blue winter coat. It wasn't cold enough for it yet, but with The Hacker in charge, no one ever knew what the temperature was going to be in a couple of hours.
Mike grabbed his own and waved good bye to Jessie and Donald. Irene was waiting by the front door patiently.
Just another reminder that she's not another little kid, he thought to himself grimly.
"Come on, Reeny. Let's get to those books!" He grinned at her, trying to get a reaction.
She barely looked at him.
Irene was hiding inside herself once again. Mike knew that she wouldn't speak to him at all during the trip. He just wished he knew her thought process. How could he help her, if he didn't know what the problem was in the first place?
Stupid Slider, he thought darkly. It's his fault that she's becoming withdrawn. Why did he have to come?
But in his heart, he knew that Slider wasn't the reason at all.