In Limbo

Chapter 38

Amanda came home that evening a bit drained, and coming through the door, smelled a spicy odor and coming to the kitchen, put down her purse and keys, calling out, "Hello? I'm home!"

Jamie came in from the back door into the kitchen to hug Amanda, and said, "Dad made Jambalaya for dinner! Doesn't it smell great?!"

Amanda, returning the hug, responded, "Oh, that's what that smell is...Um, listen, I have to go change, and I'll be right down, okay? Did you guys do your homework?"

Jamie remarked, "Yeah, Mom."

Amanda nodded replying, "Okay, I wanna check it after dinner, huh?"

As Jamie nodded, Phillip then coming in the back door also, said, "Hi, Mom. Dad made dinner. C'mon..."

Amanda stated, "I heard, Sweetie. I'll be right down after I change, alright?"

And as she headed upstairs, the boys went back to the patio, and Joe asked, "Was that your mom? Where is she?"

Jamie sat down next to Dotty answering, "She had to go change first...So, what did you guys wanna talk to us about?"

Dotty commented, "Let's wait for your mother and then we'll eat."

A few moments later, Amanda came out through the back door, and greeting Dotty and Joe, remarked, "I must be hungry. I could smell that upstairs, even."

Dotty asked, "Will Lee be joining us, Dear?"

Amanda commented, "No, he had to work late."

As Joe fixed her plate, Amanda, thanking him, sat on the opposite side with Phillip, while Joe sat at the head of the table.

-SMK-

Midway through the meal, Amanda stated, "Okay, Fellas. Here's the thing. We don't mind if you call your dad, but please ask us first because it's expensive to call long distance, and no calling from school, you got it?"

Jamie shrugged commenting, "It's okay, Mom. We used the video game money you gave us last week anyway-"

Amanda sighed replying, "But that's not what I want you boys to do, Jamie. I give you both money because I trust that you two will use it for what you tell me you need it for. Not to blow it on something else. You understand?"

Dotty answered, "And if your allowances have been spent, you have to wait until the following week when your chores are done, alright?"

As the boys nodded stating, "Okay.", Phillip then asked Amanda, "Mom? Is the Government cleaned up now?"

Amanda, puzzled, asked, "What do you mean, Sweetheart?"

Jamie remarked, "We want to know if we're done moving, that's all."

Amanda, taking a sip of her water, then swallowing, commented, "Oh...Yes, Honey, I told you we're done. As far as I know, that is."

Seeing a questioning look on Joe's face, Amanda answered quickly, "Look, IFF stands for International Federal Film, which means the Government runs it, so if they tell us everything's fixed, it is."

Jamie queried, "But did anyone live in our house while we were gone?"

Amanda commented, "No, because when we moved, the Government took care of everything, including keeping the deed in my name, in case we were able to return, which we were."

Phillip shook his head saying, "Boy, I'd love to get those creeps that made us move-"

Joe, distracted by the explanation, stated firmly, "Hey, your mom says everything's fine, so just relax, okay, Pal?"

Dotty then looking at the plates answered as she got up from the picnic bench, "Okay, Fellas, if you're done, you can help me bring in the leftovers and throw away the trash, huh?"

The boys nodded, and getting up from the benches, said, "Thanks, Dad. It was awsome."

When the boys and Dotty went inside after everything was cleaned up, Joe answered quietly to Amanda, "Well... You told quite a tale to those boys about the Government."

Amanda, looking at Joe with surprise, asked, "Excuse me?"

Joe, glancing at the kitchen window to make sure it was closed, and then focusing on Amanda, cleared his throat replying, "I know people in the Embassy and the State Department...My contacts...Seems your name and Stetson's are used almost frequently, which makes me think you two are hardly documentary filmmakers...Care to fill me in about how much danger our family is really in?"

Amanda queried nonchalantly, "What do you mean, Joe?"

Joe shaking his head, answered, "C'mon! That whole routine about honesty from the boys, when you can't even tell me the truth about your job?"

Amanda, swallowing hard, thought, Oh, boy...What do I do now?

TBC