I pressed my face to the the window, the trees and fences blurring by. The car's
silence was stiff and heavy- Father and Mother didn't seem to talk unless it was
necessary. I missed Mother's chatter.
Suddenly, I remembered Nora. She was supposed to be picked up at the airport
tonight from her orchestra trip- what would Mother and Father do with her? Did
they know about her? I would have decided not to tell them about Nora for her
own safety, but realized she'd probably call home anyway.
We pulled into the church parking lot, Father parking the car in a lonely corner.
He reached into his pocket and flipped open a stopwatch. "We're just in time!"
Mother and Father stepped out of the car, strolling to the church like they did
this every Sunday. They'll find out. People will know they're not my parents,
and they'll get sent away and my parents will be back, and everything will be
back tomorrow.
It turned out we arrived just as service began its first song, and we slipped in
one of the back rows next to Mrs. Rohr. She was a middle aged dog, one of
my mother's friends. She turned to Mother and saw me with them, and I saw
her puzzled expression.
She opened her mouth, and I held my breath.
"Why, hello, Mrs. Rohr!" Mother greeted warmly.
A gray film slid over Mrs. Rohr's sharp gaze, and slowly faded away. She blinked.
"Mrs. Lee! How are you?" She hugged Mother, then shook Father's hand.
My jaw dropped. What just happened? Mother turned back to me and put her
paw on my shoulder. "...doing great, thank you. And Nora's on a trip, we'll
be picking her up tonight."
I looked away, frowning, and shrugged her off. Somehow, Mother and Father
were able to deceive Mrs. Rohr. And they probably would be able to do it
to everyone else too. But how did they know about Nora? I had to tell her
not to let them pick her up at the airport. My cellphone suddenly felt very
heavy in my pocket, and I wondered if they would notice if I texted her.
[If they found out they'd be angry- but I couldn't let them take Nora too.
silence was stiff and heavy- Father and Mother didn't seem to talk unless it was
necessary. I missed Mother's chatter.
Suddenly, I remembered Nora. She was supposed to be picked up at the airport
tonight from her orchestra trip- what would Mother and Father do with her? Did
they know about her? I would have decided not to tell them about Nora for her
own safety, but realized she'd probably call home anyway.
We pulled into the church parking lot, Father parking the car in a lonely corner.
He reached into his pocket and flipped open a stopwatch. "We're just in time!"
Mother and Father stepped out of the car, strolling to the church like they did
this every Sunday. They'll find out. People will know they're not my parents,
and they'll get sent away and my parents will be back, and everything will be
back tomorrow.
It turned out we arrived just as service began its first song, and we slipped in
one of the back rows next to Mrs. Rohr. She was a middle aged dog, one of
my mother's friends. She turned to Mother and saw me with them, and I saw
her puzzled expression.
She opened her mouth, and I held my breath.
"Why, hello, Mrs. Rohr!" Mother greeted warmly.
A gray film slid over Mrs. Rohr's sharp gaze, and slowly faded away. She blinked.
"Mrs. Lee! How are you?" She hugged Mother, then shook Father's hand.
My jaw dropped. What just happened? Mother turned back to me and put her
paw on my shoulder. "...doing great, thank you. And Nora's on a trip, we'll
be picking her up tonight."
I looked away, frowning, and shrugged her off. Somehow, Mother and Father
were able to deceive Mrs. Rohr. And they probably would be able to do it
to everyone else too. But how did they know about Nora? I had to tell her
not to let them pick her up at the airport. My cellphone suddenly felt very
heavy in my pocket, and I wondered if they would notice if I texted her.
[If they found out they'd be angry- but I couldn't let them take Nora too.
Still, can't wait for the next one again x3
