Beware of the Neighborhood.

2 - Welcome to the town

"It's a letter from Wilderness magazine." Dad said, somehow the seriousness had vanished from his eyes, replaced by a mischievous glint. "It's a job offer; they want me to fly to Wheeler falls and join them as soon as possible" he said slowly.

"So?" I asked. By now we were used to this. Every month dad would get different offers to travel all over the world and he never took us anywhere because for him apparently our 'Education' was more important.

"Wheeler falls?" Jason asked, looking dazed. I figured he was busy mentally conjuring up the map and trying to place exactly where Wheeler falls was.

"That's great dad! I mean really! You get to go on another exciting trip while we stay here and die of history and economics" I said bitterly.

Mom smiled as dad laughed. It felt good to see them like that. These days both had gotten so busy with their work, we hardly had family dinner nights. "Oh dear, I don't think you quite understand what it means" he said, and mom added "Ashley, Jason, your dad isn't going on a trip. He got work in the wilderness magazine."

Dad nodded "we are going to have to move to wheeler falls" he said enthusiastically.

"Oh my God! That's perfect! Now I won't end up in foster care!" Jason yelled, then looking at me added "you wouldn't be my foster sister anymore!" and got up from the table, running out the kitchen and into his room.

"That kid is a strange one, isn't he?" dad asked, looking at my mom.

I for one was not happy. It was just overwhelming.

"Absolutely not!" I said getting up. Mom frowned, "Why not?"

"Because mom, I have spent my entire life here! My school! Everything is here! And school started a month ago, how do you expect me to just quit?" I asked.

Dad leaned forward. "Ashley, no one is quitting anything. There are schools there too. And I have already talked to them. It is not like I got the letter today and I made the decision now. Your mother and I had been discussing of moving there since quite a while. We just did not know if things would work out and so decided to wait for the official letter before telling it to you guys, that's all. At least sit down, let's talk about it."

"Your dad is right, sweetie, as for the school, we have sorted that out, the school there is willing to let you both join midterm." Mom explained.

"yeah, but..." I tried, sitting back at the table.

"Look dear, this is a really good opportunity for me. I have been waiting to work with this magazine ever since I was in college, I cannot pass it. Besides, you complain so much about phoenix anyway." My dad said.

Mom placed her hand on my shoulder gently "look honey I know it's a lot to take in but maybe a change is what we all need. You never know, a change like this might actually be good for you."

I shrugged "I am not moving." I said.

"You are" dad said calmly.

"No, I am not," I snapped.

"You are!" mom and dad said together, and I knew immediately that the battle was lost.

'A little change would be good' that was what mom had said. Had I known exactly what kind of change I was signing up for, I would have preferred to be homeless instead.

Although I was initially unhappy, as the days went by, I found myself looking forward to moving out. I even felt excited for it. I thought about how it would be like to have a new school, new life, and new fiends. I had not particularly been attached to my current school and classmates either so moving sounded like a good plan. Nevertheless, a brief feeling of foreboding clung at the back of my mind, which I for some reason could not quite shake off. I was not sad about leaving my old house or my old school, but for some reason I did not feel I was ready to leave Stacy, my best friend.