Riley's Box

Part 29

My mother's eyes locked on mine and she sighed. 

"I don't know...I only know that I need to look out for you," she said. "Make sure I give you a push or shove," she continued, nudging me gently, "In the right direction." 

I turned to her with a small smile, then. 

"Thank you, mom," I said. 

I really was appreciative of the fact that she always looked out for me. I didn't believe that I told her that enough. 

"You're my best friend, Riley," she said. "I'll always look out for you." 

"And I'll always look out for you, mom," I said. 

In that moment, I felt like telling my mom everything, but I knew that I couldn't! Not unless I wanted to go to some sort of insane asylum. There was no way that she was going to believe me, if I told her about the box. My mother was a sceptic at the best of times...This was entirely different.

"So, you'll study hard for me, won't you?" she asked me then. 

I knew my mother and I also knew her well enough to know when she was mildly manipulating me into doing the right thing. 

Nevertheless, I knew that I really did want to make her proud of me. 

I wanted to make both of my parents happy, so I needed to figure out how I was going to bring an end to the issue with the shadow spirits and get my grades up, as soon as possible.

"Of course, I will, mom," I said. 

I then crept a little closer to her, so I could wrap my arms around her in a friendly hug.

It only took one look at my mother's expression to tell how stressed she had been recently. It was also that look that told me that there was no way that I could tell her an inkling of what had been going on with me recently. I needed to keep this to myself. For the first time in my life, I felt as though I had to well and truly be an independent person. It was scary, but necessary! The future of the world truly did lie in my hands, and my mother didn't have the slightest clue about it. 

Then again, it was probably a good thing that she didn't.

"I care about you so much, mom. It'll be okay," I said. 

"I know it will," she said with a smile. 

It was the most reassured that I had felt all day. 

My mother hugged me one more time before she made her way back out of my room and into the hallway. 

After she had finished speaking with me, it was time to talk to my father. 

He knocked on my door and I turned my attention to him, with a kind smile.

"Hi dad," I said. 

"Hey, kid," he greeted me. "I'll be honest, I didn't know she was going to talk to you for quite so long! You know we just want the best for you, don't you? Even if that means that you get a C- in math. Your grades have never been much of a concern for me." 

"Dad! Don't let mom hear you saying that," I told him. 

His mouth twitched. It was the beginning of what I knew would be a wholesome smile.

Where my mother could be anxious, my father had the tendency to be calm about almost everything. 

If I had told him about the Sins, he probably wouldn't have freaked out. He would have listened calmly and then told me that I had a very over-active imagination. 

That was exactly why I couldn't tell him, either. I doubted he would believe me. 

"I actually only came up here to check if you wanted some dinner," he said. "And to check how you were feeling." 

"Is that all? You're a good person, dad," I said. 

He smiled. 

"I try to be. I have to confess that isn't all, though. Actually, I was wondering if you figured out what was going on with that box," he said. 

Oh, that. 

"Nope. No clue," I lied. "I think it must be solely for decorative purposes." 

Good lie. 

"I am not solely for decorative purposes!" Ira's voice hissed from the closet. 

I chose to ignore him. 

My father's eyes widened slightly. 

"Uh..." 

Oh, it seemed it was his turn. 

"Riley, did your closet just talk?" he asked me. 

"Must have been my phone! It's a new app. It can listen to what you say and then talk back to you. Truly fascinating, really. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow, but right now I think I just want some dinner," I said. 

In response to that statement, my father gave a nod of his head. 

I was relieved that he didn't want to ask me any more questions about the closet. I had no idea what I was going to tell him. 

My father left my room. 

"I'll be down soon," I said. 

"Alright. See you then," he replied kindly. 

My father then set off downstairs, which meant that it was time for me to go and speak to the rude interrupter in my closet. 

I opened the door and he sank down to the floor in surprise. 

"Ira, get back in the box," I said. "Please," I added, with a friendly smile.

He sighed, as his smoky-lidded eyes glanced down towards the box. 

"You cannot make me go back in there! I will strike down upon you!" he said. 

"You will unleash your wrath on me, yada yada yada. Okay. Can it wait? I really want to go and have some pizza, now," I said. 

Ira exhaled in, what I could only assume to be, moderate vexation. 

"This is an outrage. You better bring me back some pizza or I swear I will cut-"

"The pizza? I'll bring you back a slice. Easy," I said. 

He calmed down a little after that. 

"Easy, Ira. I'll be back soon," I repeated. 

He nodded and waited for me to return with some pizza which I eventually did.