Forlot: A Girl Who Needs Her Space - Book Thirty-Two

Chapter Eleven

I could not believe my eyes. I rubbed them and took a look at the old people again. I must have mistaken them for my grandparents or was seeing things. Yes. Either of those has to be the reason. Those were not my real grandparents. Mine were long gone. As good as dead - if you want to call that good. Both my mom and my aunt told me and Karma and my six brothers that Grandma and Grandpa passed.

Mom and Aunt Elore are not the type of people to lie to anyone, especially to their own flesh and blood. So what gives? Why were Grandma and Grandpa in our old living room? Why in the world were they wearing fancy clothing and chatting as if nothing happened?

My grandparents had a ton of money by the way. No, they were not rich, however, they knew how to spend wisely. I wish that I could be like them. Earn lots and lots of money and spend it carefully. But as long as I resided in Forlot, I knew that would never happen.

Do I blame the Forlot leaders? Of course not. In fact, I understand where they are coming from. According to the Bible, money is the root of all evil. Our twisted world cares more about money and power than God and His people. Money leads to buying things, which then leads to having more stuff than you can handle, and that is not a pretty sight to behold. If you are not smart enough to handle money, then the money will control you.

Who wants to be controlled by pieces of paper? That is all that money will be. Paper that will never mean anything, especially in the end. I am just taken aback that people get worked up over green paper. It is not as important as a human life.

Where was I? Ah, yes.

I shut the door behind me and walked into the room. I was careful to not step in any of the holes. I cleared my throat and clenched my hands into fists. I did not know what to say to my grandparents, so I just acted like that we did not know each other.

"Uh, hello," I greeted as I waved to them.

My grandparents stopped chatting and looked down at me. I could feel their eyes eating my soul. My body that was sweaty and sticky was growing hotter by the second. I wiped sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand and breathed heavily.

"There is our loving granddaughter," Grandma said. She was holding a cup of coffee and drank it. I knew that it was coffee because she loves coffee. "My, my. You look a year older. And your outfit. It is cute!"

"Too cute," Grandpa said as he scratched his chin. "I have a hunch."

"A hunch about what, darling?"

He lowered his arm to his side and placed his hands on his waist. "Carmen. Honey. Why are you wearing a purple jumpsuit? You had on your school uniform when your grandmother and I dropped you off."

"Uh..."

"And why did you come home early? School does not let out for a few more hours." He smirked and shook a finger at me. "Was there a half day that you did not tell us, young lady?"

"I...I do not know!" I proclaimed with frustration. "I just know that I am not supposed to be here."

My grandma set her mug on a nearby table. "I do not understand, Carmen. Why do you not think that you are supposed to be here? This is your house after all. Your and your family's house."

I frowned at them. "No. This is not our house. This is not our home."

"Yes, it is."

"No, it is not. My mom and brothers and aunt are in Forlot. We are supposed to be in Forlot."

"Your mother does not have any siblings. So how can you have an aunt?"

"And you two." I pointed at my grandma. Then at my grandpa. "You two are supposed to be dead!"

Grandma gasped. Tears formed in her eyes, and she covered her mouth. "Oh my gosh, Carmen. How can you say such a thing?"

"Wait a minute," Grandpa said. He suddenly reached out and grabbed my wrist. "Now I am understanding what is wrong with our Carmen."

Now I was scared. "Let go of me, Grandpa! Please!"

He squinted at my wrist - and then laughed.

"Why...why are you laughing?" I demanded.

He flashed me a smile and patted my shoulder. "You owe me ten bucks, Kendra."

Kendra is Grandma's first name. Rick is Grandpa's. I adore their names.

It was Grandma's turn to squint at my wrist. "Crap!"

"Grandma," I whined. "We are in a Forlot book. You cannot go around and say filthy language."

"There is nothing wrong with the word 'crap,' honey. It is not a bad word."

"That does not mean that you should say it."

Grandpa tugged me to the old couch and wanted me to sit. I declined because there was no way that I was sitting on a filthy couch. The only thing that I wanted was to go home. Heck, I wanted to see my brothers. I was that desperate.

Grandpa and Grandma plopped on the couch.

"I can only imagine how lost you are," Grandma said as she crossed one leg over the other. "Lucky for you, your grandfather and I know what is going on."

I took off my glasses and blew on them. "You do?"

She nodded. "Did your mom read our will to you and your brothers yet?"

"Yes. Wait a second. How did you know that?"

"I did not. That is why I asked."

"No, I mean..." My voice trailed off, and I ran a hand through my hair. "I do not know what I mean."

Grandpa patted my shoulder again. "You are now in the past, Carmen."