Always There

New Friend and Telephones

The Next day at home was awkward for Neal. Everyone around the house was just quiet. His mom had obviously said something to his dad, which is why he wasn't getting a lecture, and Barry was still avoiding him. He did his best to just stay in his room, do homework, watch tv, and play Atari in the comfort of his own room. By the evening though he had grown pretty bored by his own company. He tried to call Sam but no one answered. He thought of calling Bill, but really didn't want to deal with any comments Bill had about the ventriloquism or any other smart ass things he had to say. He thought for a moment, then mustered up the courage to call one more friend.

The phone rang in the Andopolis household and Tom picked up the phone.

"Hello!" Neal's voice sounded over the phone excitedly.

"Hello? Who is this?" Mr. Andopolis replied confused by the unfamiliar young man's voice.

"Mr. Andopolis, hello," Neal panicked, he hadn't expected to have to talk to her dad. "It's Neal Schweiber, Vic's son."

"Oh, right the boy with the puppet," He hesitated, "Uh, funny act last night." He didn't mean it, he was just trying to be polite. "How can I help you?"

"Oh, um, I- I was just wondering if I could maybe speak to Melody?" Neal asked anxiously.

"Melody? What do you want to speak to Melody for?" Mr. Andopolis asked, no boy had ever called the house looking for his daughter before, and he didn't want it to start now.

Nick was sitting on the couch listening to his father then got up to go find Melody. She was seated on the floor leaning against her bed watching tv, and doing her homework when her brother came bursting through the door. She jumped and dropped her pencil when she saw him.

"God, Nick, you scared the crap out of me!" She threw an eraser at his head.

"There's a boy on the phone for you." He laughed teasing his sister.

"What?" Melody looked at him genuinely confused. "No there's not." She didn't believe him

"There totally is, dad's using his scary voice, and he asked why they wanted to speak to you. There's totally a guy on the phone for you." He told her. "Melody's got a boyfriend ooo." he teased her in a sing songy voice. He was obviously high.

"I do not! And I don't believe you, now go away, I'm trying to do my homework."

"He said it was the boy from last night, the one with the puppet. You're dating a guy who likes puppets? Kinda weird to me, but you know, to each their own." He laughed. The idea of his little baby sister having a boyfriend was hilarious to him.

Melody froze stiff, what? Why would Neal Schweiber be calling her? "No." She said shocked.

"Yes." Nick repeated emphatically.

"Melody, Phone!" She heard her dad yell from the living room.

"But I- I'm not ready. I'm not mentally prepared to talk to him! I'm wearing pajamas for god sake!" She replied panicking.

"It's just the phone, it's not like he can see you. Stop being such a girl." Nick teased then went back out into the hallway grabbed the phone and stretched the cord so it reached into her room. She sat for a second just staring at it, forgetting completely how to talk over the phone.

"Melody!" Her dad yelled again.

"I've got it, thanks dad!" She yelled back before picking up the phone. "Hey, Neal." She said awkwardly over the phone.

"Hey Melody." He responded, matching her awkward.

"You've got 30 minutes." Her dad said over the receiver.