Profoundly alone

chapter 4; near future

A month wasn't enough for me to think of a better plan. France was still in our schedule and I had found my old friends. I had called the two numbers a few days ago and my hope started to vanish when the first number wasn't the right one.

"Hello?" a woman's weak voice had answered on the other line.

"Sorry to bother you. Is Jack Williams there?" my words were rushed -she had to wait a moment to be sure of what I had asked.

"Hold on a second sweetie" the voice had told me nicely but hesitantly.

"Yes?" a curious voice asked.

"Jack Williams?"

"That's me. How may I help you?"

"I am sorry, do you have two kids? A boy and a girl?" I had to make sure that it was him because his voice sounded too young.

His response made me pull my eyebrows together. He laughed quietly. "No, you have the wrong person, I think"

"Okay, thank you for your time. Sorry" I had almost given up but I was way too curious to not call the other number.

My hand, at this point, dialed the number extremely fast and while I waited, I tapped my foot down.

"Hello?" this time there was a voice of a male and certaintly an old one.

"Mr. Williams?" my voice was defining.

"This is him"

"Are you Vernon's dad?" I asked.

I waited as the line froze. No sounds.

"Who is asking?"

"It's Joe, your neighbor"

"Oh my... Joe? Is that you?" he asked, shocked.

"Yes. I wanted to ask you where Vernon and Monty are."

"They have gone to Lyon. With their aunt. I thought you knew, she had told you about that"

"That's right, I guessed it. So, could you give me her number? Or your kids' number?"

"Sure. Take a note"

I had written down the number and I hadn't given a second thought about calling then or later.

My hand dialed slower and less eagerly, afraid that they might have left.

"Martin residence" an uplifting voice of a girl said.

"V-Vernon?" I murmured.

"Who is this?"

"Joe" I was tired of announcing who I was but it wasn't her fault.

"W-what?" Vernon's angelic voice muttered.

"Oh I am so glad I found you" my legs felt weak, so I leaned into the wall. I held the phone as if it would escape.

"Monty! It's Joe! It's Joe!" she yelled to her brother and I smiled. Her brother's name was normally Montgomery but we called him Monty.

"WHAT?" Monty's voice was muffled.

"Give me that" he ordered his sister and suddenly he spoke to me.

"Joe" his laughter of relief said it all.

"Hello Monty" I answered, my voice breaking. I used to say that everytime I went over their house and he was in his room. It had a different significance from that moment.

"God, I missed you" his voice broke, too.

"I missed you, too" I collected my thoughts and started over with a more serious tone.