Simpsational

Learning the Hard Way

Kayla

Not completely trusting Bryan's capabilities or dedication to her request, she dug through every web site and social network that she could think of, looking for any sign of Jace. He'd basically disappeared after graduation. Even his Blizzard account showed him as having been offline for over a month. He played his games religiously. There was really only one thing left. She needed to talk to his parents.

She could probably have come up with a cell number for either of them if she'd set her mind to it, but this felt more like an in-person kind of affair. If he was hospitalized somewhere, she wanted to be there to look them in the eye if they lied about it.

Kayla felt really nervous as she rang the doorbell on Jace's home. She barely knew his parents and they were parents, after all. She kept waiting for the moment when she felt like enough of a 'grown-up' to interact with actually grown-ups like she belonged. And what if Jace were here? Was she ready for that?

"Kayla! Hi," said the woman who opened the door. She was almost exactly the same size as Kayla, her physical presence no match of the intimidation Kayla felt. When Kayla just stood there, Jace's mom stepped forward and embraced her. "I'm so glad you stopped by. We're just sitting down to dinner, why don't you join us?"

"Hi, Mrs. Carter. I don't want to impose, I just stopped by—"

"Don't be silly! You must miss Jace as much as we do. I know we'd love to get to know you better. It isn't every day we get to sit down with his girlfriend."

Kayla's mouth snapped shut on her next objection. Jace was such an idiot. She was surprised enough to let Mrs. Carter escort her to the table where bowls of salad and pasta sat waiting.

"Hey, pleased to finally meet you. I'm Jack," said the man standing up from the table. "Let me get you a plate."

Mrs. Carter sat down in the seat to Kayla's right. "I'm Grace, by the way. I'm so bad about introducing myself."

"Thank you for having me, it looks delicious." Home cooking was a welcome change from the cafeteria food she'd been forcing down at the university for three years.

Jack set her a plate and served up ample helpings of food for both her and Grace, taking the small amount left for himself. "What can I get you to drink, Kayla?"

He brought her the requested water and they fell into the idle chit-chat that usually accompanied encounters like this. Finally, not getting the information she wanted, she just came out and asked, "You said you missed Jace. Have you not heard from him either?"

Grace and Jack looked at each other before she answered, "We got a letter from him a month ago, but I'm sure he's just really busy. Is he not writing you, either?"

Letters? What kind of place only allowed letters? Was he actually hospitalized, all access to technology forbidden? "Honestly, I haven't checked my mail all summer. It's not something I really use. Will they not let him have a phone?"

"Oh, I don't think he even brought it with him. There's no coverage out there. He can use Dad's land line in an emergency, but I don't think he's given any special privileges."

Kayla's eyes got large as she put it together. Jace was in Arizona. "Well, I'll have to check my mail, I guess. Do you know when he's coming home? He didn't tell me."

The couple exchanged a glance, clearly confused. "He's planning on staying for a full year, though we're trying to get him home for Thanksgiving. He didn't tell you?"

Kayla shook her head. "What about college?"

"That's what we said. He told us this was all your idea?"