Suburban Island VI

The Notion (Operation Alaska)

The Notion (Operation Alaska)

-Patience-

I have to move faster with my plan. I managed to get grandma on board. She wasn't too keen on the idea. But now the situation has changed for two reasons. The forest is going to eat up the islands soon. My aunt's mental health is getting worse.

"She can't stay here," I said.

"And your father is a better choice?" she asked. I shrugged.

"This is the best that I can do," I said. "We don't know if anyone else from our family is still alive." We argued about this a few more times. Finally, she relented.

"How are you going to do this?" grandma asked. I sat back in my chair.

"I will see what I can do," I said. That didn't sound too convincing but I had to make it work. It would all depend on my father.

So here I am on my computer again. I dialed him up via Zoom. I puffed up my cheeks as the other line rang. He better not back down from this. He finally showed up.

"Good morning, Pumpkin," he said. I wasn't in the mood for chit-chat.

"Are you really going to do this?" I asked.

"Yes!" dad said. I raised my eyebrow.

"Do you mean it?" I asked.

"Yes, I promise," he insisted. I stared at him for a moment.

"Okay," I said. Suddenly, there was a knock on my door.

"Is that your dad?" grandma asked as she poked her head inside.

"Mom?" dad asked on the other line.

"Yeah!" I shouted. "Do you want to talk to him?" There was a pause. Maybe this could help things go faster. Maybe... Just maybe...

My bedroom door opened wide. I turned and grandma walked inside. I handed her the headset. She took it and put it on her head. I stood up and let her take my seat. Grandma sat down in my place. My dad looked uncomfortable the whole time. I started to slowly back away. Something tells me that I have to stay and see this through.

The call didn't last long. Grandma took off the headset. Oh no. This isn't good. She turned around to me.

"Well?" I asked. Grandma sighed and set down my headset on my desk.

"I don't agree with it, but we will do this," she said. I felt like I falling to the ground. The hardest part was over. Well, at least part of it was over. I would have to make sure that dad kept his word. Then there is the whole issue with Patrice.

Oh boy...

----------

Patrice really didn't take it so well. Grandma and I sat her down at the kitchen table over a nice meal. It was her favorite, in fact. We had Chili mac that evening. Grandma walked her into the room. Patrice looked worse than I last remembered. When was the last time she slept? She barely touched the meals that we left outside her room. (We ended up having to give those away to the rest of the neighborhood.) Seeing her like this hurt me. Her beautiful hair was a mess. I don't think her sweats have been washed in a long time. I don't even think she's had a shower in days either.

"Here," grandma said. She sat Patrice down at the table. My aunt started to smile a bit.

"Chili mac," she said.

"That's right," grandma said. "It's your favorite." I sat looking nervous. Right now, Patrice was calm. We needed to keep her that way for this time work. We couldn't understand her and dive in with the news. My aunt sat down. We're going to eat first and then talk. I picked up my spoon and waited.

Grandma led the grace and we ate. Nobody said a word at first. It looked like I was going to have to be the one to make the first move. I was going to have to be careful about it. I lowered my spoon.

"Grandma and I talked to dad today," I said. Patrice and grandma looked up at me.

"Jimmy's still alive?" my aunt asked.

"Yeah, he said that he would like to visit you sometime," I lied. (I didn't enjoy but I didn't have a choice.) Grandma didn't say anything.

"He did?" Patrice asked.

"Yeah," I said. Okay, good so far. Just tease it out a little more before I go in for the kill. First, I had to take another bite. At least this chili mac was there to soften the blow.

"What would you say to seeing dad and his son?" I asked.

"He has a son?" Patrice asked.

"Yes," I said. "He's really cute. I will show you pictures later." Just a little bit more before I go in.

"What's his name?" she asked.

"Nathan," I said. My half-brother was pretty cute. I got to see him once over Zoom.

"Nathan," Patrice said. She slowly started to eat again. Grandma said nothing the whole time. She just kept her eyes on me. It almost felt like she wanted to say something. Part of me wished that she would. I felt like I was running out of things to say. I might as well go ahead and say it. I lowered my spoon.

"Listen," I said. "We're going to send you to go live with dad." Patrice gave me a blank look.

"What?" she asked. I nervously laughed. Here goes...

"Things are going to get worse around here," I said at a steady pace. I pressed my lips together as I tried to think of the best way to soften the blow.

"We're going to send you to live dad," I said. "You will be leaving as soon as we can make arrangements for you to go ahead of us." Patrice still stared at me.

"Are you coming too?" she asked.

"We will," grandma said.

"We just want you to go ahead of us first," I said. I bowed my head.

"Listen, we aren't trying to be mean here," I said. "You aren't happy here anymore. If you stay here any longer, I am afraid you're going to die. Look at yourself." I could hear myself starting to shout at this point. I had to force myself to calm down. Me getting loud and frustrated won't help. I cleared my shoulders and rolled back my shoulders.

"You aren't eating or sleeping too well," I said. "You barely come out of your room anymore. We're all worried about you."

"You're trying to get rid of me, aren't you?" Patrice asked. "Aren't you?!"

"No," I said. "We're doing this because we're trying to help you!" My aunt started to break down crying. I wasn't going to back down this time. I knew that I was making the right choice. I finished up my chili mac.

"I'm going to make the call," I said. I stood up and left the table. I ignored Patrice crying and grandma trying to comfort her. Enough was enough. I wasn't going to lose my aunt to her failing mental health.

That evening, I wrote an email to the government,explaining the situation. I just hoped for the desired results to come sooneror later.