Karbie: Forever Adventures

Memory Lane

"Mom, for the last time, you don't have to worry about–"

"Kenneth Sean Carson, I know you weren't just about to tell me not to worry about you... Let me remind you, that I am your mother! I will always worry about you, even when you're old and gray and I'm dead in the ground. So, allow me these last few moments to be the pain in the ass that cares about you more than anyone the way I was always meant to be. Now... Where is your inhaler?"

Ken sighed and rolled his eyes, but a spark of humor flitted in his blue-greens as his five foot, four inch mother stood in front of him, hands on her hips, daring him to challenge her any further.

"It's already in my bag"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes mom..."

"Okay... Did you pack your–"

Barbie couldn't get enough of it... She stood off to the side, doing her best to stifle her giggles and side stitches as she watched her fiance's doting mother double and triple check all of her son's belongings before shipping off from home. Edna Carson was always such a caring mother, even sometimes a bit overwhelming. Ken had expressed to Barbie in their later years that having multiple miscarriages prior to an emergency situation when Ken was born would do that to a woman....

But now, it was time... Ken, Barbie, and Skipper were ready to fly back to their home away from home on the island of Oahu.

Granted, Ken's parents weren't exactly thrilled. They were hoping he would take the semester off because of his concussion and other injuries, but he wouldn't have any of it. Ken was determined to move on in his education, not resigning to taking a break.

"I'd be so bored!", he complained

"You'd be healing!", his father argued

But, as he rounded the corner to being a 23 year-old, Ken was a man in charge of his own destiny. And right now, his destiny included pushing through to earn his Marine Biology degree as quickly as possible – within safe reason... His month-long internship on a boat would have to wait until he could actually move right.

Deep down, Barbie knew he was torn. Ken really wasn't handling his concussion too well. Headaches ranged from a mild annoyance to debilitating stabs that often inundated his daily routine. Sometimes he would need a moment, some pain medicine, and some water and he'd be fine. Other days he needed a longer rest and silent, blackout conditions.

Ken was stubborn, however, through and through. And as he hobbled on his crutches through the living room while his mother rambled on about his packing job, Barbie saw the strain on his face.

Edna Carson claimed she cared about her son more than anyone in the world, and while she had absolutely every right as a mother to make that claim, Barbie knew that she didn't quite get his little adult idiosyncrasies and habits the way she had over the past several years. While Edna gave birth and raised the man, Barbie saw a side of Ken no one else did.

In more ways than one, she could say...

"Heeeeey! You guys ready to go yet?"

The vibrantly sassy shout made all heads turn towards the front door of the Carson home. Skipper strolled in, backpack slung over her shoulders, a bright traveler's grin on her face.

Barbie smiled and waved her on in, "Almost, Skip. Ken's finishing up packing and then we'll be out"

"Actually, I'm all done", Ken quickly piped up, doing his best to 'run' over to his girl's side with a look that only screamed 'help me', "All we need to do is get the bags in the camper"