The Runaway

Chapter 19

Many, many years later

Beau

"Do you think anyone would notice if I just disappeared?" I slam my locker closed.  My younger brother looks at me confused and just shakes his head in astonishment. "I'm being serious Clayton, with the way things have been I feel like Mom and Dad have forgotten all about us."

Clayton only looks at me again with bewilderment, "I think that they are busy, you're eighteen in a couple months man, it's the way she goes."

I shake my head but continue walking with him until we both need to separate to our classes. "Don't think about it too much, and if anything, talk to Mom about it."

Clayton gives me a pat on the shoulder and walks into his classroom. Just across the way is mine and when I find my seat, my thoughts sit with me. They swarm my head for the remainder of the class and it's all I think about for the rest of the day.

———

"Mom!" I yell as soon as I get in the house, "anyone home?" I yell again and my Dad walks out of his office to peak down the stairs at me.

"Hey buddy." He grins, "how was school?"

"Uh, yeah pretty good." I nod and awkwardly glance away, "hey is mom here?"

"She's making dinner." He gives me a weird look but catches himself and looks down at his feet, "Are you okay Beau? I know things are tough right now and it's an awkward stage where you're almost an adult, but-"

"I'm fine." I snap, "I'm gonna go look for Mom now." I give him a tight lipped smile and head towards the kitchen.

My dad and I have been having a hard time and I feel like he's constantly pushing me towards things I have no passion at doing. A 9-5? More school? It's been like that the last 2 years.

On a grander note if feels like they no longer see me, hear me or try to take part in my life anymore. They're always busy, and I don't mean just too busy for me. They are too busy for this damn family.

I don't know why they have been "working" so much lately, but it's gotten to a point where I feel like they aren't even my parents anymore.

None of the things that are presented in front of me call to that longing deep in my bones. I want to do things, adventurous or dangerous, I want to go a greater length.

What does he know anyway? He's just working his little office job, not looking outside into a world of greater possibilities. He and Mom take my indecisiveness as an awkward stage or laziness, when in reality it goes so much more beyond that.

"Mom?" I call again before entering the kitchen.

"Hey honey," she grins, "catch." And throws a carrot at me.

I chuckle, "what's this for?" Easily catching it and taking a bite. 

She grins, "it's healthy, you know, good for growing boys."

I roll my eyes and take a seat at the counter.  Anna, my little sister strolls in, yawning the biggest yawn I've ever seen.

"Wow," my mom laughs, she walks over to Anna and hugs her tightly.  "How was your day sweet pea?"

I can't remember the last time my mom gave me a hug, nor when my dad has either.

Anna let's go of my mom and reaches into the fridge, "good, exhausting though, I got a 95 percent on my science test today, got 60 bucks for shoveling some of the neighbours driveways too." She gleams and my mom smiles back with the exact same smile.