How We Went From Something's Missing To A Family

Chapter 1

Toby stood nervously at the door before knocking. His father opened the door.

"Tobias?" He said squinting at him.

"Hey dad, can I come in?" He asked hesitantly.

"Sure, sure" he said ushering him into the kitchen. "Would you like some coffee?"

"No I can't stay" he said. "I just came to drop this off" he handed him an envelope.

"It's an invitation to Spencer's Graduation party" he said "it would mean a lot to us if you came. Just stay for an hour or so."

"Toby, you're my son and I love you, but I don't really care for Spencer, so there's no point for me to go"

"Is that your final decision?" Toby asked fighting back tears.

His father nodded.

"Good seeing you dad" Toby said walking out the door.

*10 days later*

Elizabeth walked into the house with groceries and a bouquet of flowers.

"Honey!" She called to her husband Daniel.

"Yes, Lizzy?" He said appearing from the den.

"Do you have something to tell me?" She said raising one eyebrow

He took off his glasses, running his hand through his salt and peppered brown hair.

"I love you and I missed you?" He asked jokingly.

"No, it's not that" she said as she unpacked the groceries.

"People in this town have been acting ...strange" she said as if still trying to wrap her mind around it.

"Really?" He inquired "strange how?"

"Well I went to the flower shop and Samantha got all excited when she saw me come in and when I only ordered my usual bouquet she seemed...disappointed" she recounted shaking her head.

"Then I ran into Mrs. Kaplan, and she said something about 'I must be so proud' of course when I inquired what there was to be proud of she hastened away with out a word."

"Odd" Daniel said replacing his glasses. "Now that you mention it people have been acting strangely towards me as well smiling and saying congratulations, I just assumed I was up for an award at work or something"

"Perhaps that's it!" She said relieved the mystery had been solved.

"I'm too tired to cook" she said after the groceries were put away lets go out to eat.

Daniel and Elizabeth walked with their arms around each other taking in the warm June air. It was such a pleasant evening. On their walk they ran into Pastor Ted.

"There you two are!" He beamed at them. "I was wondering when I'd see be seeing you guys!"

They smiled politely, they were only occasional church goers why he should be waiting to see them was another of the weird occurrences of the day.

"It's going to be quite an event the whole town is abuzz about it" he said smiling.

"Abuzz about what?" Elizabeth asked

"You're kidding right?" Ted said as the smile faded from his face. "You're not kidding" he said knowingly.

"Tell us" Daniel said agitatedly.

"It's not my place." He said backing away. "I hope to speak with you two soon" he said, sounding like a death sentence.

"We have to find out what it is that the whole town knows that we don't" Elizabeth said worriedly "it obviously involves us"