To the Stars and Beyond

Chapter 5

I was so lost in my own thought about what had just happened that I didn't even realize my mother's car had pulled up into the driveway. I was just sitting on the couch staring off into space when the front door opened disturbing the peace and quiet that had previously inhabited the house. I must've jumped two feet in the air. The sound of the door jerked me back to reality, not to mention scare me half to death.

"Thanks for the near heart attack mom," I said sarcastically as she entered the house. She walked in carrying a few grocery bags as well as her purse. She smiled at me but it was mixed with a look of confusion.

"How did I almost give you a heart attack?" she asked as she began putting the groceries away. "This is the time I always come home. You should expect me at this time by now." I simply shrugged.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," I said laying back down on the couch again. "Sorry mom. I was just deep in thought so you startled me." My mother finished putting everything away and came to take a seat on the couch opposite of me. She raised her eyebrow a bit and I knew what was coming next.

"Oh really?" My mom questioned and tilted her head slightly. "What was on your mind?" I sighed a bit. I knew she would ask me this. I was about to answer her question when I decided against it. Something tells me that telling my mom about how I talked to a mysterious stranger that told me I might be in some horrible danger wouldn't go over too well. Instead, I had a question of my own to ask.

"Hey mom?" I began as I sat up straighter on the couch. "Do we have a relative or a family friend from England?" I'm sure this question confused her because as soon as I asked it, she gave me a very puzzled look.

"No I don't believe so," she responded. "Why do you ask?" I shrugged slightly again.

"I don't know," I stated. "I guess I was just curious that's all. It could be possible though couldn't it?"

"Well, yeah I guess it's possible that we could have a British relative or family friend and I just don't know about them". I could see the confusion that was still in her expression. I took that as a sign that I should stop. After a normal and typical night I eventually decided to get some rest. I wasn't exactly tired but I had a lot on my mind and just wanted a quiet place to think. I walked in and immediately plopped down on my bed. I closed my eyes to clear my head and for the first time in a few days, I felt relaxed. That feeling didn't last for long though because soon enough, a noise rattled the silence. It wasn't just any noise though. It was that abnormal whooshing sound from earlier and it sounded like it was coming from right outside my bedroom window. I sprang from my bed abruptly and looked out the window into the darkness. At first I didn't see anything but then I saw the faintest outline of something in the yard. When my eyes adjusted, allowing me to see the object, I just stared at it curiously and confused.

"Is that a phone booth?" I whispered to myself. "No one uses those anymore. And how can there be one in my yard?" Then my eyes widened a bit. It looked like the floating box from my dream as a little kid. Without hesitation, I pulled open my door and dashed downstairs as fast as my legs could carry me. I made sure not to wake my mother as I went. When I reached the front door I threw it open quickly as well. A grin stretched across my pale face as I sprinted into the yard. I was finally going to get the answers to all of my questions. Or so I thought. When I had reached the spot where the phone booth had been stationed, my grin faded away to a disappointed frown. The box had vanished.

"But, it was just here," I stammered. "I just saw it. How could it just disappear into thin air?" I was getting frustrated when something lying on the ground caught my attention. There on the grass in place of the phone booth rested a small, unopened envelope. Curiously I picked it up and turned it over in my hands. There on the front of this mysterious letter it said: To Brooklyn Wolfe