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Chapter 5 : Inquiry and Overcoming

        "How did you guys sleep?" my 'dad' asked as my sister and I were sitting at the kitchen table, waiting for our breakfast. I was so caught up with everything yesterday, I never really payed attention to the kitchen.

        The cabinets were dark brown, and the counters were a white marble. All the big appliances were a steel grey. However, the huge island in the center of the kitchen seemed to be the focal point by the way it stole the spotlight.

        The island had the same colors as the rest of the kitchen, but it had a double sink and a built-in George Forman grill.

        On that grill, my 'dad' was cooking some bacon and sausage. He took out three plates and served us. He put an egg, two sausages, and two pieces of bacon on each plate.

        I started to eat mine, and debated in my head whether I should ask the questions about my mom or not. I decided I would, right now before I have to do things with my sister.

        "So," I said, "You do everything around the house?"

        "Yeah, but you are going to have to help me later, too," he said.

        "Why do you have to do everything?" I asked. "Don't you have a wife? Don't I have a mom?"

        "Yeah," he said, taking a bite of his food. "But your mom is away for work right now. She is a busy woman. She usually only visits on big holidays, but sometimes she surprises us."

        "Oh," I said. "When is the next time she comes?"

        "Probably Christmas. That is only a few weeks away."

        Christmas. That is when I get to see my mom. Maybe then I will believe I am part of this family. Or, maybe, I can overcome this unsure thought right now.

        "Hey, do you have any pictures of her?" I asked.

        "Sure," he said. He got up and went upstairs. He came back with a tiny picture frame. He set it on the table in front of me and sat down.

        I picked up the frame and looked at the picture. My mother was beautiful. She had blonde hair and green eyes. Her mouth formed a warm smile that stretched from ear to ear.

        She looked like me.

        Maybe I can just forget my doubts about this family and enjoy. I should feel comfortable calling this man my dad. He is. And even if he is not, maybe he was put in my new life for a reason.

        "Thanks, dad," I said with a smile, and continued eating.

        When I finished, my dad said, "Well, if you want to help me around the house, at least start by putting your plate in the sink." I followed my sister and we put our plates in the sink. "You could make your bed, too," he said.

        My sister rolled her eyes and went up stairs. While we were making the beds, my sister kept talking about 'my first real day.'

        "So, we can do our paintings first. Since you don't remember our old ones, we can start a new one. Hmm . . . What else . . . OOOF! I just got the greatest idea! We can invite Anna and her sister! Her sister is around your age, she can be like your first friend!"

        Well, that's convenient. First official friend on first official day. My sister said, "I'll be back, stay right here."

        While I waited, I continued making the beds. When my sister came back, she said, "Okay, daddy said they can come over, as long as we finish our chores."

        We finished up cleaning the room, then we moved on to the living room down stairs. The living room was next to the kitchen, no wall separating the two rooms. It was very open. My sister vacuumed the rug while I wiped down the table.

        Five minutes later, the doorbell rang.