The Mysterious Benedict Society | "Normal" Life

Old Friends, New Family

When Mr. Benedict finally awoke, he was immediately aware of an engine. The next thing he noticed was how squashed he was. Looking around, he noticed that he was sitting in their car, and Milligan was driving them back to the house. When they had first come there, Milligan had been driving, Constance in the front, Number Two and Rhonda in the back with Mr. Benedict. Kate had stolen away in the trunk.

Now, Kate was back in the trunk, yet two other people had been pushed into the back. And with a jolt, Mr. Benedict noticed that his very old friends and former family were squashed between Number Two and Rhonda's knees, and the front seats.

"Violet! John!" John looked at him, grinning as he noticed Nicholas finally awake. Violet followed his gaze, and she followed suit.
"You ok there, Nick?" John nodded his head towards him.
"Oh, yes, fine, just decided to take a nap. It's a lovely day for one, don't you all think?"
John and Violet laughed, along with Constance. A snicker could be heard muffled from the trunk. However, Number Two and Rhonda stayed quiet. Mr. Benedict noted that, and made a mental note to ask them later if they were alright. Milligan, of course, remained his neutral, stoic self.

"Say, Nick, is it alright that that young girl is in the trunk?" John looked very confused.
"She does that sort of thing for fun," Number Two snapped. She grimaces slightly at all the broken ducts Kate had ruined.
"ya, 'm fine" came the muffled response from behind. "We are almost there anyway, right Pops?"
"Yes," Milligan responded, and the tiniest of smiles came into his face. He could never hold a straight face with his Katie-Cat.
***
As the car pulled up, Milligan sprang out of the car, swinging his head all about, trying to spot any attackers. None were there, so he opened the doors and the trunk. Kate somersaulted our, and the others climbed stiffly out of the car and stretched.
"Come one, let's get inside, you two must be hungry!" Nicholas eagerly said, obviously trying to get some time to catch up with his two friends.

The other three adults pulled him aside. Milligan looked at him, and asked, "Before we let them in, who exactly are they? Is it possible for them to maybe be... a threat?"
"Who, John and Violet? They are old friends, from my orphanage days. And no, they are some of the kindest people I have ever known."
"Are you sure? It's been a long time since you were a child, Mr. Benedict, you don't know all that's happened between then and now..." Number Two warily glanced at them.
"That's why I wish to speak to them!" Mr. Benedict surveyed the adults in front of him. His new-but-not-so-new family.
"I'll keep my guard up. But truly, I trust them."

With that, they all went inside. Kate and Constance went to see Reynie and Sticky. Milligan kisses Kate's head then went back outside to patrol around. The other five adults made their way to Mr. Benedict's study. In the years that had passed, it had barely changed. The piles of papers and books remained just as disorganized, even though the papers and books themselves had changed.

"Number Two, Rhonda, if I sit on the floor, will you allow me some privacy?" Mr. Benedict looked at the two.
They both sighed, then Rhonda reluctantly nodded and they left the study after making sure Mr. Benedict was seated ok on the floor. John and Violet plopped onto the floor as well, and soon the three were like children again, back in time, talking the hours away, laughing and crying a bit and loving each other as old friends do. They teased, told stories, and as the day turned to night, the three still talked, as they did as children.