Blizzard Girl ©

Chapter Twenty-Four:

Mom made dinner as a way to tell Jason and I the news. That she and dad were leaving on an EPA assignment. Without us--again. 

"Are you sure Jason and I can't come along with you?" I asked her after dinner as I was helping her clear the dining table. 

"I would love nothing better than you and Jason to travel with us. I just don't think I can stand it right now." Here eyes looked sad as she caressed my cheek with her hand. "After all, during our last family adventure, I almost lost my baby girl."

I blushed as I moved to put the dishes in the sink. "Moooom, I'm not a baby anymore." She laughed at my response like I'd hoped she would. 

"You'll always be my baby girl till the day I die, Venti." My heart lurched at her words. Especially, when she told us all where she and dad would be going next...Montepuez. 

They were tasked with the assignment to collect some dirt samples near the local ruby mines. The same ruby mines some people are fighting to the death to claim as theirs. It was causing civil unrest in a place whose government was seen as unstable at best and collapsing at worst. 

Of course, Matt from the EPA knew of the apparent dangers and told my parents as much. So in turn, our parents told Jason and I. "Mom...there's other scientists that can collect the samples. You and dad don't have to do it."

"Are you worried about me, Venti?" asked mom with a playful tilt of her lips. "Because if I'm correct, I gave birth to you." 

"I know you and dad are capable, mom. I'm not questioning that. I would feel better if Jason and I could come along."

"No's a no, Venti," was my mom's answer. "I'm supposed to be your parent first, you know." She walked out of the kitchen in a huff as I felt guilty for upsetting her. 

But she upset me to!

Which is why on Monday during school at lunchtime, I fumed. "Where does my mom get off treating Jason and I like glass after all of the family adventures we'd been on. It's not right! I've learned basic climbing techniques long before I learned math. Oh, but now they decided to put the parental hammer down after one avalanche and...aren't you going to say anything, Percival?"

"Hmm?" he asked with a questioning look as he was chowing down on his lunch. One big gulp and a swig from his water bottle later he said, "I wanted to wait until you stopped complaining, Ventisca."

"Complaining! Me?"

"Yes, complaining! You!" Percival pushed his empty lunch tray away as I noticed I barely touched mine. "Ventisca, I might've never had children but I've known people who had children. Once you have a child, you worry for the rest of your life. That's not an exaggeration. Point is, I understand where you parents are coming from." I was about to tell him what I thought of his empathy when I heard a squeal off to my left. 

Rachel was squealing at whatever Charlie just whispered in her hear. "He must've asked her out again."

"You make it sound like that's a bad thing," replied Percival with a raised eyebrow. "Is there a reason I should be jealous of Charles? Besides being with someone who's infatuated with him?"

"Infatuation is not healthy in a relationship, you know."

"Have you ever been in a relationship, Ventisca?"

"None of your business."

"Hypocrite!"

"Empathizer!"

Percival smirked before he said, "Empathizing with your parents, you mean? Of course I do. However, I only do it as it's in our best interest."

"Our?"