Hidden in Plain View: Normily 2

Chapter 6: Finding the Boy

Chapter 6: Finding the Boy

Emily comes out of surgery and is back to her chipper self, but with slightly more pain. Norman has refused to tell Emily about Mingus calling her a bitch and about him freaking out over his missed game.

Even though she is understanding, he feels that this information will make her stress out to the max. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Norman tries to text Mingus over and over again.

"Norman... you okay?"

"Jus trying to get ahold of Mingus. His phone must be dead." Faking a smile, Emily calls his bluff.

"We missed his game Norman. His big game that he was starting. Don't be surprised if he's really upset with you.

"It amazes me that drugged and in pain you can remember everything."

"It's just motherly nature. He's probably upset."

They sit in silence until Emily tells Norman to go home to Mingus. Getting up, he kisses her gently and then leaves to go home. The whole way home, Norman can't help but tear himself in two directions. Mingus and Emily. He's been trying to move between both of them, but has been coming up short in either one or the other.

"Mingus, I'm home!" Putting his car keys on the counter, he pulls his jacket off and heads toward the living room. "Mingus!"

Empty. The house echoes with reverberating calls of Norman's voice. He heads upstairs to the office, where Mingus does his homework from time to time. Empty. Going to Mingus' door, he knocks two times.

"Mingus... listen, I'm sorry kiddo. I didn't mean to miss yer game. It's just Emily's appendix burst so we were at the hospital and I was worried about her that it slipped my mind." Pausing, he tries to here Mingus. "I'm really sorry. I'm coming in so we can talk."

Opening the door, the room lay barren and as it was this morning, a mess. Panic sets in and Norman can barely breath. Rushing downstairs, he checks everywhere. The pool out back, the game room, dining room, laundry room, tree house, garage, neighborhood, his friends houses. All empty of Mingus. All filled with Norman's panic.

"Mom! It's Norman! Is Mingus with you?"

"No, I haven't seen him since August. Why?"

"He's missing. We got in a fight over the phone and he shut it off. I thought he was just sulking at home, but he's not here or any of the normal places."

"Okay, just calm down. Did you call Helena?"

"Nnn...no. Okay I'll call her then call you back!" He hangs up without even saying goodbye and dials Helena up.

"Hello?"

"Helena! Did Mingus talk to you? Is he there?"

"He called saying you wanted him to spend the weekend with me... why what's happened?" A slight panic rests in her voice.

"He ran away after a small argument. I can't find him anywhere."

"I'm picking him up at the air port in an hour or two. Do you want me to send him back?"

"No. I'm coming to you."

"What about Emily?"

"I'll just call her and let her know. She's in the hospital right now for a burst appendix. The babies are fine right now and so is she."

"Norman, you sure you don't want me to bring him back? I don't think you should be leaving Emily there by herself, jus incase ya know?" That's one thing he always loved about Helena. She's always so considerate and loyal, even if they are divorced.

"I don't want to bother you at all. I just need to talk with Mingus."

"You won't be a bother. I'd feel much more comfortable if I came there."

"Okay. Thank you Helena. You have no idea how much I appreciate this."

"I know you Norman enough to know, this isn't really yer fault. Mingus needs us both to sit down and talk with him about responsible actions. "Yer a good dad, Norman. You always have been."

"Thank you. You've always been a great mother."

"I should go and get a small bag packed. I'll talk to you later." He says goodbye and they hang up their phones. Norman leans back against his seat. He calls his mom real quick and them heads home. Praying to God, that he can explain how he feels without getting too upset and making things worse.