10/17

Episode 7, Chapter 27

It was twelve thirty on Friday and Parker's mouth watered as he began building his masterpiece of a sandwich. He could see it come together in his mind's eye, three layers of chicken, bacon, ranchy goodness. The smell of the toast and warm bacon was killing him in the best way. He could not wait to sink his teeth into it. His prelunch run always left him famished. Just like everything else, these days.

As he worked, his mind returned to the dream he'd woken up from that morning. He and Laney were in an open meadow, practicing some of the combo ideas they had discussed yesterday. He had ported himself over the stream bordering the eastern side of the open ground and plunged in. The water was cool and deep and so real, Parker was surprised he was not dripping when he came awake just as his head broke the surface. For a few brief heart beats, Parker had been forced to squelch a sudden desire to teleport straight to the that meadow, as if he new exactly where it supposed to be. A buzzing noise dragged his attention back to the present to the phone plugged in on the counter.

"Mom. Your phone is going off," he yelled.

"Can you bring it to me, please?" his mom yelled back.

"I'm fixing my lunch." The buzzing had stopped, as the call went to voicemail.

"And I'm folding your clothes. If you'd like to take over this little chore, I'll be happy to stop and come get the phone," she responded. Caught in her perfect trap, he grudgingly grabbed her phone, popped to his mother's side, handed her the device and popped back to the kitchen to finish his meal prep. His stomach rumbled in anticipatory pleasure as he added the finishing touches. He grabbed a bag of Doritos and a Sprite ported to the table.

"Oh yeah, come to papa," he said as he picked up his food and prepared to chow down.

"They what?" his mother's exclamation rang through the house. Parker's glorious construction hit the plate with a splat as he ported to her side without another thought. The laundry basket sat on the floor forgotten as his mother leaned forward on the couch staring at nothing as she listened intently to her phone call. "Okay, I'll be right there." Pulling her long hair out of it's messy bun, his mother shoved to her feet and strode with purpose toward her room. "That was Principal King. She said Penny and Peyton have been in a fight. Get your jeans on. We're going to the school to get them." Parker stumbled to a halt as his mother disappeared into her room. What the hell? That wasn't like his siblings. Shaking off his momentary paralysis he ducked in his room to get changed. Fifteen minutes later, Mrs. Carlisle parked her Suburban outside the main building of the Junior High.

"Okay, I didn't think this through. I hate to say it, but you should probably stay in the car," she said to Parker as she grabbed her purse.

"Mom," Parker complained. "This is the first time I've been out of the house for more than a drive through run in almost two weeks."

"I know, sweetie, I know. And I understand. But this really isn't the best place or situation to debut the new you to the world." She patted his arm. "Just stay in the car and let me handle this. Or you can port home if you duck in the back. Here." She handed Parker the spare key to the Suburban. If you stay here, you can listen to the radio or charge your phone. I have to get in there, though." Parker nodded as his mom jumped down out of her seat.

As he sat there, considering what to do next, he watched his mom make her way around the sidewalk. Just before she made it to the first of the three steps to the door, a scowling man burst through them. The man's mouth moved as he glared at Mrs. Carlisle. She took a step back, like he had surprised her. Parker stuck the key in the ignition and rolled down his window. The stranger stomped down the steps to stand far too close to his mother and began yelling at her with rage in his face and gestures. Parker could not make out all the words but he caught the tone clear enough. He had just about decided to climb out of the truck when the man poked an accusing finger into Mrs. Carlisle's face with so much hatefulness, she was forced to take a wobbly step back.