By August

Chapter 19

When I get home the kids are there. That's a small miracle. I walk in to find Elton teaching the two alien babies how to dance to "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough". It's very sweet, because for the first time in the poor boy's life he's actually remarkably cool. It took two creatures from other planets to make him so, but he is. They are following his completely awkward and childish dance directions faithfully with the concern and attentiveness of regular churchgoers hearing a good old fashioned sermon on sin. 

I get changed, pour myself a drink, then get us dinner. Petra shows up. I have no idea why it's not like we're not safe to function alone or anything like that.

"That's a great idea, El, I can take the weekend off, I won't even have to be sober for it if you kids are orchestrating the whole thing. Definitely worth a try," I nod, as the kids finish telling me their most recent plan to find who ran over my daughter.

Petra stares at me.

"What?—oh okay——kids that's a bad idea kidnapping is wrong? Is that what I'm supposed to say?"

"Oh my god——you could get in serious trouble with the police for something like this," Petra sighs.

"Not if I reverse time and un do us doing it once we get answers," Dallas says.

"See?" I point at Dallas.

"Are you even strong enough to do that though?" Petra asks.

"We'll find out," Dallas shrugs, painfully. I pour vodka from the bottle I'd been cradling as a comfort item, into his glass.

"He's been drinking all day it doesn't seem to affect him," Elton assures Petra.

"None of you are safe to be out, mostly you," Petra points at me.

"Why are you here? I've been wondering?"

"Because you are planning to pretend to kidnap and torture your own son?!"

"Ah, pretend, duh, he's in charge, he's the smart one," I say, shrugging, "Sounds like a decent plan."

"In no way does that sound like anything like a good plan," Petra groans, "You are the adult, you should know better."

"I didn't become an alcoholic because I'm capable of making sound decisions," I say, drinking from my vodka bottle. I just got it today. It's nice glass and a good shape for holding for comfort.

"Please don't make things worse you four," Petra groans.

"It's one last try," Elton says.

"Me yeeting myself two years into the past to witness the murder is actually the last try but——oh my god you guys I swear that's a word!" Dallas groans.

"It's——completely not," Petra says.

The telephone rings, interrupting our argument.

"I'll get it!" Elton offers, jumping up.

"No—no I will," I say, "You eat your dinner."

Of course it's his mom.

"Hi, I just called to say goodnight to Elton. I called earlier and he was playing with friends? That's really nice? How are you, Sam?"

"Awesome."

"You're so drunk oh my god it's five in the evening!"

"I can be awesome without being drunk."

"No you can't."

"No, you're right,  I can't but——"

The doorbell rings. This time Elton does get it.