It’s supposed to happen soon. We got to wait together so we’ll be sent together. Everyone is dressed in the army clothes dad got for us. The same clothes he usually wears to work. We all look pretty dumb, I think. I can tell dad wants to check the tangle or do something besides just wait here. Carlos has his cd link open, and I’d bet anything mom wants him to stop. But she won’t say anything because it will start an argument. Joey is being good for once, just rocking quietly. He has no idea what is happening.
Mia says, “Two minutes until the specified time. Good luck, everyone. I hope things go well for all of you. And I hope to see you all soon.”
I’m the only one who recognizes she spoke. “Goodbye, Mia!”
“Goodbye, Kim,” she says.
I’m excited. I don’t really know what will happen but it’s better than school. Anything is better than stupid school. I’m not really into video games, but that is probably because mom won’t let me enter the EIPN for anything but school. Or I used to not be able to. I could play fourth age since the nanites came. To prepare. With just my family though. We all played together. It was still a lot of fun. Would’ve been way more fun without them. My mom is very bossy and is taking this way, way too seriously. It’s a game for crying out loud! And we only got to, like, level 15 or so. If my family wasn’t slowing me down I probably could’ve got to level 20 or higher. And had a ton more fun.
It would be so much fun to play with some friends. Real friends, like Mia. Even though she’s not a person. I don’t really have a lot of friends, and the couple of people I am kind of friends with make fun of me a lot. Like, they say I’m fat. The new thing is cankles. I had to look that up. Now I have to wear pants forever.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
I’m not even fat. I’m just big boned and have big shoulders. Dad says I have a big frame and I’ll probably be really tall and that most super models are really tall and weren’t popular or traditionally good looking when they were my age either. I looked some up; they don’t look anything like me. People say I look like a frog because I have no neck or chin and my mouth is wide. And that I’m fat. But I’m not that fat. My ankles aren’t even that big. And mom has big shoulders too. And everyone thinks she is beautiful. I think she is beautiful.
Just a couple more minutes. Mom is really nervous. So is dad.
Mom jumps up and says, “Let’s bring it in.” She goes over to Joey and pulls him to his feet and we have a family hug. Joey hates this kind of thing. He starts making noises immediately.
“I love you guys so much. Everything will be okay.” After a pause she adds, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” She has a million sayings like this hung up all over the dojang. Dad is squishing my shoulder and Joey’s face is in my side; he is probably drooling all over me.
I know dad would have to say one of his dumb jokes, and he proves me right. “There are two types of people in this world; those who finish what they start, etcetera.” I don’t get it. Mom snorts and chuckles. She is trying not to cry. Dad’s dumb jokes to mock her dumb sayings always make her feel better. She smiles and smacks him on the shoulder, and then they peck each other on the lips.
Mom says, “I love you guys. Don’t be nervous. Remember your builds. Don’t get creative. You know exactly what to do and what to pick. If this is like fourth age we should have a tutorial after character creation. Don’t take risks. And when you are out…,” her face turns stern, “…Do. Not. Do. Anything. Stay where you are until me or dad find you.” She gives a sterner look to Carlos, “That includes you, Carlos.”
“Yeah, mom. I know. Sheesh! Why do you always single me out? Why not yell at officer Kim for once?”
He breaks the family hug and moves back a few steps. He calls me officer Kim because he says I’m a pig. He is such a jerk. Sometimes he is nice to me though.
“Because…just stop. Let’s stop. I’m sorry. Come back. This isn’t the time.”
He doesn’t come back.
Dad says, “Listen to your mother. Back. Now.”
On his way back my vision starts fading.