Norbert looked about the room, seeing the peaceful silence between Sarah and Jack as they turned over to Norbert. Smiling at them, Norbert sat at the kitchen table, tapping his fingers on the table as he thought over what he wanted to say.
“Going on a gap year?” Jack asked him.
Norbert stopped his train of thought and focused on the words that just came to his head: “So Sally told you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I would have gone with you to Kenya for assistance, their assistance, your assistance, anyone's assistance if you just told me.”
Norbert turned to Sarah by his side, furrowing his eyebrow slightly at the question, watching as she silently asked him to go along with it. Turning back to Jack, he said, “I just didn’t want to get you wrapped up in it. For the past few months, the idea has been tickled at the back of my mind. An opportunity has come up, so I’ll be heading out in a day or two.”
Jack just shook his head. “You’ve never been the impromptu type, but you could have at least told me something.” Jack rubs his head as he looks back up at the ceiling. His eyes slamming back down again, he places his hand on the table with a thump. “Have you told your parents?”
Norbert stared wide-eyed, words echoing in his head. “Parents… I knew I was forgetting something!” Norbert shouted, leaning backwards on the chair so far that he fell out of it, the two falling to the ground with a clatter.
Coming to his feet, Norbert scrambled into his room, feet sliding as he burst through the door, taking his phone as he unlocked it, staring down at the call button for his mother. Staring, the words clamming inside him, Norbert rushed back to the kitchen table, flicking the chair up with his foot as he sat down at the table.
“What do I tell my parents?” Norbert told them, sliding the phone on the table, watching it slightly spin around as it turned back to Norbert, still on the screen to call out.
“This,” Jack said, taking the phone and hitting the dial button. Norbert reached for the phone across the table, but Jack leaned backward, out of his friend's reach.
“Hi, Aunty, it's Jack. I just informed you that Norbert is taking a gap year to Kenya.” Placing the phone in the centre of the table pressing the speaker button “And you on loud speaker now, Sarah is also here.”
“Oh, hi Sarah, it's wonderful that you're there with Jack.” His mum said around the table, Norbert breathing out a breath, ideas running on how to diffuse the situation.
“Now, Norbert, can you please take me off speaker so we can talk?” The words slammed down on Norbert, wondering what his fate would be like.
Picking the phone up, Norbert took it off the loud speaker as he walked into his room. “You're off the loud speaker now, just walking into my room,” Norbert said as he closed the door.
“What do you mean you're taking a gap year?” his mother screeched into his ear, hearing the speaker protest at the loud sound it was trying to produce.
Holding the phone away from his ear for a moment, stopping the ringing from happening in his ear, pulling the phone back, “Mum, I’m going over there in two days; I already have the tickets booked and the town I’m going to.”
“You better come back home before you leave, or”
“Of course I will. I'm just packing an overnight bag as we speak,” Norbert started rustling around, throwing clothes as he awkwardly held the phone under his ear. “Yes, I’ll get on the closest train and notify you when I’m off so you can pick me up,” Norbert said to her.
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“And bring Jack and his girl with you. The Hutchins have been on my back about not seeing them the last time you came through," his mum told him.
Nodding his head, Norbert said, "Yes, yes, I will bring the two of them along. I will talk to you soon; I am just packing things up over here." Norbert then hung up the phone before his mum could say anything in protest.
Norbert quickly finished packing his items as he opened the door, bag over his shoulder. "You both are coming along with me on this little adventure back home," Norbert told them, leaning over the table.
"Why? Neither of us is disappearing to Kenya?" Jack justified to his friend.
"Because someone here didn't come back last time, and their mother wants to have a word with the two of you," Norbert told
"Oh shit, mum."
"Oh shit, mum indeed, Miss Hutchins has been on my mum for who knows how long. And if I don't bring the two of you in," Norbert pointed to Sarah and Jack, "Then it's going to be me getting tanned alive."
***
Norbert, Sarah and Jack stood at the train station, passing seasons from the last time Norbert had been here. Looking at the autumn leaves in the air; he smiled as the calm wind hit his skin, finally able to breathe correctly after the stuffy train rides over. Walking up the stairs, Obsius could not wait as she took off into the air. Norbert lost sight of her as the bird dived into one of the trees next to the train station.
Norbert nodded with his head up the stairs, needing to get to the other side of the station. Feeling the phone buzz in his hand, he repositioned his backpack to account for Obsius no longer being there. Looking down at his phone, he saw that Dadhumbs was up in reaction to him notifying his dad that they were back in town.
"Dad should be already here to pick us up." Norbert provided to the group as they finished off the flight of stairs. Looking across at the parking, Norbert confirmed Dadhe saw the pickup truck idling there, his Dad leaning on the front near the headlight, having placed his phone back into his pocket. Norbert smiled as he came down, leaving the two behind, running down the stairs, heading towards his father's, arms outstretched.
Norbert saw his Dad's face light up as the two embraced, pulling back to look atDadrbert "You're looking older and older." His Dad told him.
Norbert smiled back. "And you look younger and younger. One of these days, people will think I'm your Dad," Norbert shot back.
The two of tDad smiling before erupting in laughter, his Dad waving to Jack and Sarah just coming down the stairs. Looking at the fox on his shoulder, he asked Norbert, "Arent those things illegal to have as pets?"
"It's not a pet if they just stick to Dad no matter what you do," Norbert told his Dad, whistling out and looking up into the sky, watching as a black spot came down towards him, smashing into his head and hair.
His Dad reached out, scratching under the fox's chin, rubbing it, and Norbert heard it yip at the treatment.
"Any names?"
Norbert felt around on his head, patting the bird. "This one is Obsius," nudging his shoulder up. "This one doesn't have a name. But I reckon Kit should do nicely." Norbert said aloud, turning to the fox, "Kit work with you?"
Seeing the fox give him a single flick of its tail at the back of his head, Norbert took it as a sign of approval, noting feeling the claws dig into his body after naming it.
SeeDad the,,l uggage case Sarah brought, his Dad alreais is dy moving towards the other two in their little group.. “A.. Jack, great to see Dadu again, even taller than last time.” His Dad clasping Jack on the back, pushing him away with a nod “Keeping Norbert out of trouble I hope?”
“The best I can do, but still, he always seems to find himself up to his neck in it,” Jack responded a smile painted on his face as the last thing Norbert did was spray over.
“But it looks like you have ssomeelse to occupy your time now.” Norbert’s Dad said, taking his hand out in front of him.
“Norbert’s Dad, William, and you are?”
Sarah graspedthe hand in front of her.. “Sarah, friend of Jack.”
“Sure you aren’t more than a friend?”
Sarah’s laugh filled the lot. Norbert saw Jack’s face turn red at the sight, and his own smile came along. “That is one way to put it,” Sarah told William.
William turned around, smiling as he turned to Jack’s red face. He was still chuckling, bending down to pick up the suitcase. Walking back to the truck and placing it in the back, the lights flashing on both sides finally being unlocked.
“Come on and get in before I get in trouble for being late for dinner,” William told the three. Norbert headed to the passenger side, sliding in and feeling the truck bustle as they went in, the engine roaring to life as they headed back home. Norbert gulped in preparation for dealing with his mother.