Norbert looked at his phone as the train rattled by. Seeing his stop next, Norbert texted his Mum, notifying her he was almost there. The sun streamed through the window behind him as the trees passed him.
Hearing his station called out, Norbert stood up, patting himself down ensuring he had everything he needed. Phone, wallet, keys, bags and Luck's gift check, check, check, check and check. With everything accounted for. Norbert stood by the doors, waiting for them to open up. Moving to the side as the train stopped, doors opening. The wind blew through his hair, cooling him as he left the stuffy carriage.
Walking on the grey concrete of the train station, taking the steps one at a time, suddenly nervous that his parents would find out about him or shun him. Landing on the first flight, Norbert looked around, seeing the trees standing on the sides of the tracks Norbert feeling like he was a monkey among the trees. Continuing to walk with his head down, focusing on taking the next step, Norbert made his way up the flights of stairs.
At the last step, Norbert headed to the turnstiles, tapping his card; the red dividers opened, allowing him to pass. Quickly making his way through with the baggage, not wanting to be, he tore his eyes away from the red bricks on the ground, hearing the clattering of his bag as he rolled it. Finally moving his eyes off the ground, Norbert saw a woman smiling and waving at him. Smiling and waving in return, Norbert walked quickly to her, seeing the familiar yellow beetle she was leaning on.
Dropping his bags by his side, hugging his mother, happy to see her after so long. The months at uni and away all hitting him at once. Holding her, he just smiled and swayed from side to side, only separating when she pushed him away, smiling and taking a look at her boy.
"So the great techie has returned to grace us with his presence."
"Yes, yes, and with my presence, all your tech issues will be magically solved." Norbert jested in return.
"It's good to have you back, Norbert", his Mum said, walking towards the car popping opening the boot.
"It's good to be back", Norbert said, picking up his bags and placing them inside the trunk of the boot. Closing the boot with a resounding thunk, Norbert entered the passenger seat, the engine slowly coming to life with a putter. Travelling along the long windy roads, seeing the sights he had seen for so long while growing up. The local grocery store looked as run down as it always had the memories of riding there on bikes after school, getting cold chocolate milk from the fridge and drinking it with Jack, Tom and the rest of the crew.
"So, any reason for the return to your roots?" his Mum asked.
Norbert drummed his fingers on his leg. "No reason specifically, just felt like I haven't been home in a while, and it would be good to see the family."
"Well, it's good for you to be back anyway. Studies are going well?" his Mum asked, indicating and making a right turn.
"Yeah, studies are going well, and Jack is also progressing nicely," Norbert replied, looking out the window at the fields of green outside, the rolling hills of grass with cattle slowly moving in herds and grazing on it and thinking it not that different from the town of Flare-dew.
"Oh, where is Jack? He normally returns with him; his mother surprised you were coming back this time as he isn't."
"Nah, think he's preoccupied with Sarah; he was out for a couple of nights before," Norbert said half to himself, not paying his full attention to the conversation.
"Oh, and who is this Sarah I have heard nothing about?"
"And you will have heard nothing more from me. I'm surprised you didn't hear it from Connie," Norbert replied.
"That's Mrs Hall for you." Norbert's Mum, with a raised tone admonishing Norbert's slip of the tongue, "And I haven't heard anything from Mrs Hall either. But enough about him, do you have any developments you would like to tell your sweet old mamma?"
Norbert looked to the other side of the car, staring at his mother as she looked towards him, waiting for a response "No developments in that regard" Norbert finished crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Oh, and that gift in the plastic bag wasn't for or from anyone special?" his Mum's questioned poking him.
"That's just for a friend I need to give her; I just don't know when she's going to show up," Norbert grumbled.
"Oh, so there is a girl in your life after all."
"Mum", Norbert replied, the conversation changing to events around the town. The fields passed by, Norbert sticking his hand out to people as he waved at them, tilling them. Agreements were made to meet up with one another when Norbert was over.
***
The car slowed down as Norbert saw the familiar gravel road. Hearing the crunch underneath the tires, the car slowly rolled forward. Parking Norbert opened the door, exiting the car as he moved to the back, taking his stuff out. His Mum closed the boot as his eyes fell upon the house he grew up in.
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Wooden house of pine logs making up the walls. Norbert looked up at the two story building, seeing the windows cut into the front. Smiling and remembering looking down, Norbert stepped onto the porch that circled the house. Norbert walked forward, going up each step at a time until he looked out the wooden door. Looking through the glass, Norbert saw the stairs going up on the right-hand side to the second floor.
Craning his neck to the side, Norbert could see up the steps, past the wooden balusters and see his room looking the same as he left.
Using his elbow, Norbert opened the door and stepped inside, feet drumming along the wooden floorboards, hanging on the wall to the side pictures of the family, all in frames. At the centre, over the fireplace the entire family of six. Stepping past, Norbert saw Jessica sitting at the kitchen table, watching something on her phone.
Only looking slightly more grown up, her blonde hair curled and in a ponytail, her finger twirling the hair around. "Hey, squirt, missed me?" Norbert said, dumping his bags by the wall.
Jessica looked up from her phone, still twirling her hair. "Nope", she said before jumping off the chair and heading upstairs. Hearing her steps as she clambered up the stairs, Norbert followed where she would be as he heard a door close upstairs and someone landing on a mattress.
Looking back around, Norbert sat down at the table, pulling out a copy of the letters he needed to know, thumbing with it as he looked over the sheet again, asking his Mum as she entered the kitchen, the tap going, "Dad still out?"
"Yeah, he is still out, though he should be coming back soon. He will be happy to see you." She said, placing the glass of water in front of him. Taking the cup, Norbert put it to his lips; as the first trickle of water came through, not realising how thirsty he was, Norbert downed the cup.
Finished and placed the cup on the table with a satisfied sigh, "Anyone else planning on showing up?"
His Mum picked up the glass and returned to the sink, washing it up before sitting at the table. "Zoe is still around here, probably running off with her friends around Old Thompsons' farm. And possibly Cassandra, but later in the week."
Norbert whistled in response, "So the full gang will be back together then?"
His Mum nodded in response. "Yeah, it will be nice to see everyone back again." Slowly going quiet as Norbert looked out at the field in the backyard, the rolling acres of grass and a small patch of pine trees in one corner of the property. He remembered running through there as a kid, pretending to be chased by an army and needing to hide, or hunting a big cat through the jungles in India.
The two talked about topics about what happened and changed around the house. Just two people are happy to share their company. As the sun slowly set in the sky, now streaming into the house, Norbert's Mum stood up, wooden chair scraping against the floor.
"I better get dinner prepared," she said, walking towards the kitchen
"Yeah, would be a good thing; I also need to unpack all of this", Norbert said, waving his hand around the bags he still left. She received a nod as she began humming to herself, getting pots and pans out, and delving into the pantry, saying, "I'll call you when dinner's ready."
"Thanks, Mum," Norbert said, getting up off the table. Picking his bags up, Norbert went upstairs, following it as he saw his bedroom in front of him. Down the side of the corridor seeing his sister's room door closed and music blaring loudly.
Entering his room and closing the door behind him, Norbert looked at the bed; the green dinosaur sheets he had even as a kid still fitted on them, no matter how much he insisted his mother never give in and continue to use them. Putting his things in a pile, Norbert opened the wardrobe, placing the clothes in there.
Having all his stuff for the other world in the garbage bag Norbert had it near the door. Hoping he would at least be able to have dinner in peace.
Looking further around the room, Norbert found his desk looking weird, with no computer or monitors. Reaching into his backpack, Norbert pulled out his laptop, placed it on the desk, took the charging cord out, and plugged it in, hearing the satisfying ding of the device charging.
Pulling out his phone, Norbert sent a quick text to Jack, saying that he arrived home and the word was out about his girlfriend. With that over, Norbert lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering how long he could keep it up with his parents.
His thoughts stopped; Norbert sat up, reaching into the trash bag and pulling out his knife, twirling it between his fingers, feeling the cool metal between them. His phone vibrating, Norbert sat up, looking at it, only seeing an angry facial reaction from Jack. Laughing and flinging his phone onto his bed, Norbert smiled, waiting for dinner to come.
"Hey Norbert, dinner's ready can you get Jessica down here and get Zoe from outside!" his Mum called from upstairs.
Sheathing the knife and placing it in the bag, Norbert opened the door shouting down the stairs, "Will do, mum!"
Walking towards his sister's door, Norbert banged on it. "WHAT!" Jessica shouted from inside; the music turned off.
"Dinners ready, come on down. And do you know where Zoe is?" Norbert asked, the door opening; Norbert caught a glimpse of the bunk bed as Jessica pushed through the door and closed it behind her.
"I don't know, she's not in there, at least", Jessica replied, huffing as she descended the stairs.
Norbert followed after he looked out the back, not seeing anyone there. "Just gonna go out the front to see if Zoe is there", Norbert said to his Mum. Seeing her head appear around the side of the wall, she gave thumbs up in response before heading back inside the kitchen, hearing the scraping of metal cutlery on plates.
Heading outside, Norbert slowly jogged down the gravel driveway, not seeing anyone come. Heading to the road, Norbert looked in both directions; turning around, Norbert saw a red Ford ute come barrelling on the road. Waving out, Norbert saw the driver slow down and wave as well.
Stopping in front of him, the window rolled down; Norbert saw his father at the steering wheel, Zoe sitting on his lap.
"Found this one on the way home", His dad said, ruffling Zoe's hair as he said this, hearing giggles in response. "Thought mum would want to have her back as it's dinner time."
"Yeah, your right; as usual, I was just coming to bring her back for dinner," Norbert said, opening the door and hopping inside. The Ute rumbled and crunched its way along the gravel. Stopping next to the beetle, everyone hopped out of the car, headed to the door and talked with each other.
Entering, Norbert looked, seeing the entire table cutlery out. Seeing Jessica with the last drinks, everyone sat around the table. Sitting in their usual seats, the two parents at each head of the table, Norbert by himself near his father and Jessica and Zoe sitting on the other side. The only spot is missing where Cassandra would typically sit.
Saying a quick thank you for the food, Norbert looked at the food sitting on his plate. Biting into it, happy to have the home cooking meal, something in his heart finally complete and reaching peace.
"Hey, Norbert, can you help me around the place tomorrow"
Norbert nodded in response, only half listening to the conversation around him, happy that he was finally home.