- 24 Hours Until Merger -

August in Indianapolis is a mixture of hot and cold. It’s that in-between where the seasons are changing from Summer to Fall and the temperature can’t decide where it wants to stay. Mostly it’s just hot though.

Kailan always hated the heat. His favorite seasons were Fall and Spring that only lasted at most a month of the year each, largely because they were the perfect temperature. Fall above all was his favorite as the leaves turned into shades of red and orange like fire, while there were still patches of green littered around. It was the best season because it meant the harvest holidays of Thanksgiving and Halloween. Both of which were his favorite holidays.

He was anticipating when the season would fully change and the heat would go away. He walked to school every morning and back home in the afternoon, so he was ready for it to be more comfortable outside.

It was almost four in the afternoon. School let out around 3:45, but Kailan would always stick around to meet up with his friends before he walked down Broad Ripple Avenue on his way home. Sometimes he would stop at the Marathon down the road from his house on his way to buy a bottled water. The store clerks knew him quite well. Most days they wouldn’t even charge him.

Kailan was one of those kids who everyone liked. He was cute in a boyish way. He was 14 so his face hadn’t fully matured. He was average height for his age group at about 5 feet. He had a regular build, somewhat athletic but not so pronounced. His skin was a bit pale but not sickly. With blonde hair that flowed down about 3 inches around his head and light blue eyes.

Most people would argue he was actually very cute but Kailan would argue that he was just average. He had a natural magnetism that made people want to be his friend. And he was friendly with everyone and didn’t really get into any conflicts or fights at school.

The one time he did get into a conflict was in the 8th grade, which was really just him chastising a school bully for something he did to one of the other students. The bully just stood there like he was a little boy with his hand caught in the cookie jar. He apologized to both the boy he was bullying and Kailan at the end of it. He even started hanging out with that boy and they now play FPS games on the weekends.

Because of Kailan’s natural attractiveness, people would often coo and caw over him. In particular older adults like his great aunt and her friends. He would also get free stuff from the stores he frequented. He didn’t really mind it. He just gave away the stuff he didn’t want to other kids at school that didn’t get the same treatment. He was a bit apathetic about his looks. It simply didn’t matter to him.

Kailan usually made it home around 4:30. His father was a History Teacher at his school but Kailan refused to ride home with him. Even so they always arrived home at the same time.

As Kailan walked up to the door, his father was just getting out of his car.

“Dad, don’t most teachers have after school work, like grading or something?”

“Your daddy is an awesome teacher so he brings his work home with him.”

Kailan had an amused look as he stared at his father expectantly. Edward Jones was well acquainted with his youngest son’s expressions and instantly knew he was being teased.

“Now you listen here young man. Your father is a GREAT teacher. A GREAT teacher! That’s why I can escape… I mean, reluctantly leave the school in the hands of the other fully capable staff and complete my work here among my adorable loving family.” Edward held his head up high as if he was proud of his explanation.

“Sure dad. I’ll make sure Mrs. Mulberry doesn’t think you skipped out on your monitor duties or anything…” Kailan stated with a mischievous grin as he swiveled on his heels and proceeded to unlock the front door and enter his house.

Edward felt a chill go down his spine when he thought of Mrs. Mulberry, one of the assistant principals chewing him out. “Hey! You little brat. Get back here!”

“Haha!” Kailan laughed merrily as he teased his father while running up the stairs.

“Oh, I almost forgot, your brother and sister are coming over for dinner tonight so don’t go out.”

“Oh right…” Kailan mused as he thought of family dinner night.

His sister, Rebecca, was 7 years older than him. She was attending IUPUI for a Business Administration degree and lived in a dorm on campus. As for his elder brother, Elias, he was 2 years older than Rebecca and was a Data Engineer at Eli Lilly. He has an apartment downtown that he cohabs with two of his friends. Every Tuesday they would both come over for a family dinner night, and tonight their mother was making spaghetti. They were excited because she was famous for her homemade spaghetti.

Kailan’s mother, Maria, is a nurse at the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital. She worked the day shift and got off at 5 PM. Kailan was excited to see his siblings almost as much as he was for the spaghetti.

Running up the stairs and into his room, he threw his backpack onto his bed. It was standard practice that he would change into something more comfortable to wear around the house when he didn’t intend on going out again. So he pulled a one piece dinosaur pajama out of the closet and put it on. Childish yes, but he didn’t care. He had his style.

After he finished changing he opened his backpack and quickly completed his math and science homework. Kailan was very intelligent so he didn’t have too much trouble with his school work. He would often tutor other students during class.

He was a spoiled kid, especially by his older siblings, but he wasn’t arrogant or mean. He just didn’t see a reason to treat people that way whether they were more or less fortunate than him. So he used his own gifts to help others like his mother. He was a bit of a mama’s boy.

Five o’clock came quickly. Kailan finished his homework just a few minutes before so he went downstairs to find his father sitting on the couch watching cartoons.

Kailan stared off the staircase bemusedly. “Dad, what’s this? I just finished all my homework and you’re down here watching cartoons. What about dad’s homework? Didn’t you always teach me that I should finish it before having fun?”

“When you’re an adult little Kailan, you can put things off just a bit.”

“Talk about double standards… My father’s one of those.” Kailan blankly stared at his father like he was disappointed.

Edward felt awkward. He loudly cleared his throat before gesturing to Kailan to come downstairs and sit with him. “Come sit with daddy and enjoy a little break before mommy gets home.”

“I’m not a little kid you know.”

“But you're dressed in cute dinosaur pajamas…”

“That doesn’t make me a little kid!” Kailan shouted in denial.

“You’ll always be my little Kailan. Kids never grow up in the hearts of their parents.”

“Was that on your pop quiz in class today, Mr. History Teacher?”

“So harsh to your father. Come here and tell daddy what’s got you in such a foul mood.”

Kailan grumply slumped his way down the stairs and into the living room. Sitting down next to his father on the couch, he had to admit that he was in a bit of a strange mood lately. It had been for the last week when he really thought about it.

“What’s got my adorable little Kailan-osaur so irritable? Maybe daddy can fix it.”

Kailan was beginning to feel exhausted. His father was more of a child than him. And yet he always treated Kailan like a child. “I don’t really know. I’ve just had this strange feeling lately like something bad is going to happen.”

“Oh that. That’s nothing. It’s called growing up. The older you get the more you stress yourself out worrying about the future. Just relax and try not to think about it too much. Watch some cartoons or something to distract yourself.”

Kailan felt like he just received really bad adulting advice.

“Isn’t that called denial?” He thought silently.

“It’s not that dad. It’s different. It’s like when you’re thinking of a word and it’s on the tip of your tongue but you can’t quite get it. I just feel like something is going to happen but I don’t know what or when. Besides, I’ll never need to worry about the future cause all I have to do is bat my eyes at you, mom, Rebecca or Elias and I’ll always have someone to mooch off of.”

“True. Huh…?” Edward thought he had heard something strange in that statement but he couldn’t quite figure out what. “Let’s just watch TV for a bit.”

“My dad really is in denial. Or maybe he just never fully matured.” Kailan thought of many things as he sat there staring at the cartoons on the large 75” TV. He thought it was way too big but his father was adamant about getting it a few months ago. His mother indulged his father’s ridiculous interests.

It made Kailan smile and somewhat forget that feeling. As weird as his family was, wasn’t everyone’s family weird? But it was his family and he loved them. And they loved him. He was comfortable. Sitting there with his dad watching cartoons in the cool air. He leaned over just to savor the moment. But before he knew it his mother was rushing him to wake up.

He had fallen asleep. His dad didn’t wake him and just left him there. He could smell the spaghetti sauce cooking and he knew he had to get up.

“Kailan, go set the table. Your brother and sister will be here soon and dinner is almost ready.” Maria smiled as she poked him in the stomach.

“Yes mom.” Kailan grabbed at his abdomen feeling the light tickle. He quickly got up and went into the kitchen to get plates and silverware. He often helped his mother in the kitchen. She had instilled in him the necessity of being able to cook for oneself. And honestly he liked cooking.

~Ding, Dong~

“I’ll get it.” Edward shouted out as he made his way to the front door.

“Daddy!” Rebecca jumped on Edward in a big hug as she came in through the doorway.

“Ooph… Big girl. You should be careful with your old father. You’re not that tiny princess anymore and daddy’s back isn’t that strong and strapping anymore either.”

“Drama queen. Where’s Kailan?”

“Kailan this. Kailan that. Both you and your brother are all the same. You only come over to see one person.” Edward grumbled as he pouted.

“That’s not true. We come over for mom’s cooking too.” Rebecca replied with a sweet smile as if it was a matter of course.

“Ah, kids have no respect for their parents anymore. What’s going to happen to your poor dear parents when we’re old and in walkers?”

“Don’t worry. Elias and I already have an assisted living home picked out for you.”

Edward was stunned. He was both proud and disturbed at his children. Proud that they still thought of them and disturbed that they had thought so far into the future.

“Becca!” Kailan ran up to his big sister and gave her a hug. She of course hugged him tightly as she rubbed her face on him affectionately.

“You adorable little dino-boy. How was school? Is everyone treating you well? Is dad getting into trouble with the assistant principal?”

“Hey!” Edward had to interject at being called out. It’s like Kailan had told everyone his misdeeds but he knew that wasn’t possible.

“School is fine and everyone is really nice. We’ll see about dad tomorrow though. He’s probably in for another lecture. Hehe.”

Edward froze on the spot. He looked like he had seen a ghost after Kailan’s point blank shot into his heart. Kailan and Rebecca stared at him as if there was no pity in the world.

“You brought it on yourself…” They both thought.

~Ding, Dong~

“I’ll get it!” Kailan dashed to the door ignoring his now severely depressed father.

“Kailan! You look so adorable in that. You should wear it everytime big brother comes over.”

“No. Then I’d be wearing it every week. Maybe even multiple times.” Kailan gave a flat refusal. His brother Elias who was standing in the doorway seemed to become saddened at being rejected.

“But I’ll have mom buy me some other ones and alternate them.” Kailan felt bad that he had smashed his brother’s dreams. Of course Elias perked up after he said this.

“Ooo. Then you should buy some animal ones. Like a goat or a cow. Those are cute!”

“Right! Animal pajamas. I think he should get a panda one.” Elias and Rebecca entered their own little fantasy world as they dressed Kailan up in various one piece pajamas in their imaginations.

“Heh.” Kailan just grinned at his goofy siblings.

“Yeah, nothings going to happen. Everything is fine here. I’m just worrying too much.” Kailan thought to himself as he watched as his father jumped in with his own suggestions. “But this feeling in the pit of my stomach…”

“Kailan… Kailan!” Rebecca flicked Kailan on his forehead lightly, awakening him from his inner thoughts. He had been sucked into that feeling again.

“Oh. Uh, sorry I was just thinking that I’m really hungry now. Hehe.”

“Kailan is onto something. We should invade the kitchen and demand reparations from the other parental unit.” Rebecca rallied Elias and their father.

The four of them marched into the kitchen expecting a raid, but mom straightened them all out.

“Rebecca and Elias, go wash your hands, they’re filthy. Kailan, take this bowl of salad and set it on the dining table. Edward, go turn off that blasted TV.”

“Yes, mam.” Everyone dejectedly responded as they went to complete their tasks.

Dinner was amazing as everyone expected. Maria was a nurse first and foremost but she never neglected the household. She practically ran it herself. After eating they all sat down in the living room and talked. It was a chance for everyone to catch up and hear about Rebecca’s college life and Elias’ job. Both always had some kind of story to tell.

Then it was time for them to leave. Kailan wasn’t sad to see them go. He was happy that they always came to visit every week but he knew they had their own lives away from home.

“Kailan, it’s 8 o’clock. Go take your shower and I’ll bring you something to snack on later.”

“Thanks mom.”

Maria was very doting on Kailan. He was her youngest and she always felt very close to him, especially since they were quite similar. Kailan went upstairs and pulled out some new underwear. He didn’t plan on changing into something else so when he went into the bathroom and undressed he placed the dino one piece to the side.

Standing in front of the mirror naked Kailan inspected himself. “Hm. I’ve gotten bigger.”

He was at that age where he grew a little almost every day. It wasn’t largely noticeable but it was noticeable enough. His father was 5’ 11” and his brother was 6 feet tall. He wondered if he would grow to be their height or if he would be shorter like his mother and sister who were 5’ 7” and 5’ 8” respectively.

It wasn’t just his height. His body overall was growing. He’s practically lost the flat chest of a boy and his chest muscles were starting to show more. He looked athletic with a slight 4-pack.

“Maybe I should exercise more. I might be able to turn it into a 6-pack by the time I’m 15…” He mused aloud. He flexed his biceps a few times as he watched the muscles expand and contract. After putting on a small show, he jumped in the shower.

After Kailan got out and dressed. He went back into his room to play a video game. He liked RPGs and would wind up being sucked into the stories. His mother brought him some cookies and a small glass of milk around 9. She stole a hug that turned into a snuggle which bothered him because he was in the middle of a battle he couldn’t pause, but she just snickered and quickly escaped after.

And then it was time for bed.

- 18 Hours Until Merger -