James and I had been driving for hours but as we got closer and closer to home I couldn’t help but smile. College had been fun, made all the better by my best friend being at the same college, but I couldn’t wait to get back home. Besides, as much as I enjoyed James talking about the plot of his new story I was kinda lost after 6 hours of it. He was the writer, I was the reader.

As James drove the car into the driveway I saw Amy and Bobby playing with some toys on the stairs. They glanced up when we pulled in and went to the door to yell something inside. My little brother Warren, almost immediately, appeared from inside the house. He leaned on the doorframe and waved trying to look cool, the goofy grin on his face and the speed at which he got to the door betraying his feigned indifference. The twins, having alerted the household, turned around and raced over to give me a hug as I got out of the car.

“Allen! Allen! We got tacos!”

I had knelt on the ground to give them a hug but the cause of their outburst made me snort hard enough I closed my eyes and nearly got bowled over by the twerps as they ran into my arms. I heard James chuckle as he came around from the drivers side.

“It appears they have their priorities, at least we know you guys are related.”

“I’d be offended if it weren’t so true, I’m starving!”

We all headed inside and I met my parents in the doorway for a brief hug before they ushered me towards the table to eat. I put everything on my tortilla and tried to answered the questions they fielded.

“How was your trip?”

“The trip was fine.”

“How did you both do on the finals?”

“Great. Can’t complain, well at least not to much.”

James looked up at his inclusion and nodded. Focusing on his food and letting me do the talking, typical. If I didn’t know better I’d swear he was actually related to us with his focus on food. Dad brought me attention back with more questions, letting James focus on digging in.”

“Is your boss okay with us taking you on vacation before you start for the summer? Did you remember to tell James about the vacation? James, did he tell you? You are invited as well.”

Well, he got to focus on the food for a bit, now it’s my turn. James cleared his throat with some water and responded. “Yes Mr. Times, Allen told me, we both put our starting date for two weeks after school actually finished. I have a pack all made up for the beach. It’ll be a welcome change from school, I can’t thank you enough for inviting me”

“Oh, no problem at all, you’re practically part of the family. It’ll be great, there’s options for roller coasters, water rides, or just the beach. It’ll be great, did I tell you that it’s actually where I met Diane?”

My dad kept his tales going throughout dinner and clean-up, only stopping when my mother told him that we needed sleep if we were to be able to wake up for the trip. Dad was great at making people feel relaxed but wasn’t the best at time management or stopping once he got really into talking. His job at the state department rarely let him talk as he wished so I couldn’t hold it against him.

James and I went back out to the car to get our stuff. My mother poked her head out of the door.

“The kids and I are going to watch a movie in the basement, we will try and keep it down but let us know if it needs to be quieter. Claude is going off to bed, as he’s volunteered to drive first shift. Make sure your stuff is ready, we’re waking up early and I wouldn’t want you to forget anything.”

“Thanks mom,” I called “we’ll tell you if we need anything.”

We unloaded a duffel bag each out of the car, skirting the toys the twins had left out on the stairs. It would take another trip or two to get the stuff out of the car and into our rooms. James’ room was on the ground floor and a bit bigger than mine, it had previously been my dad’s office area.

When James’ parents died 2 years ago my dad had immediately arranged to move his office stuff to the master bedroom. James had moved from a sleeping bag on my floor to the room and stayed with us ever since. I think if he hadn’t been 18 already my dad would’ve talked my mom into adopting him, though I doubt she’d put up an argument at all.

By the time I went out the door for my second he was going out for his daypack, which was his third and final load.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you get your stuff after this. You really need to learn to pack lighter.”

“Thanks, I’m working on it.”

I sorta was working on it, but I just was bad at planning what I’d need so packed everything, and packed a bit messily to boot.

We were climbing up the stairs when there was a loud voice shouting “welcome,” somehow bypassing the ears to go directly to the brain, and a sort of screen blocking my view. I didn’t get a chance to read it.

For some people the day the system came was a day of celebration, for most people it was a time of fear and uncertainty, for me it was a day of tragedy. It is the day I lost my best friend.

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