Adam-
Mom hands me a folder with Autumn’s information in it. “Here.”
I open it up and see her age (14), her current residence (The Camden’s), and her school (Apple Ridge).
“Why isn’t she living with her family?” I ask, confused.
“That’s the kind of subject you need to steer clear of once you meet her. But if you must know, her family is having issues. So she is staying with the Camden family until she’s able to walk on her own,” Mom says.
I reach into my jeans pocket and rub my fingers along the inside, as is my nervous habit. “When do I meet her?”
“You will be going to her school tomorrow. And under no circumstances will you mention that you are her guardian angel. Understand?”
“It’s not like she’d believe me.”
“Adam?”
“Okay, yes, I promise.”
Mom doesn’t look like she believes me. Quickly, I scan over the file once more, pausing over something called an email. I point to the letters and symbols. “What is this?”
Mom glances at it. “That’s one of the ways you can contact her.”
“One of them? How many are there?”
Her finger slides over to a series of numbers and dashes. “Yes. This right here is her phone number. You will be given a phone later today. And, Adam,” she raises an eyebrow at me. “Please learn to use it. You will look like an absolute imbecile if you can’t.”
Ouch. I turn away and stare at the box labeled LOCATION. The thought comes to me that I have no clue where I’ll be staying. I ask Mom. She motions for me to follow her, so I do. She leads me to a small cubicle with photos attached to the walls. They show all sorts of houses. Tall ones. Plain ones. The kind decorated with tiny little lights all year-round. Finally, and much to my disappointment, she plucks a photo of a small little apartment from the wall. I flip it over and spy an address written in black ink.
410 Candlegrove Circle. East Creek, Texas.
“Also,” Mom adds, “I’d like you to give this address to Bailee.”
I instantly groan.
But Mom’s lips are in a firm line, the straight kind that reminds me of a pokey stick. “Don’t whine, Adam. It’s you first assignment and you don’t have any wings yet. If something goes wrong, you’ve got nothing to do.”
Unfortunately, she’s right. And Bailee has proven to be somewhat helpful when it came to getting me out of tight spaces. Granted, they are usually small thing like sneaking second helping of dessert and then me sloppily covering my tracks, but something is better than nothing I suppose.
I look at the photo again. “Can I...fix up the house a little bit?”
I get a shrug. “Sure, as long as you don’t destroy it. And keep in mind, you’re playing the typical teenage boy. Bailee’s going to give you driving lessons so you can drive a car. Because of this, you’ll need to pay for gas.”
I frown. “Did you say pay?”
“Yes. The Council has agreed to give you some money. You’ll get a weekly income of enough to get by. Any other expenses you might have will need to be covered by a job.”
Yeah, this just got a lot less exciting.
“Is that all?” I ask dryly.
Mom’s face softens around the edges. Her eyes show the little remains of sparkle that used to be there a long time ago. I can tell in this moment that she is as nervous about this as I am. Her hand finds my arm and she squeezes it lovingly. “Don’t...don’t be afraid to make a friend or two, honey. I want you to have some fun. But do take your job seriously. The Council is giving you this big responsibility.”
The are. And I’m terrified. But I shouldn’t be. No sweat, right? All I have to do is make a girl’s family stop arguing. Even though a small part of me says that this is way easier said than done. That part’s got a point.
We head to my bedroom in the Hotel. I cross the floor to my bulletin board while Mom fishes through my closet for clothes that will be suitable for East Creek, Texas.
Autumn’s photo hangs on my bulletin board. I take it down and run my fingers gently across the glossy surface.
“You need to be careful,” Mom appears beside me, holding a thick stack of T-shirts in her arms. I didn’t know I owned so many.
“Careful?” I frown. “Of what?”
“Friendships with humans are tolerated. But dating one, or loving one, or marrying one...That’s forbidden, Adam.”
“I wasn’t!” I exclaim, blushing bright red. The picture falls to the floor. How could she even think that I’d like this girl? I’ve never met her in my life!
“Just warning you.” she glances at my closed door as if she’s checking to make sure it’s actually closed. “Bad things happen to those who defy the G.A. Council.”
“Like Dad?”
I didn’t even mean to say it. The words just sort of slipped through my mouth. It’s almost like I’ve just hit PAUSE on her life. The massive stacks of T-shirts slide from her arms and onto my bed, forming a multicolored pile. She just stands there, frozen. Long, slow seconds crawl by and finally she straightens the clothing pile.
“Get packing,” she says and leaves the room.
I feel bad. I really do. It’s like there is this black hole spreading throughout my chest, knowing that I upset her. But I had to ask about Dad. Why this man she used to be madly in love with just left one day. Without a word. Without a trace. Just gone. He left his twelve-year-old daughter and ten-year-old son with a heartbroken mother. I can’t remember much for some reason. I should be able to, but it’s like my memories on him have just vanished. All I can remember is his teasing smile and that sparkle in his eyes. Mom used to call it his Sly Shimmer. These qualities I can remember. And I can sometimes feel him messing my hair up and laughing, “That’s my boy.”
Just like he did forever ago.
Or...forever ago until he disappeared.
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