The Gift
Stephanie's Storyline, Chapter 9.4
copyright comidacomida 2019
The kitchen was a flurry of movement as my mom and dad went about helping me. I was just trying to figure out whether or not they had completely forgotten I was still there until my mom looked up from her notes and smiled. "Why don't you hang out and get a little more rest, Sweety? I know you haven't been sleeping well. Your dad and I can take things from here and you can check back in at lunch and we'll let you know how things are coming."
She wasn't entirely wrong; the thought of getting enough help that I could actually spend the morning recovering from the manic activity as of late was a welcoming thought but, then again, there was still so much more to do and I could always rest once I returned home. The more I thought about it, in fact, the more I realized that the three of us could get even more done than my parents.
Tom's voice was still mellow, but it had a certain edge of pointed encouragement to it. "She is not wrong, Nekedeh... your inquiry is in good hands. Trust in them and take some time to tend to your own needs."
A small shiver ran up my spine when Medved's paw rested on my other shoulder, but, despite his physical presence he didn't nudge me in any direction. Addressing my mom, I reached across the table and took her hand and I looked at Kyle as much as her. "We should call Kyle's mom together... I'm the one that has all the questions, after all."
She smiled, and I got the impression it was more about being pleased with the prospect of doing something together than just to humor me. "Alright... should I call her right now or do you need a minute?"
My mom nodded to my dad, who stood up, leaned down and gave me a kiss on the forehead, and made his way out to follow up with his promise. Once he was leaving I looked back to my mom and said "No... I think I'm ready. Your cell has a speaker phone option, right?"
Nodding, she stood up and walked over to the counter where my parents' old cordless handset was resting on the cradle next to the built-in answering machine; I'd been gone less than a dozen weeks but I'd already forgotten that neither of my parents liked using their cell phones when they were at home. "This one does, and it'll be fine, Stef."
I rolled my eyes, but more out of the dramatic generation gap moment than any actual exasperation. "You two STILL don't have an unlimited plan on your cells?"
She smirked. "Well, I have unlimited call, data and text... your father still has his flip phone so just call and text."
I'm sure I could have pushed the issue if I was in the mood for one of those family moments but, despite actually being able to relax for a little while at home, I still had a job to do. "Fine... LAN line is the same as a cell for calling the Harrisons anyway."
Offering no argument or counter, my mom brought the stand for the cordless over to the table; although the handset didn't have a cord, the base did, and she carefully pulled it over the counter and draped it across one of the dining room chairs before setting it down between the two of us. She spoke softly to herself. "God... I can't believe I remember the number... I never used to."
There was a quiet moment as my mom stared at the phone before reaching out to slowly key in the phone number. I knew what she meant, of course; she had a small black index book with all of the phone numbers that had been important to me and Billy. In all cases whenever she had to call over to Kyle's house she'd always needed to look it up. I couldn't offer much comfort in her realizing that she hadn't memorized it until after Billy's passing. Offering a faint smile, I tried my best anyway. "It's strange the way the mind works... huh?"
She let out a breath as she dialed the last digit. "Yeah... yeah it is, sweetie."
The phone rang three times before someone picked up. It was a deep, male voice. Kyle's dad worked as a wilderness fire fighter and he was barely ever at home during the summer so hearing him answer as a little bit of a surprise. "Hello?"
Apparently it surprised my mom too. "Oh... Gary! H-hi... this is Billy's mom... I was hoping that Kathl--"
He didn't let her finish. "Joyce! I'm so sorry to hear about what happened... Kathy and Kyle told me everything."
I reached out and took hold of my mom's hand when I saw her falter with her lip quivering but, to her credit, she powered onward. "Thanks, Gary... actually, I was hoping that I could speak with Kathleen if she was available-- about... well... about Billy and Kyle... you know... 'mom stuff'."
Although I didn't know a lot about Kyle's dad it was pretty obvious that he didn't like the awkward talk about losing family any more than anyone else. "Sure... let me get her for you... just a minute... KATHY! PHONE!"
Although he shouted from away from the receiver it was still plenty loud. My mom smiled at me and I smiled back; I could tell what she was thinking because my dad always did the same thing. Regardless, she said nothing, and a few seconds later I could hear Kyle's parents talking a distance from the phone. It was far enough away that I couldn't tell what they were saying but it was obvious when they were done. A moment later Kyle's mom picked the phone up. "Hi... Joyce?"
From the first moment they said 'hi' the call turned into what I'd come to know as 'mom-speak'. Their discussion flowed seamlessly from topic to topic so quickly I had to fight to follow it, let alone get a word in. Before I knew it almost ten minutes had passed without any real conversation taking place, let alone a discussion on what it was I had on my mind. Thankfully, however, my mom finally came through. "So... how's Kyle doing after the-- well... after everything?"
The topic was finally addressed, but the 'mom-speak' continued awhile longer. Apparently Kyle was still recovering from the trauma; he didn't seem quite like himself according to his mom... which made sense in my mind since he was no longer being Skin Ridden-- my Raven Spirit made a point to gesture to himself to make the connection but I didn't really need the help. Finally, however, we got down to business when my mom stated "Stephanie is back in town you know... she's staying with us this weekend."
Kyle's mom reacted as if it were another topic in the long line of 'mom-speak'. "Oh... that must be so wonderful. Be sure to tell her hi for me."
My mom kept focus, thankfully. "She's actually right here with me. We've been talking a lot about Billy lately..."
Kathy didn't make it easy as she addressed me "Oh, Stephanie, I am SO sorry for your loss... I can't even imagine--"
Managing to hold it together out of sheer force of will (and thanks to Medved's comforting presence behind me), I kept my voice even. "Thank you, Mrs. Harrison... It isn't easy, that's for sure... that's why I was hoping to talk to you."
It was definitely not 'mom-speak' protocol but I wasn't a mom so I was sure I'd be forgiven. I was. "Of course, dear. How can I help?"
The moment had finally arrived. I knew that anyone's good will would only go so far so I carefully considered what I was going to ask. It's strange to think that I had been so close to my Spirits for so long that the smallest gestures somehow made a lot of sense; Anapa was obviously interested in hearing about what Human Kyle had to say about the ordeal-- but it also helped that they could each phrase their suggestions without anyone else hearing, which is exactly what my Raven Spirit did. "Ask her what Kyle told her about that day... and why she thinks he's changed so much."
Tom's suggestion was much more personal. "Was she at the funeral? Ask her about her impression of it."
Medved said nothing, simply resting a hand on my shoulder for continued support. He wanted to let me make up my own mind; he had faith that I would be able to get the most out of my time with Kyle's mom. I--
2) -- realized that Kyle the Raven Spirit knew more about Kyle the Human than the rest of us. "What did Kyle tell you about the day of the accident? Do you think that's what changed him?"
3) -- understood Tom's suggestion about being more personal. "Were you at the funeral, Mrs. Harrison? I mean, I saw Kyle... what'd you think of it?"
4) -- put my faith in the faith Medved had in me. "Can I speak with Kyle... please?"
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Voting is now open and will close as of midnight (pst) on Wednesday, March 6th.
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Kyle the Raven will know more about how Kyle the human's home works than anyone else.
I think 2 will be best here. Talk to and butter up Kyle's mom first. Make Stephanie's mom happy too and maybe shake loose a few facts she has forgotten too.
That leaves (1) How's Kyle and (2) About the accident ... I'd normally begin with the pleasantries and ask how Kyle was doing, but since you're making us choose, and that one question can't lead to another, I'll go with (2) because even second-hand, this extra viewpoint might be helpful, especially if she later gets to talk with Kyle directly.
Got it.