As Jon sat with the rest of his family (he had already eaten, but it just felt right to sit together as a family for meals), he puzzled after his family's predicament. On one hand, he knew how things should be -- how the members of his family normally behaved, what they were normally like. But on the other, certain things just felt right, and it seemed one had little to do with the other.
For example, he knew that all he, Mikey, and Zoe had to go to school soon. And that was all well and good for Zoe, but for some reason the idea of him and Mikey attending as well just... felt wrong. Similarly, he also instinctively felt that Lind--Mom--should be going with Zoe. But of course he knew she was a grown adult, and had no place in school. At the very least it would draw a lot of questions.
Which all made for one big headache, of course. But it seemed today Jon was the responsible one, and it fell to him to at least do what he could where his knowledge and his feelings aligned. "Alright, then," he announced. "Zoe, you ready to head out today? School's in thirty minutes."
"I can be ready to go in just a little bit," Zoe replied, continuing to be surprisingly helpful.
"Shouldn't I be the one dropping her off?" their Mother asked, glancing up from her own breakfast. "I do have work today, too."
Jon knew that, of course. But he also knew--either by deduction or gut instinct-- that if he let Mom have the car, she would most certainly not being going to work. No, no doubt she'd run off and do something foolish while ignoring her job altogether. "I'll be taking Zoe," he assured his mother. "You'll be staying put -- and staying away from any cigarettes."
His mother snorted to that. "Oh really? And who put you in charge?"
Jon felt his cheeks warm at the challenge. "Mother, if you don't quiet down right now then I'll make sure that your insolence gets back to--" gets back to who, exactly? Like earlier, when he had passed his old bedroom, Jon was left flummoxed, feeling the absence of something he couldn't quite place. Of someone, though who that was, and who they were to Jon, he couldn't say.
Regardless, even cut off the threat seemed enough to cow Mom for now. Satisfied, Jon rose, nodding for Zoe to head to her room to get her things for school. "I'll be back after I drop Zoe off," he said, relieved to have a plan, at least. "Mikey, think you can stay here and keep and eye on Mom?"
Mikey, who had already gathered the dishes from breakfast and was washing them now, turned his head to his older brother. "Of course, Jon."
Jon gave Mikey a quick smile of gratitude--helpful as ever--and went to retrieve the keys. Zoe was back by now with her bag. Apparently she had decided one of Mom's larger purses rather than her usual backpack, though Jon thought that suited her. He ushered his sister for the door, then paused in the entryway mirror to check his reflection. Everything seemed in order, felt right. But of course, he knew that didn't necessarily mean much, given today's strangeness. Glancing back to the dining room, where Linda was sulking and Mikey busying himself with the dishes, Jon had the sense that today was going to be long and troublesome. Oh well, at least he only had to wait until... until what? He caught himself expecting the return of something, someone, but again he had no idea who.
Deciding not to fall too deep down the rabbit hole, Jon shook himself, and headed out the front door.
