The Visit...

April 2005...

Kyle

While getting ready for school, Kyle couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. His birthday was in a few days and his parents usually come home for his birthday so that they can celebrate it together.

He hasn't seen his parents in over a month and he couldn't wait to finally see them. He knotted his tie before making his way to the dining hall.

The dining hall was a big room with a long table at the centre. There were more than 8 chairs next to the table with big windows on every wall of the room.

Kyle didn't usually go to the dining hall, he usually had his food sent to the room. He never liked eating there because of how lonely and dull the atmosphere was, but since his parents were coming, he didn't feel the need to eat alone.

The dining hall was downstairs, right next to the kitchen at the far edge of the mansion.

As soon as Kyle set foot in the dining hall, he realised how small it actually was. When he was a child, the dining hall felt like the biggest room in the mansion, but now it almost felt ....small . He didn't know whether it was because he was older and taller or because the last time he actually set foot in the room was almost 4 years ago, when his parents weren't always so busy.

He walked to the table and sat on the chair that was at the far end of the table. No one other than the chefs , maids and servants were in the room.

Another reason why Kyle hated eating at the dining hall. The amount of attention that was given to only him for eating breakfast made him feel suffocated. It was enough that the room was already stuffy and now he had to sit down and eat infront of people. At this point, the only thing missing was being tardy at school, which he already was.

Mr. Jones, his caretaker and the only person he seemed comfortable to have. Mr. Jones, though he asked Kyle to stop adding 'Mr.' to his name since he was just a servant, was old. In simple words, he had been working as their caretaker since Kyle was still a baby. Though Kyle's parents were around most of the time, Kyle always saw Mr. Jones as being his friend and adviser. He somehow respected Mr. Jones for always being there and knew what to say to Kyle.

"I'd just have an omelette with toast and orange juice". Kyle said as Mr. Jones turned to leave but a sudden question crossed his mind. "Wait!", Kyle suddenly shouted as Mr. Jones stopped in his tracks. He slowly turned around to face Kyle. "I wanted to ask, do you know when my parents are coming home?" Kyle felt a bit awkward asking this question but he was curious. His mom called him yesterday and told him that they'd be coming home for a week to celebrate his birthday. His birthday was in 10 days so there was a slight chance of them coming today or tomorrow, it didn't really matter but Kyle just wanted to see them before celebrating his birthday.

Mr. Jones didn't answer immediately and had a look of confusion written all over his face. "I don't know. They never told me when they are coming, they just said to expect their arrival". Mr. Jones simply stated before walking away.

After having breakfast, he got his school bag and lunch box before heading out the door. The driver was already outside with the car.

The usual morning, except that today, Kyle felt a bit more cheerful. He felt rush of happiness and couldn't wait for the school day to end. He wanted to come back home and see his parents waiting at the door step.

He got into the car and drove off to school.

School, as usual was no different in the morning's. Students were rushing into the building and crowded around the hallways.

Kyle heaved a sigh before climbing up the stairs. He took his books out from his locker before walking into the classroom.

Empty. No one was in the classroom. It's either he was just really early which he wasn't or most of the students were talking to their friends in their lockers.

He turned a glance towards Savannah's seat. Imagining her seated talking with Christine or putting her head on her desk. The only thing that could make him want to stay longer at school was Savannah .

A sudden snap of fingers brought him out from his daydream. Obviously he didn't see Derek walk in and obviously he would one day use this crush thing to blackmail him.

"Sometimes I wonder if you dream of her. Is she really all that you think about?" Derek said before sitting on Amelia's chair.

"No". He lied. She really was all that he thought about but he couldn't tell Derek that.

"Anyways, I might need to borrow your math notebook". Derek said with a small smirk on his face. Now maybe this friendship might be one-sided with Kyle being the one to actually take things seriously.

"Yeah, sure". Kyle simple said before handing Derek the notebook.

Nowadays, topics that don't involve Savannah in them seem to bore Kyle. It was like the only way to actually get Kyle's attention was by bringing Savannah into the topic.

...

And just as Kyle anticipated, the day did run by fast. Maybe because most of the classes were just the teachers giving the students things to do to waste time.

The driver came early and it couldn't make Kyle's day better. He was seriously hoping that his parents had arrived and we're waiting patiently to surprise him, if not, he'd rather stay at school and wait for every student to get picked up before him.

The car came to a halt and Kyle quickly jumped out of the car before the driver even parked it. He ran all the way to the front door and took a deep breath before pushing it open.

Nothing. The living room was empty. For a second Kyle thought this was just a way of surprising them but after asking Mr. Jones if they'd returned and he said no, he knew that was the one thing that could ruin his day.

He walked around the house and searched everywhere but it didn't seem like they had arrived yet.

He was left dumbstruck. He didn't want to go anywhere except for his room and cry. Maybe not literally, but he didn't want anyone coming to bother him.

He rushed up to his room and changed into his pajamas. If his parents didn't want to come they could have just said so, what's the use of even telling him if they could just change plans?

All he wanted to do was sit in his room and stare at the blank wall. He hated it. He hated having to be stuck in his room all the time. He wanted to be telling his parents stories about his days in school but he couldn't. Maybe it's because they didn't want to listen.

He was busy sitting on the floor and staring at the carpet when he heard knocking on the door. Great, now there's more things to annoy him.

"Who is it?" He asked, maybe a bit too loud.

"It's me. Jones. I came to inform you that there's a package for you. It's outside". Mr. Jones said. A package? For him? He didn't know what to think but deep inside he prayed that it was from his parents.

"Okay, I'm coming". Kyle said and once he heard the faint sound of footsteps, he quickly rushed downstairs. He opened the door and there was nothing. He knew Mr. Jones too well too know that he won't lie about something so serious. He looked around hoping it's somewhere nearby when he sees something on the floor. Like a blank sheet of paper. He picked it up and flips it over, in bold letters it won't, 'Go to the garden if you want to see what's been hidden '.

Without thinking twice, he quickly rushed out to the garden. The garden was large and looking for something like a package would be tricky.

He looked around for a while until he saw something strange.

It was like a message that was folded on one of the twigs under the big tree that held the swing. He quickly picked it up and unfolded it to reveal another message, ' Great, you're almost there. Now go to the back of the house to reveal your surprise '. At this point, Kyle was annoyed, who ever was doing this was obviously trying to pull a prank on him, but still he needed to see whatever surprise was laid out for him.

He stuffed the note into his back pocket before making his way to the backyard. His eyes saw a glimmer of light and soon he saw decorations all around the backyard and a cake on a stand. He walked closer to the cake and... Surprise!

His parents and a bunch of people he didn't know shouted as they walked towards him. Kyle felt a wave of different emotions wash over him. He didn't know what to feel or think.

There was a cake Infront of him and his parents were next to him. His mom wearing a beautiful black gown and his father fully dressed in a black suit with a bunch of well dressed adults around him. He almost felt like he was in a dream.

"Blow the candle son". He heard a familiar voice say, his mom. Without thinking, he quickly hugged her.

"You actually came ". We're the words that slipped out from his tongue.

"Yes son". He heard his father's deep voice say. And for the first time in months, all three of them were together again