Chapter 2:

Family

Lyle flashed on the future, seeing his daughter and her playmate married, living in a trailer. He promptly moved her to another preschool.

The backstage pass was Arthur’s chance to finally meet his dad, but after seeing the over-the-hill rocker perform, he settled for the poster.

I took the jar down from the shelf, opened it, and spoke to my father’s heart, telling him I loved him… finally conversing heart-to-heart.

“Do you think they’re coming back?” asked Julie. “No,” I said, “They were happy driving away.” My sister and I raised ourselves after that.

The other chickens looked on in horror as Vern lowered himself into the deep fryer. With Farmer gone, it was up to him to feed his family.

“Fire truck!” yelled five-year-old Billy. His mom had told him his dad was a fireman. When he got older he set fires, hoping to meet Dad.

After the meal, the men gathered around the TV to watch sports, sitting there in awkward silence when the cable went out.

The kids begged me and I gave in. A trip for three to the moon. Much more expensive than when I was a kid. We used to just imagine going.

Some parents push their kids to be sports stars. With me it’s superheroes. White Donut and Double Talker, those are MY children.

“I’m an artist,” said Rick. “My canvas is the childhood of my children. I color it with laughter, joy, inspiration, hoping it all gels.”

The overflowing pile of laundry swallowed Marge. With her final thought, she wondered why she thought it was a good idea to have five kids.

Jack threw a piece of candy on the floor and watched his three children fight for it. The winner was groomed to protect Jack as he grew old.

I looked all through my mind for memories of you. Unable to find any, I had to take your word for it that you were my father.

I dated Sara, accepting her kids as my own. She disappeared after our wedding vows, leaving a note: “Thanks for watching the kids.”

Zara woke up to find the severed head of a pink My Little Pony in her bed. The message was clear. She returned her brother’s GI Joe.

Carl opened the oven and the chicken leapt out, apparently not done yet. The children sat at the table wondering when Mom would return.

I handed Tom his birthday present. Awkward pause. “Didn’t you get ME anything?” I asked. “I forgot.” We’re not the closest of twins.

Carlton is blind. In desperation, he had stared into the sun. He knew now, nothing would erase the image of his parents having sex.

The clock had belonged to my grandfather, given to him by the king. Now, I was giving it to my son so he too could watch his life tick by.

Momentary serenity. Sitting on the bottom of the pool, a brief vacation from the world. Soon, they will find me. My kids always do.