Taylor's Day out, Part I

We ate dinner out. I didn’t talk much, and neither did Dad. Mostly just small talk. Stuff about school.

Which, for the first time in a long time, I could talk about. Arcadia was nice. Even if Winslow was much better I…

I could never go back there. I would never trust it, or the students, and the more I thought about it, that was actually unfair. The school had changed.

But so had I, and the best thing to do was move on.

It was odd, reading my books, studying every night, to better work as Orb Weaver and The Investigator had also helped me.

There was a lot of stuff in there about trauma and triggers and working through it. Most of it with warnings that reading and self-study was no replacement for a skilled therapist, but well, I couldn’t exactly walk in wearing my Orb Weaver identity.

I paused, with some lasagna almost to my lips, and then chuckled.

“What is it, Taylor?”

“Nothing. Just a thought.” I had an image of a petrified therapist, staring at a bug clone “laying down” on the couch, buzzing out my worries.

But a good chunk of the stuff I’d read warned about revisiting the source of a trauma. And how some times it was important to cut ties, just move on.

And so I had. I knew enough about what happened to Emma. She might recover, but there would be no sense in trying to rekindle any friendship. Even if I wanted to, even if she completely repented, I’d just be waiting for the betrayal.

Dad and I had gone over the PRT report. I knew, but other than sometimes wondering what would have happened had Sophia never gotten her hooks into Emma… Well.

As I said. Time to move on. The trio were in my past. Winslow was in my past. So we talked about small things. Normal things.

And it was odd… how unusual that had become. How hard it was to talk…

Huh. I had money from the bounty. I wondered… If Orb Weaver couldn’t see a therapist, maybe Mr. Hebert and daughter could.

I’d think about it.

[hr][/hr]

But when I got home, I found myself with another challenge. I finished, cleaned up, and sat down…

And was bored.

Bored, bored, bored. I didn’t go out every night, but this time was different. I’d promised Dad no heroing.

So here I was, and the fact that I didn’t have any choice.

I decided to do some light reading.

Two hours later, I was finished. I’d read the collected works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and also gone through the German and Italian editions.

After all, if I was going to deal with the Empire, I figured German might come in handy, and Mom had liked Italy.

I’d already learned enough Latin to get around. Maybe start on Japanese…

Arrrggghhhhh… I just didn’t feel like it, because right now, Orb Weaver could be…

No. I’d promised. Maybe I could do…

Right, I’d finished all my homework for the entire semester. And I didn’t feel like reading the college stuff, because I was bored…

On the other hand, Dad was asleep, and maybe I could be… Silly.

I cued up a song from a cartoon from Earth Aleph.

Okay, it was a villain song, but I was gonna take Lincoln’s view with Dixie. If I beat them, I could say I’d taken the song… and as I played it, ants, roaches, spiders and centipedes started forming up organized squares on my floor, marching in time to the tune…

So prepare for a chance of a lifetime
Be prepared for sensational news
A shining new era
Is tiptoeing nearer…

I even got the ants to “salute” with their feelers as they marched past the bed. Looking down I stifled a laugh.

After all, what was the point of having powers if you couldn’t have fun with them now and then.

I actually had a very restful sleep.

[hr][/hr]

The next morning I got up. No school, no homework, no… work…

I sighed. I was back to being bored. I could do something with—

Someone was coming up to our door. I didn’t turn, my legions of bugs preparing themselves, but the form was…

Wait a minute.  There was a knock on the door.

“I’ll get it,” Dad called. There was a moment, and he said the words I’d known he’d say. They were lower, but I’d rigged a bug at the door, just in case, someone showed up with ulterior motives.

“Aisha? Brian?”

“Hi Mr. Hebert! Everything’s gonna be okay! Krewe is here!”

I hadn’t expected that. Then I heard her brother’s words, sounding resigned. “Is Taylor in? Aisha’s worried about her.”

“Not worried, Bro!” Then she lowered her voice, and it was only through my bug that I heard. “But like, I know who she is, and Assault said that a Master got involved and they’re about as scary as you can get. So you know, I was thinking we could go out and party!”

“With your brother as Chaperone?”  Dad asked.

I decided for this I could use my bugs. I didn’t need to show up with a red face, because I wasn’t that bad. Dad was acting as if Aisha and I couldn’t walk to the end of the street without something happening.

 …okay, from his perspective, he might have a point.

But I headed into the front, and there was Aisha, Brian looming behind her.

“We were gonna call,” he said. “But…”

“Where’s the fun in that,” Aisha said. “Besides, I scored these tickets to miniature golf!”

“You do miniature golf?” I didn’t think…

“Nah, but the Protectorate has these monthly bonus things where you can get the tickets cheap, so I scammed a bunch.”

“Scammed?”

“Bought, I mean I bought them.”

“I’m… I don’t know—“

“Nonsense. You’re doing nothing today,” Dad said. “And it’s too good of a day to just stay in.” He glanced  at me. “Do you have money for lunch?”

“I have my card.”

“Good. I’ll let you three go before anyone has a chance to change their mind.”  As he turned and walked past, he whispered. “Taylor. Have fun.”

I stared. Thought.

You know what? Why shouldn’t I have fun?

And with that, I let Aisha tug me towards Brian’s car.