Melinda’s Journal

Sunday, March 11

Places Pat & I can be alone together

(i.e.: Places to avoid)

• His bedroom (technically off limits)
• My bedroom (also off limits)
• Playroom (not very private)
• Library (also not private)
• Living room (not private, but usually empty)
• Guest room (just feels wrong)
• Theater (usually empty. Decent soundproofing, so no one will hear us talking)
• Recording studio (better soundproofing)
• Garage (there’s a half dozen cars where we could hide in the backseat)

Melinda’s Story

It took Pat a good ten minutes to get settled. After bringing up two gigantic bowls of popcorn, and reporting that his brother was still missing, he brought his laptop into the room and settled himself in just the right spot that I could see the screen as well.

He glanced at me as it booted to life. “What should we watch?”

I shrugged. “I don’t really care. Nothing sappy and nothing scary. Other than that, surprise me.”

Pat inhaled sharply. “I just thought of something!” He turned the computer away from me, typing rapidly before selecting something. A moment later, he turned the computer so I could see again. Whatever the show was, it had already started.

The screen was black, dotted with stars. Space. The scene zoomed in until we were looking at a spaceship. One that looked somewhat familiar but dated.

It took all my energy not to squeal. I couldn’t help bouncing in my seat, though. “Is this the original NG?”

Pat smiled up at me. “It’s been on my watch list forever.”

“Mine, too! I just never think to watch it.”

Picking up a handful of pieces, I gave the screen half my attention while I sorted pieces with the other. The show definitely slowed me down, but I didn’t mind. I loved watching it.

The special effects were pathetic. The technology that was supposed to be cutting edge for their futuristic society looked obsolete to me. And the storyline was very different.

The NeoGenesis Pat and I liked to watch was a saga, a soap opera where the storyline continued throughout the season and each episode was a step toward solving that problem. While the old show seemed to have a season-long arc, each episode was a story unto itself, independent of that story.

If this show were on now, I probably would have never gotten hooked. But it was entertaining enough. Especially as I worked on my puzzle.

At the end of the first episode, Pat turned to me. “Another one?”

I nodded. “Yeah. It’s not bad. Although, I gotta say, the books are better.”

Pat sent me a look of confusion. “Books?”

“Mm hmmm. There’s a series of books based on this. Last summer, I checked them all out of the library. Read the entire collection.”

“I never knew they existed. I may have to do that this summer.”

We were just finishing the second episode when Walter and Lily finally reappeared. Lily had that flushed, slightly flustered look my roommate often had after spending hours making out with her boyfriend.

Walter popped his head into the room. “Whatcha doing?”

I quickly covered my puzzle. “Watching TV while I do my puzzle. Where have you two been?”

Lily looked embarrassed, but Walter smirked. “None of your business.” He took a step down the hall, tugging Lily’s arm. “Come on. We can go watch our own show.”

Pat turned to me. “Where were they hiding?”

I smiled. “Jealous?”

“Yes. They obviously found a place to make out without getting caught. I want that.”

I rolled my eyes. “Pat. Just start the next episode already.”

We watched another episode and a half before Lily came to say goodbye. She needed to get back to her school before dinner. Not long after she left, Miss Kara called everyone down for dinner.

Pat gestured to my puzzle as I covered it. “Make any progress?”

I took his hand with a smile. “Almost done.”

“Fantastic. Are you going to work on it tonight?”

I shrugged. “We’ll see.”

As we gathered around the table, Mr. Adam looked at all of us. “So, the next leg of my tour starts tomorrow. Uncle Vinny is coming to pick me up before we head to Vancouver. Pat, can you drive me to the airport tonight?”

He shrugged. “Yeah, sure.” He gestured to himself and Walter. “Uh, are we flying home without you next week?”

Mr. Adam looked like he was considering it, but Miss Kara interrupted. “Absolutely not.” She turned to her husband beside her. “Adam, don’t you even consider it. Pat has only had his license for a week!”

Pat gave an exasperated sigh. “Mom, it’s a certificate, not a license. And I’ve been flying for more than seven years. Walter’s been flying for over a year. We’ll be fine.”

She didn’t even look at Pat. She was still staring at Mr. Adam. “No. You hire pilots for that plane.”

Mr. Adam sighed. “Kara, can we discuss this after supper? When there are fewer listening ears?”

I was doing my best not to smile. The fact that Mr. and Mrs. Evans were comfortable enough to argue in front of me made me feel right at home.

---

Dinner was relatively quiet. Miss Kara asked about our day, but no one was really in the mood to give details. As soon as I finished my chicken, I excused myself to the library. Walter followed me a moment later.

He sat across from me with a smirk. “Anxious to get out of there?”

I shrugged. “Not really. I just really wanted to get this done. Wanna join me? You can watch the NGs we were watching earlier, then you’ll be all caught up when Pat gets home.”

Walter sent me a skeptical look. “Do I get to see the puzzle?”

“Only if you promise not to say anything to Pat. It’s for him.”

Walter mimed zipping his lips.

I pointed to the door. “Well, go get your computer.”

Shaking his head, Walter left the room. Before I could remove the blanket, Pat entered.

“Not looking. Just wanted to check on you before I leave. You left the table pretty quickly.”

“I’m fine. Just eager to finish this. Walter’s going to catch up on old NG so we can watch it when you get home.”

He frowned. “Do you think maybe we can watch it on a real TV?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes. That’s the plan.”

Mr. Adam’s voice carried up the stairs. “Pat! Let’s go!”

Smirking, Pat gave me a quick kiss before leaving. Walter returned a moment later.

As he set up his computer, I got to work on my puzzle, sparing him a brief glance before returning to what I was pretty sure was a blue car. “So, you and Lily disappeared this afternoon. Pat and I couldn’t find you anywhere. Where’d you go?”

Walter smirked. “Why? Looking for someplace you and Pat can be alone?”

I rolled my eyes. “Walter, I have a list. I was just wondering which one you picked.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “A list? Why exactly do you have a list? What happened to all your stupid rules?”

I sighed. “Knowing where I can be alone with Pat makes me more aware of where I shouldn’t be. You, however, think the opposite. So I’m going to guess you were in the recording studio. We didn’t check there.”

Walter frowned. “No, but that’s not a bad idea. Lily used the guest bathroom to get changed. I went to wait for her in the bedroom and realized we were alone together and there was a bed, so, you know.” He shrugged.

My jaw dropped. “You slept together?” My voice was nearly a hiss.

Walter’s face grew red. “No! We just kissed for a while. All clothes remained on.”

I pursed my lips. “You guys aren’t even together.”

He sighed. “We are. We just know it’s only for this week. It’s . . . complicated. Can we stop talking about this now? Where do I find these videos?”

I wasn’t sure I was done with this conversation, but I let him drop it. I would just have to have Pat talk to his brother later.

Pat’s Story

The room was dark. I was surprised to find it empty. I knew Walter and Lily weren’t in the playroom, since I peeked in there when I had gone to my room. If they weren’t in the theater, where could they have gone?

As I waited for the popcorn to pop, a thought crossed my mind. They weren’t in his room, were they? Mom would flip. Of course, she and Dad were at the studio today and who knew where Shelia had disappeared to. I was a little jealous.

I filled two large bowls with popcorn and brought them to the library, where Melinda was already working studiously on her puzzle. After grabbing my laptop, I went downstairs to grab a soda. I took the long way back to the library, passing Walter’s room. His door was open, and no one was inside. Where was he?

Jealousy mixed with concern as I booted my laptop and turned to my girlfriend. “What should we watch?”

She shrugged. “I don’t really care. Nothing sappy and nothing scary. Other than that, surprise me.”

The perfect show hit out of nowhere. “I just thought of something!” I just had to remember on which streaming service.

I pulled the computer closer as I searched for the show. It was easier to find than I expected. After starting the first episode, I angled the computer so Melinda could see it as well.

It took her a moment, but eventually she recognized it. She let out an adorable little squeak as she bounced in her seat. “Is this the original NG?”

I nodded. “It’s been on my watchlist forever.”

Apparently, it had been on hers as well. As we watched the show, Melinda continued working on her puzzle. I was so engrossed, I hardly noticed her.

The show was fantastic. Even though it was thirty-something years old, the technology was amazing. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the show had inspired some of today’s tech. And the storyline? In addition to a season-wide dilemma, each episode had its own story arc. I absolutely loved it.

Near the end of the second episode, Walter and Lily finally appeared. From where, I still had no clue. It was obvious from their mussed hair and guilty expressions that they had spent the last couple of hours in a bed somewhere. I wasn’t sure if I should congratulate him or lecture him. Hadn’t he said just this morning that he and Lily weren’t that serious?

Walter wouldn’t even meet my eye. He looked at Melinda instead. “Whatcha doing?”

She threw her blanket over the table. “Watching TV while I do my puzzle. Where have you two been?”

“None of your business.” He turned to Lily, taking her hand. “Come one. We can go watch our own show.”

As they headed to the playroom, I turned to my girlfriend. “Where were they hiding?”

She smirked. “Jealous?”

“Yes. They obviously found a place to make out without getting caught. I want that.”

Melinda rolled her eyes, but I had no idea what she was saying about me. “Pat. Just start the next episode already.”

Attention Hammerheads

Melinda is always trying to build her vocabulary. What were some words in this episode that were new to you? She will add them to her vocabulary journal.