THE SEEKER

“What time is your flight?” I heard mom inquire as I round the corner to enter the kitchen, she must be talking to dad. Dad left on a business trip to a state in Mexico called Chiapas. He’s a Philanthropist, which means he helps people all around the world from donating money to orphanages to building shelters for the homeless. A lot of persons are against religious beliefs but that’s mainly because they have little to no understanding or knowledge of it, so he started building churches, shelters, and orphanages in various cities, which help and benefit a lot of people around the world. He’d been planning to go to Chiapas for over two months now. The people living there are of indigenous descent so they don’t have much say in what happens in those areas, they are being mistreated all because of a stupid system, this gives the rich more power. This is the main reason why dad chose that place, he believes he can make a difference. What he does is amazing and inspiring and I hope to one day become like him, to help persons in need all around the world. I went and place a kiss on mom’s cheek as she set the timer on the oven, all the while still talking to dad. I went into the huge double door fridge, it was disguised as a part of the wall, and if this was your first time seeing you would think its a door that led to another world like the Narnia movie where the kids went through their wardrobe and ended up in a different world. My eyes were met with all kinds of food from different types of milk, crazy flavored juices, exotic cakes, and leftovers that looked as if they were meant to be on display in a museum rather than our fridge, at that moment my stomach roared with hungry and I could feel the drool on the side of my mouth. “Kai?!” I heard my name being called, I was too focused on figuring out what I want from the fridge to answer, then I heard my name being called a lot louder, and that caused me to snap out of my trance. I turned to see my mom standing beside me her jaw fell and she had a worried look on her face, she reminds me of one of those puff fish with spikes. A small chuckle left my mouth and I stopped once I realized she had this worried look on her face. “Are you feeling ok? Do you want me to call a doctor?“ She bombarded me with questions. She grabbed ahold of my face and started examining it. “Mom I’m fine. What are you doing?” I said as I pulled away from her. We heard the clicking of a camera and a flash, I froze instantly and so did mom, we both turned towards the sound, we were so preoccupied that we didn’t hear when my sister Kailee entered the kitchen. She sat on a stool chewing on what seemed to toast, when did she get her and when did she even make that? I glance at mom, her brows were ferried while she steered at Kailee, she’s probably thinking the same thing I am. “I’m so gonna post this.” She laughed. I used this as an opportunity to escape mom’s death trap and snatch the phone from my sister’s hand and sit on a stool opposite her, that way I can easily make a run for it if she tries to launch at me over the counter. “What the….” They both stared dumbfounded at me. I burst out in a fit of laugher almost falling off the stool. “Don’t you dare?” Kailee warned. I rolled my eyes at her and placed the phone on the kitchen counter. She grabbed the phone checking if everything is in place, she glared daggers at me once she realized what I had done if her eyes were throwing real daggers at me I would be pinned against the wall in mere seconds. “Mom?!” She yelled trying to get Mom’s attention, Mom, who’s now taking salad dressing from the fridge looked up at her with a simple hum. “Hey, mom and I have the right to privacy,” I stated, I took an apple from the fruit basket on the table and took a huge bite, am I just hungry, or is this apple the best. “That was a public act,” Kailee replied. “Your brother was standing there staring at the fridge for over five minutes. I was so worried and I had to test if he was ok,” she said. Yeah by tearing my face off. “Mom I was fine, I was just a lot hungrier than I thought.” I stated and then continued, “ Is it wrong to try and decide what I want to eat it’s not my fault you have an entire restaurant in there.” I pointed out. She rolled her eyes and shrugged at me. “What time will dad be here?” Kailee asked. “Oh, his flight is at 6 pm, but he’ll be stopping by the office to drop off some documents before he heads home, so we won’t expect him until around 7 pm” Mom answered. “Oh cool.” We both replied. I went and grabbed a bottle of grape juice from the fridge. It is almost 4:30 pm and I need to finish an English paper that way I can take a short run before dinner. I head out to the living area to see my little brother Aris drawing around his desk. I peeped over his head to see what he was drawing, on the paper there was a house similar to ours but much older, two stories high, balconies at each window, flowers adorn the front of the house. There in front of the huge gates was a car, three adults stand looking up at the house and one, which was a woman, held a small boy in her hand as they all take in the sight before them. It was a beautiful painting, for a five-year-old, I smiled at the drawing as I left the area and headed up the stairs as I enter my room I remember something about Aris drawing, if there were only four people in the drawing then where is dad? I let that thot slid since he was not finished with it as yet maybe he will add him later. As soon as I plopped down on the bed my phone auto connected to the Bluetooth boombox I had in my room and I set my most recent playlist to play while I finish my paper. An hour and a half later I was finished with my paper, the perfect time to go take a run. I went into my drawer that had all my sports gear and took shorts and a long-sleeved shirt since it was a bit chilly out. I throw the clothes on and head downstairs, as I reached the front door I shouted at mom who is still in the kitchen preparing dinner with the help of Kailee, mom replied with a “yeah, be back on time for dinner” with a “whatever”, I shook my head, put my sneakers on and head out. As I opened the door I was welcomed by the cool autumn air. I walked down the driveway trying to find a song to play on my earbuds as I take my run, I finally found a playlist and set it to shuffle. I started with a jog for a while then I sprinted down the streets. I lived in the beautiful city of Alberta, technically I live in Calgary which is a lot quieter than the busy streets of Central Alberta. It is very beautiful especially when the autumn leaves adorn the sidewalk, and the cool breeze spread the leaves all around as you walk, it is almost like you’re all alone in the forest with only the wind and leaves guiding you to an unknown place, it is calm and relaxing this reminds me of a time when Kailee and I were kids and dad took us out camping, it was so awesome Kailee and I spent all day making leaf angels and catching fireflies at night. The memory caused a smile to appear on my face, I miss those days. When I came back to reality I realized I ran to school which is a mile and a half from my house. I reshuffled the playlist and turned to head back home, the street lights had already begun to turn on, they shone on the streets and blocked the view of the beautiful sky, this is the one thing I dislike about living in the city you don’t get to see the night sky when the stars adorn it like fireflies. I reached home a little before the darkness took over and the only thing that would be illuminating the darkness was the street lights, as I opened the door the delicious aroma of fried chicken almost knocked me right back through the door, and at that moment my stomach growled, It felt like an angry pack of hyenas’ were trying to get lose to attack that poor chicken and then I realized just how hungry I was. I dashed upstairs taking three steps at a time wanting to take a shower in less than three seconds so I could go devour the meal waiting for me downstairs before my stomach starts to attack my organs. I headed over to the shower as I entered the bathroom and without second thought turned on the tap, instantly warm water touched my skin and I relaxed a bit letting the water run down my body, It felt good, I took some shampoo and wash my hair then, I used some melon body wash and rubbed it all over my body, this smells good wait melon? I don’t use…..I read the label and saw that it was a women’s shower gel, ugh Kailee, she took my shower gel again, I don’t know why she doesn’t just get her own and stop stealing mine and replacing them with girl things. Once I felt clean enough I turned off the tap, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around my waist, I head towards the drawers in my room and pulled out grey sweat pants and a white t-shirt. I went and check my face in the mirror, I took the cocoa buttercream Kailee bought for me when I carried her bags once when we were at the mall. She said it moistures my skin and gives it a “glow’ whatever that means. Not to get me wrong, I’m not gay but my sister loves to treat me as though I am. She is the only one that sees this side of me, to everyone else I’m this stone-cold guy, who freezes anyone with just a glance, at least that’s what I heard. I head downstairs to get ready to have a feast, I met Kailee and Aris on the stairs heading down. “Someone’s smelling rather good tonight.” She said as sniffed the air. “Or should I say sweet?’ She finished, pretending to not know she was the cause of a rather “sweet’ scent. I was about to reply when the doorbell rang, I looked at her to see if she was going to get it but she just shrugged and went into the kitchen. I shook my head and went to open the door. I wonder who could be here at this time, dad has a key so I doubt it would be him or he just wants to surprise us. I opened the door and disappointment washed over my face when I saw it wasn’t him, instead it was Fred, the chief of police and also my dad’s best friend. He didn’t look happy he had sadness, worry, and pain written all over his face and my stomach fell at the thought that something bad had happened. “Hey Kai, where’s your mom?” He asked, he was staring at something behind me and I turned to see my mom, and her smile fell as she saw Fred’s sadness. Fred passed me and entered the living room, at that time Kailee entered the living room with Aris following behind her. Fred took his hat off and sat on the sofa and mom and Kailee followed in suit. I stood there waiting on him to start talking and when he did I wish he didn’t. On that day we received the most unexpected news, one that would change our life as we know it.