the sharing

[instar]

Trouble is not back at school on Monday. At lunch, Bella sits with Andi who sits with Robin who sits with Ethan.

Comments

[pandion]

"We can skip summer. Any time we want. We can go roadtripping with Mom instead."

[palmofyourhand]

"It doesn't sound like that would solve the problem," says Ethan.

[pandion]

"Well, it'd keep us farther away from the problem."

[instar]

"Yeah, it's one thing when he's on the phone, it'd be another if he were like this while we live with him."

[palmofyourhand]

"Particularly if it is a cult and he decides you really, really need to join."

[instar]

"Yes."

[palmofyourhand]

He chuckles.

[hold_infinity]

"It's really not that funny," says Robin.

[instar]

"It's not," Bella agrees.

[pandion]

"I'm pretty sure there's no sign it's the kind of cult that kills people?" says Andi hopefully.

[palmofyourhand]

"That just means that if they are, they're very very good at it."

[pandion]

"That's really not funny, Ethan."

[palmofyourhand]

"Isn't it?"

[hold_infinity]

"Only to you," says Robin.

[pandion]

"Your mom isn't in it too, is she, Robin?"

[hold_infinity]

Robin shakes her head. "I'm sure I'd be the first to know. Well, second."

[pandion]

"That's good then."

[instar]

"I looked for books on the organization once and couldn't find any. I wonder if they've gotten press. Newspaper articles."

[palmofyourhand]

"If you can't dig anything up, I think that's a bad sign."

[instar]

"Maybe, yeah."

[palmofyourhand]

Ethan glances at Robin and says, "Maybe I'll take a look."

[instar]

"At old newspapers?"

[palmofyourhand]

"Or something."

[instar]

"What, are you going to go to a meeting and check them out?"

[palmofyourhand]

"Or something," he repeats.