My family was to join us for dinner that night. Mom and Dad Lancaster arrived just in time, Ben and 'Laina were going to be on their way as soon as they finished their game.
They'd gone bowling. It had to be that day, they had to choose that day.

We were just starting in on dessert, and I was telling Michael how 'Laina doesn't answer us anymore unless we call her "Jo" (her middle name is Josephine) because she wants to like Jo from Twister - When my Dad's cellphone rang.

Ben's car had died and he and 'Laina (that is - "Jo") were stranded at an italian restaurant across town. They'd have to be picked up, it would take a while to get there, and it was already dinner time. We hadn't even started eating yet and we were going to have to leave.
Wait, I didn't have to leave. But what about Mrs. Martin? Or was it her dog? My Mom was taking care of one of them, so she'd have to stop there as well. But there wasn't enough time now for them to get Ben and 'Laina and do whatever she had to do at The Martin's.
But they could...

"Um, I have an idea." I said, breaking into a sea of apologies and debate over what to do. They stopped. "Dad, you go and see what's up with Ben and - uh - Jo," I fought a smile at the thought of Elaina's insistence that we change her name. "and, Mom, you take my car and see to Mrs. Martin - or her dog. You know what I mean..." That was awkward. "Simple."

"How are you going to get home then?" my Mother's right brow arched over a soft earthen iris.

"I'll figure it out," Crap, I smiled. "take the bus or something..." My Mom hated the bus, and I - well, everyone - knew that wasn't going to happen.

"Um..." She pretended to think. "No way." I think everyone must have chimed in on that, or I suddenly became telepathic.

It was quiet for a minute or two, it was kind of a sad silence. Not like when Michael and I sat in the living room earlier while we waited for everyone to arrive, it had always been silence with us; soft, comfortable, breathable silence. Not like this. This was hopeless. We'd all been alone for so long, this was supposed to be such a good night, and now we were all going to be separated again - for reasons that might even have been sillier than they seemed.

"It's all right, guys." My Mom was the brave one to break the silence. "We better go before it gets later. I'll just call that neighbor lady Rose is always talking about to check on the pup. I have her number here, somewhere..."

"Mom, come on. " I reverted to my twelve year old self which, I have been told, was very much like 'Laina. "I'll be fine."

"No, Marie - you're nuts!" She came really close to laughing outright that time. "You're not walking anywhere in this cold, and at night."

"Hey, um," Michael's father snaked cautiously into our conversation. "Mrs. Bridge here has an appointment tomorrow morning over by where you all live." Suddenly (as if I hadn't before) I loved Mr. Bridge. He looked at me. "I'm sure she'd be glad to drop you off on the way or something, right hon?" He slipped an arm over Mrs. Bridge's shoulders and pulled her close.

"Of course," Michael's mother smiled. For the second time that night I felt like a little girl again, begging my father with my eyes for a night of stories, and a few late rounds of Sorry or Life, over a glass of soda.

"Don't look at me." He assumed the position with an aimless smile. "It's your Mom's decision."