Snippet #2430324

Claire and her father sat in the living room couch together, thinking. Claire's brother sprawled in front of the TV, alternately rewatching one of his shows and reading.

"So, what are you guys looking at, anyway?" her brother wondered.

"We're trying to understand this thing Claire got at the fair yesterday, Carter," Claire's dad informed everyone. We've decided that it's either a cult, a creep, or a real chance."

"He wasn't a creep, Daddy," Claire insisted, "when I tried to invite him to our house, he wouldn't let me tell him where it was."

Claire's mom took in this information with a nod. Claire's dad rubbed a hand over his face.

"Claire, honey, you can't invite people from the fair to our house the first time you meet them."

"Sorry. Mr. O'Rielly was just really, genuinely nice. Good."

Claire's father decided it was a discussion for later.

"So?" Claire's mom poked her head in from the kitchen. She looked faintly amused. "Are you going to read it?"

"Well, I don't want to run away from this world, and neither does anyone else except Carter."

"But we can at least try," Carter joined in, "if it's false, it will prove itself false and fall apart. Or just feel evil, if we'll really let ourselves listen. If it's true, well, there's no better chance in our lifetimes! Ever!"

Claire shifted nervously. Carter had a good point. Who in their right minds would miss this chance, providing it was real? But still, if Carter read it, and nothing happened...Claire blinked in surprise. Was that why she wouldn't admit that she wanted to soar over oceans and cities and see new worlds and new wonders? Fear?

But, Claire argued to herself, I'd be leaving everything behind...I'd be leaving my family...

"May as well read it," Claire's mom suggested, "dinner's almost ready."

"Well?" Claire's dad looked at her, " are you ready?"

"Me?" Claire squeaked. She glanced at her dad, then read over the words again. Nervousness twinged in her stomach.

"I would love to go to a new world, or city, or planet, or whatever, but I don't want to run away from this one."

The pamphlet's sincere query soaked into Claire. This wasn't some gag. Something about it felt like the real deal. Apparently, her dad felt it, too.

"Claire," he made sure she was looking at him, "you've weighed the cost of going, so let's weigh the cost of not going. If you throw this pamphlet away and forget about it, there will always be some part of you that wants to know what would have happened. The feeling won't turn up at first, but it will eventually."

"How do you know?" Claire twirled her purple crystal ring.

"I've known you since you were born," Claire's dad grinned, "if there's one thing at the core of how you're made, it's wonder. You can't let fear take that away from you."

They'd let me go? Claire watched her dad in amazement, They'd let me leave them? They wouldn't be mad?

Her dad's unspoken permission freed something in Claire that she'd been trying to satisfy with books and daydreaming. Beautiful sunsets were breathtaking, but they also meant that there was so much more to experience out there...

"Your mom and I will see if it feels evil," Claire's dad pointed at the words, "you go for it. Let's see if Mr. O'Rielly happens to show up."

Claire took a deep breath and tried to let the newly freed part of her mind peek out.

"If I could run away from this world, I would..."

The living room stayed silent. Carter locked his eyes on the pamphlet. Nothing...

Then came a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Claire's mom called. Claire stared through the window in disbelief. Brian O'Rielly. At her front door, right when she'd read his pamphlet.

"Dad, it's him," Claire whispered. Carter leapt to his feet while Claire's dad opened the door. Claire introduced him to everyone.

"Before you say anything more," Claire's dad gave Mr. O'Rielly a neutral look, "how do we know you aren't part of some elaborate scheme?"

Mr. O'Rielly stepped off the porch and asked if Claire's dad wanted to look over his car. Claire saw the suspicion on her dad's face fade into amazement.

"This is not a refinished car," he managed, "where did you find this?"

In answer, Mr. O'Rielly got into the Hawk, started it, and began to drive away. Carter cried for him to wait. Mr. O'Rielly smiled back at him and did something on the dashboard. Carter shouted and Claire's dad laughed aloud as the Hawk rose straight into the air. Claire couldn't say anything at all; she felt an almost physical pull toward the flying Hawk and Mr. O'Rielly.

"It's real! It's real! It's real!" Carter cheered. Judging by the way her parents were watching-in unguarded awe- Claire knew they couldn't be getting an evil vibe from the flying Hawk. Mr. O'Rielly landed the car right where he had parked before. Claire's parents quietly discussed something while Carter raced to talk to him. Mr. O'Rielly's face grew a little sad, and he said something softly to Carter. Carter's face grew hot with anger, then heavy with disappointment. Claire felt confirmed in what she'd known before: she was the only one going. Fear poked at her thoughts.

"He said I wasn't ready yet," Carter grumbled to her. Claire hugged him, and for once, he didn't try to squirm away.

"That's good, Carter, that means you will be ready someday."

Claire could tell Carter was thinking about that, but all he said was, "Have fun, Claire. See you sometime," before he marched back inside.

"What sort of things will Claire be needing?" Claire's mom asked. Claire's heart leaped. Mr. O'Rielly had passed her parents' test. Claire was half dismayed and half relived to hear she couldn't take stuff with her. That meant no hurried packing, and that she'd be getting the clothing and supplies she'd need soon enough. Suddenly, Claire realized the only thing left to do was leave. Her mom wrapped Claire in her arms and a jacket at the same time.

"If you can write," Claire's mom started. Claire winced at the tremor in her voice.

"Then I will," Claire assured her, "I'll tell you about everything. If I can, you'll get a letter every week."

Claire's mom held onto Claire for a few more seconds, then went to pack her dinner. Claire's dad grabbed her in a fierce hug.

"We'll miss you, Claire. Take care of yourself. Learn lots, see more."

Claire shoved her face in her dad's shoulder. The pull toward the Hawk and the pull toward home hit equal strength. Maybe she ought to just tell Mr. O'Rielly she wasn't coming...but home was an old pull, it would weaken soon enough. It was time for the next pull to take over. She could feel the moment it did, and so could her dad. They stepped back at the same time. Claire's mom wordlessly handed her a sandwich, celery, and peanut butter.

Clair climbed into the Hawk. Mr. O'Rielly started the car up again. Claire waved as the car rose into the air until her parents' house was indistinguishable from the others. She watched as the neighborhoods merged, then as her whole town became one soft point of light behind her and Mr. O'Rielly. She rubbed tears off her face for a little while, and felt the sting of the wind against her arms and shoulders. Mr. O'Rielly kept silent for her. After some time, Claire turned toward him with an honest, shaky smile.

"This is going to be really good," she told him. She could already feel the unlocked part of her switching her homesickness to deep excitement. Mr. O'Rielly agreed with her. Claire shifted her attention back outside. She watched the stars glide by as she started in on her sandwich.