The dinner table was quiet save for the clinking of spoons and knives. Mom served soupy mash potatoes with an ice cream scoop. Kevin watched as his serving 'plopped' down on the plate.

"How was school today?" Mom asked with a smile.

"It was okay. Haven't had a chess club meeting yet so I don't know if they're any good. But I'm making lots of friends! Mostly after school but still."

Mashed potatoes were the only type of potatoes that he liked. He mostly found them boring, and with unpleasant texture, but mashed fixed the latter and enough butter - or even better, ranch dressing when he was allowed - could fix the former.

So, he's cheerful enough about the food. He might seem a bit distracted though, as even as he talks he's brainstorming ways to ask his father about Ralph's mom.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:23, Thu 01 Oct 2020.

"That's nice." Mom said, equally cheery. "Are you going to go out trick or treating?" she asked in a voice that indicated maybe she was hoping Kevin would say no. Before he could answer she interrupted her own question:

"Don't go over to Main Street. I heard kids are disappearing there. I don't want my son involved in that. I love you too much."

Perfect!

Kevin puts on his best shocked face as if he'd never heard about the missing kids. "Really? Wow! Promise I won't trick or treat there."

He looks to his father, who has always encouraged his curiosity. "Is that why you were there today? I went to visit my friend Ralph - he didn't tell me about missing kids - and I saw you talking to his mom. But why'd you have your belt off? Saw you putting it back on."

This last question is asked with innocent curiosity. He's clueless about the implications.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:11, Mon 05 Oct 2020.

"Dahhh....." Kevin's Dad let out a sort of strange noise just as Kevin got into the second question, which was accompanied by a wincing grimace on his face. "I think I left something in the microwave, can you get it honey!!!" He said in a loud hurried voice.

"Don't want it to burn!!"

Mom left the table and wandered over to the microwave. Kevin's Dad avoided Kevin's eyes and looked down at the table in an uncharacteristic gesture since Kevin's Dad had always encouraged Kevin's curiosity. The question remained unanswered.

Kevin gets a confused look at that reaction, but even more when his father doesn't answer after another moment goes by.

"Dad?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Sat 10 Oct 2020.

Mom was still rummaging around in the kitchen.

Dad looked up at Kevin and sighed. It was a sigh of resignation, like a kid that had been avoiding homework and now had to face the music.

"I didn't want your Mom to think that something was wrong." Dad said. "So I didn't say anything." He looked up over Kevin's shoulder to see if Mom was around or listening. It was unusual for Dad to act this way, to keep things from Kevin or from Kevin's Mom for that matter.

"I woke up today and I was at your friend Ralph's house." Kevin's Dad said. "I didn't really wake up. I wasn't in any bed. I just kind of found myself there. Don't worry about it though buddy. I've already booked an appointment with the doctor. It's nothing you need to think of or be concerned about. I'm sure its just a mental block of some kind."

Kevin's eyes go very wide at this, and he has to bite his lip to keep from blurting out that Ralph had said something similar. He'd promised not to tell about that, after all.

"Okay," he says instead, though his worry is probably obvious. Of course, he's always been a bit prone to anxiousness.

Sorry for the delay, haven't had a voice to dictate and my arm was too sore to type much, even on my phone as I'm doing now.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Tue 20 Oct 2020.

"Listen buddy" Dad said. "How about you and I go on a special trip to the ice cream store after this." Dad implored. He was always concerned about Kevin and always wanted to impart some wisdom to Kevin that would make Kevin's day and overall state better. Kevin and his Dad were close enough for Dad to sense Kevin's possible anxiety and the 'Ice Cream' trip was something that they hadn't done in a while.

OOC: Don't worry about that. We're in the middle of an international pandemic! This game always has a place for you when you are available.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:37, Mon 26 Oct 2020.

Kevin smiles again at that suggestion, excitement at the prospect distracting from his worry, "Really? Rad."

This also relaxes him enough to make it through dinner without saying more about it in front of his mom.

OOC: Thanks!
This message was last edited by the player at 09:11, Mon 02 Nov 2020.

Kevin Joins Thread

OOC: Kevin: Ice Cream and Halloween Costumes