.: 4 :.
Lines of Connection

Within the halls of school supply heaven at Office Depot, Vicki gave a startled blink as she looked over at her mom. While her mom seemed a little uncertain of the possible answer, her smile appeared the same as always: encouragement and support.

Steven stepped up then, placing eight one-inch three-ring binders into the cart - four for Andy and four for Vicki - one of each color he could find. "It's great, what I've seen of it."

"You certainly have been out and about more than your average tourist," their mom observed, giving Steven's arm a fond stroke.

He smiled at her. "I've been exploring. Trying to see what this town has to offer a future graduate."

Vicki sorted through the binders, laying claim to the cool colors and leaving the boring ones for Andy, while trying to keep the smile from being too noticeable.

"I'm glad to see you've really shown an interest in your future," Elizabeth Modine said.

Before Steven could answer, Max ran up to the cart, eyes wide, and exclaimed, "This place is cool! Mom, can I get a computer?"

Elizabeth gave the visor of her youngest son's cap a firm knock even as she smiled. "No."

"Aw man! But Vicki has one!"

"That's because it was free, young man."

Vicki stuck her tongue out at him. He stuck a finger in his nose.

Elizabeth gave them both a soft rap on the head. "Stop. Max, go get your school supplies."

After a 'raspberry' Vicki's direction, Max sent his mom a boyish smile and then did as he was told, disappearing down one of the aisles as he dug his shopping list from the back pocket of his holey denim jeans.

Elizabeth shook her head, still smiling, before focusing again on Steven. "So, do you suppose the greenery of western Oregon will separate you from the 'Switzerland of America' in Ouray?"

"Most definitely. There are a lot of good schools here, not to mention possibilities: Intel, Mentor Graphics, and Tektronix to name a few. I'm going to keep my eyes open and see what God has in mind before deciding on anything." Steven looked down at the list in his hand. "I better get the rest of this stuff for dear sister Andromeda or she's going to cuff me up the back of the head." He made his way down another aisle.

"I wonder how Andy and Dad are doing on that parts run for their computers?"

Elizabeth smiled. "They'll probably buy enough parts to build Max one, too."

Vicki giggled. "I wouldn't be surprised."

Her mom continued to regard Vicki with a softer version of the smile, which made Vicki look away and her lips droop downward. "How are you doing, Vi-vi?"

Clearing her throat, Vicki cast her mom a glance. "I'm alright." But when she felt that wasn't as positive as it could have been, she added, "Better than when we first got here," while casting another sidelong peek toward her mom.

"I had noticed a few more smiles and laughs." Her mom reached out to give Vicki's single braid a gentle tug before guiding it to hang down her back. "You do know that we had all of you in mind when we made this decision?"

"Sure, Mom. I know." It just hadn't made it all that easier. "It's fine. I'm happy for you and Dad." Don't be a baby, she warned herself with another sidelong glance. "I'm okay." I won't be pathetic. I won't.

"It will take a little getting used to, but I know you'll come to like it here. Nowhere will ever be Ouray, of course, but Westlake has its own charm."

See? She's trying to persuade you! She only ever does that when she thinks you hate it! "I know. The soccer thing helped. And the party." Vicki allowed a small smile, remembering for the countless time 'the curly haired guy' and how easy it had been to talk to him.

"I'm very glad you all went," her mom said. "I had a good feeling about it, especially when your dad and I called and talked to the father. A very nice man."

Vicki focused wide eyes and gaping mouth on her mom. "You called the dad?"

"Before allowing you to go, yes. We wanted to find out what type of man would be chaperoning our children." Her mom smiled. "We don't shuffle you off to just anyone. He happens to be an assistant to the District Attorney."

"Really? Cool." And to think the party had been fun anyway. Surprisingly.

Elizabeth gave Vicki a kiss on the top of the head. "Vicki, remember that while no one is ever ready for the first day of school, meeting a few possible familiar faces in a party atmosphere can sometimes help one feel more at ease."

"Yes, well...." Vicki cleared her throat, picking at the handle of the cart when she didn't know what to say. She felt more 'at ease', sure, but she still wasn't so eager to actually live down the first day at a new school.

Her mom chuckled while reaching out to rub Vicki's back. "Don't fret, sweetie. You'll be fine. Be positive and do a lot of praying, and you're sure to survive your sophomore year of high-school."

At the word 'praying' Vicki had to hide a cringe while forcing a smile. "Okay, Mom. Thanks." But she hadn't prayed since....

"Now." Elizabeth motioned to the list in her daughter's hand. "Stop making your eldest brother find your supplies. Then, we'll go to Old Navy and get you troop some clothes."

This time Vicki's smile was more genuine. "I've got lots of clothes, Mom. Too many clothes, you always say."

"I know," she admitted while giving Vicki's braid a tug, "but I want to see you wear more skirts and 'girlie' pants and shirts. The baggy look... well, sweetie... You're very graceful, and baggy clothes don't do a very good job of portraying that."

I'm graceful? Vicki looked down at her jeans and Colorado sweatshirt and then up at her mom, who continued to smile at her in that way parents have. "Oh," Vicki finally said. I'm graceful?

Elizabeth gave her daughter's arm a fond squeeze before nudging her down an aisle. "Go get your stuff."

"Okay." Vicki left the cart in search of school supplies the same time she hoped that down one of the aisles she would find a book that would tell her how to make a strange place a home.

Her mom looked down at her and then smiled. "Something tells me that even you will be able to find an outfit or two."

Cheeks flushed, Vicki returned her mom's smile before sticking her tongue out at Max - who had whispered, "I bet she'll find something wrong with everything," to Steven.

Their mom gave Max's cap brim a knock, drawing his attention. "Jeans, young man. Go. And no excessive holes."

Max saluted and moved away, Steven following while winking toward their mom with an 'I'll keep an eye on him' expression.

Elizabeth Modine smiled after them before focusing once more on her youngest daughter. "Where should we go? Denim skirts? Jeans? Maybe some nice jumpers? I really liked that cream-colored denim jumper you wore at church that last Sunday in Ouray. The one with the flowers embroidered around the pantleg hem?"

Vicki gave her braid an absent tug as she stared down the main aisle. She didn't like wearing dresses, but she felt bad if she wore her usual baggy jeans to church.

"We should look for more of those jumpers. Maybe in a nice cotton, patterned material," her mom encouraged. "Blue and pinks are your colors. They bring out your eyes and lips. My sister would kill for your natural color."

Vicki flushed, her hold on her braid tightening. Oh man....

Her mom fondly rubbed her back. "Your cheeks, too."

"Mom..." Vicki complained softly.

Laughing, Elizabeth apologized, "I'm sorry, sweetie," before gently prompting, "So... Should we only look at some nice and simple shirts? Maybe some long-sleeved ones?"

Vicki let herself be led forward to the tops, her eyes constantly straying to the other teen girls hovering around the tables. They had curves in all the right places. Looking down at the burgundy, long-sleeved jersey-knit top in her hands, Vicki didn't hear her mom comment on colors or how they made her look. She heard the whispers from the girls at the opposite table. Of course she didn't know whether or not they whispered about her, and she knew she shouldn't care, but she couldn't help it. She didn't know anything about these girls, and so she didn't know how mean or nice they were.

But why are you immediately thinking they'd be talking about you? They have lives, you know.

Vicki slightly frowned and tossed down the top, mumbling, "I'll wait in the car," and heading toward the exit before she could hear what her mom said. I cannot even believe how much of a baby I'm being, she complained. Hannah back home would never let me hear the end of it! She would have given anything to see Hannah's calmly amused smirk at that moment.

After crossing the thruway to their parking spot and scrambling into the Tahoe, Vicki locked the doors and blindly scowled out the tinted window, chin in hand. Of course, she knew that she scowled only because she'd start crying if she didn't. Hannah, Jeremy, Crystal, Peter, Jason, Chris... she missed them all more each day.

What made it worse was that she couldn't call them. The phone company hadn't turned on their phone yet. Something about the lines in the neighborhood being upgraded. She couldn't even e-mail them because they hadn't had the family meeting about internet. I feel... cut off. Absolutely and completely alone.

Vicki saw her mom come out of the store and swallowed hard, rubbing at her forehead while trying to fight back the tears that wouldn't be too hard to draw out. Especially by her mom.

Her mom stepped up to the driver side, unlocked the door, and then carefully and quietly climbed up. Vicki only continued to stare outside, her chin still resting on her hand. The way her mom stayed silent just screamed for Vicki to say something about anything. Her mom had a talent for that. But Vicki didn't know where to start, and her parents didn't need to know. They had enough problems with getting the business all straightened out and organized. Not to mention the house. She didn't need to add to that.

"Did you need to talk about something?" her mom finally prompted in that gentle 'mom' voice that could pull a smile from Grumpy.

Vicki only risked a shake of her head. I miss everything and everyone, was what she knew she should have said.

Her mom rested a hand on Vicki's back. "Vi-vi, you don't need to put on a brave face for me. It only makes it harder for you."

"I just miss my friends," she mumbled. Even that made her throat tighten on tears.

The touch on her back became the rub that always encouraged tears and 'letting things go'. Vicki already felt a tear fighting to come out, but she fought it back just as strongly.

"I know you do, sweetie, and I'm sorry about that. Your father and I tried so hard to have phone service hooked up before we arrived." She gave Vicki's back another soft rub. "Tell you what, when your father gets the company cell-phone, which he's doing today, I'll make sure he lets everyone have some time on it to call their friends and get connected."

Vicki quickly straightened and turned to face her mom, eyes wide. "Really?"

Elizabeth smiled and nodded. "Really."

Vicki gave her mom a tight hug and a choked, "Thanks, Mom,"

Smoothing Vicki's hair, Elizabeth pressed a kiss on the top of Vicki's head. "We never intended to separate you completely from your friends, Vi-vi," she said quietly, "and I'm sorry that it has felt like that."

It had, even though Vicki tried not to think of her parents as 'the bad guys'. "It's okay, Mom."

"Being 'cut off' is never okay, sweetie." With another soft kiss, Elizabeth pushed back to then hold Vicki's face in her hands. "We'll get you connected with your friends again as soon as we can. But will you try to find a place to connect here? I don't like seeing you wander."

With flushed cheeks, Vicki lowered her gaze and wordlessly nodded.

Elizabeth smiled, giving Vicki's forehead a kiss as she said, "That's my sweet girl." Then she once more pulled back, straightening Vicki's hair that had worked loose from her braid. "Now come on back in and help me keep Max's desire for individualism to a dull roar. His intelligent reasons for justification are getting harder and harder to dissuade. Especially since some of his outfit choices appeal to my 'dramatic' side."

Vicki reluctantly laughed and nodded as the two scrambled down from the SUV. "Okay, Mom. I've gotten better at getting just the right word to make him choose something that's not 'out there'."

"I'm afraid Max got all my 'drama' genes," Elizabeth observed, wrapping an arm around Vicki's shoulders to draw her across the thruway to the store entrance. "Your father doesn't know what to make of it. 'Why pay so much money for jeans that he's only going to mark up and alter anyway? Go to a second-hand store.' " Elizabeth slightly shook her head. "Poor Mark."

"Well, Steven gave Max a bunch of his old clothes," Vicki reasoned, "so maybe we can get him to only buy clothes for church? You know he never wears his holey stuff there."

"Wonderful idea, and one that I'd thought myself." Elizabeth gave her daughter a jostle and an assuring smile. "Everything will be fine eventually, sweetie. Just keep trying."

"I will." Vicki could try anything.

Vicki laughed and adjusted the cell-phone against her ear. "Hi, Hannah! It's Vicki!"

Hannah Reynolds sounded a squeal of "Vicki!" before plying her with questions about the trip, the weather, the house, and everything else to be expected when two best friends hadn't spoken in nearly a month.

The minute Vicki heard Hannah's voice, it was as if the two had never been separated.

"The weather is really pretty here. Definitely warmer than Ouray, though. There's just as much green, thank goodness. Oh! And there's a park right across the street with a pair of soccer nets and even a park bench!"

"Nifty! Please tell me there's a soccer team."

"No community league. I don't know about school. Internet isn't available yet, and so I haven't been able to find out." Vicki remembered 'the curly haired guy's comment. "Something tells me 'no go'."

"Aw drat. I was really hoping you could get on a team."

"Hannah... There is no way I'm joining competitive sports. You know how I get."

"I know, but it would still be great to see you kick 'em in the shorts."

Vicki giggled. "At the risk of getting my own shorts kicked? No thanks. Me and humiliation don't mix."

"Who does? But sometimes it's good medicine to laugh at yourself. Takes pressure off when we admit that we're not perfect. Well, everyone but me."

Smiling, Vicki admitted, "Hannah, I've really missed you."

"Aww. I was about to say the same thing to you."

"Thanks."

"So." Hannah could be heard adjusting her position on the bed. "Tell me about where you live now. And what do you know about the school? Met anyone that goes there?"

Vicki worried her lower lip before cautiously answering, "The house is huge. Two-story. My dad said it's based on the colonial style of house back in the 1700s or something. But it's new, with central air and heat and all the other stuff we didn't have before."

"Wow. How in the world did your parents afford it?"

"It's belongs to the company that Dad's contracted to. Once Dad finishes their office buildings, they'll let us buy the house. If we don't..."

"You move again. Ew."

Vicki reluctantly smiled. "Yeah, but I'm trying not to think about that because Dad said the office buildings will take about three years to design and finalize. By then I might be away at college." Maybe she'll take that bait?

"Ooo. College! What colleges are out there?"

Yes! "I haven't had a chance to look. I only know what Steven's told me about Oregon State University and University of Oregon."

"Maybe I'll Google it and see what's out there. It would be nice to go to the same college, don't you think?"

"That would be tremendous!"

"That's not to say the fam will let me go, but I can always ask."

Vicki caught sight of Max leaning against the door jamb of her room and gave him the thumbs up. "Han, I've got to go. I'll try and call you again once the real telephone has been hooked up. Oh, and we might be getting internet installed this weekend."

"Oh. Okay. Well, e-mail me as soon as you can. I want to know about the school and all the great-looking guys that are just waiting for you to turn 16."

Flushing, Vicki rubbed at her forehead. "Alright, well, I'll talk to you later then."

"You bet you will."

"Bye, Han."

"Bye, Vicki. I'll be praying for you."

Vicki ended the call, staring down at the cell-phone for a moment before looking up and presenting it to Max with a somewhat practiced smile. "Here you go."

He took the phone, sending her a weird look before turning and leaving the room.

Vicki stared down at her hands a moment before releasing a deep breath and crossing her arms, keeping her focus away from a book on her bedside table.

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