The Price of His Return

I curled up in the closet, desperately breathing in the scent my father, Warren Foster, had left behind.

His clothes were always neatly arranged and freshly laundered. Just looking at them made me feel safe. I buried my face in his clothes, feeling my life slipping away.

The closet was dark, just like the night Dad had left.

But this time, I wasn't afraid.

That unfamiliar voice had told me that if I gave up my life, Dad would come back. Then Mom wouldn't have to be so sad anymore.

I closed my eyes, and my consciousness gradually faded.

When I came around again, a robot was in standby mode in the living room. I floated in the air and curiously reached out to touch its head.

It had a round head and could make sounds just like me, so my mother, Melina Foster, had named it Roundy.

She said she was going to find a way to bring Dad back, so she had Roundy take care of my meals, bedtime, and homework.

I was really thrilled. With Roundy around, Mom finally didn't have to work herself so hard.

But the very next day, Roundy changed. Instead of making me food, it popped a few brown pellets out of its belly. Its sweet little voice remained unchanged.

[Here's your food for today.]

"Roundy, Roundy, I want Dad's scrambled eggs."

[Max, as a little kitty, you can only eat cat food.]

I thought Roundy had malfunctioned, so I tried pressing its reset button, but Roundy merely tilted its head and played the same recording over and over.

[Pet mode activated. Please contact the administrator to make adjustments.]

I called Mom. It took her a long time to answer.

There was a lot of noise on the other end. I could hear several adults talking and the rumbling of machinery.

Mom's voice was hoarse, and she sounded impatient. "Max, haven't I told you not to call me unless it's important?"

"Mom, Roundy's broken... It only gives me..." I hadn't even finished speaking before she interrupted me.

"Didn't I ask Deandre to check on you every day? Max, why are you lying?"

I opened my mouth, but when I heard the tears in Mom's voice, I couldn't get a word out.

Ever since Dad returned to his own world because Deandre got too close to Mom, Mom became a completely different person.

She stopped seeing Deandre and threw herself into the laboratory instead, desperately searching for a way to bring Dad back.

Deandre couldn't do anything about it. Whenever he came to visit me, there was something frightening in his eyes.

And then...

I desperately searched my little head for an explanation when I suddenly heard the front door.

The lock clicked.

Heavy footsteps followed, and my eyes lit up with excitement.

Mom was home!