The lessons had ended, and Toby and Memis returned home.
“Hi Mom-” Toby took off his uniform jacket.
“Welcome back….” His mother was in her bed again, puffing a cigarette while watching TV. She wasn’t even looking at Toby.
“Hm… Come, Memis…” Toby went to his room and changed his pants to his casual joggers. He liked the uniform’s look, it was very cool, but it was also so tight on his body, different to his usual more loose-fitting clothing style. “...” He turned around, looking in the direction of his mother’s room. He pondered for a moment, and then headed to her door.
“Hey…” He stood in the doorway, Memis close by his feet. “Mom… I wanted to ask you something.”
“Mh?” Now she looked at him. “What is it?”
“I was… thinking about this for a while… Uhm…” Toby fiddled with his hands. “You know… I didn’t tell you about this, but… I had a chat with uncle Frederic around two weeks ago…”
His mother’s gaze turned stone cold. “And…?”
“And- he- he said something… that stuck with me…” Toby now untied his hair and ran his fingers through it. “He was talking about dad… and he said… ‘you probably don’t even remember him’... and- h-he’s right- I don’t remember dad. I know you’ve been avoiding this topic and I understand why- but… I feel like I know enough that you can tell me more about dad, and uncle Frederic…”
“...” Mrs. Williams put out her cigarette, then turned off the TV. “Fine.” She got up and slowly approached the cupboard in her room, where she pulled out a green book. “Sit down, Toby.”
Toby did as he was told, sitting down on her bed. Memis jumped up next to him.
“Your father had a stupid little polaroid… He always took pictures with it.” She sat down next to Toby, and opened the book. It was an album, filled with polaroid pictures with dates written next to them. “This was him, with his brother, after they founded the defenders.”
She pointed at a picture of two young adults. One of them had black hair, turquoise eyes and eyeliner – Toby recognized him as his uncle. The other man had untamed, rust brown hair and grey eyes. This was his father - he had seen pictures of him before. He was also holding a small, grey, fox-like Morpho Mon in his hand, which had a strikingly familiar rainbow mane. This must’ve been Foxor, in his prior form.
“Wow…” Toby placed his hand on the page. “Did you know him back then?"
“No. We met a few years later. I was originally hooking up with your uncle.”
Toby blinked. “You- you dated uncle Frederic?”
“Yeah. But only for a short time. I couldn’t bear his constant mood swings and outbursts.”
“...” Toby turned the page. “Is that-”
“Yeah… That was at our wedding.” She pointed at herself in the picture. “You were already in there.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Technically, you’re a bastard.”
“Oh…”
Now Mrs. Williams turned two pages. “There are pictures of you here…” She pointed at a polaroid. “There.”
Toby’s mouth was agape. There was a picture of his dad and Toby as a toddler on his lap - he was sleeping.
“Carter was a father through and through… Even before you were born, he barely talked about anything else but becoming a father. Honestly, it was a bit annoying at times.”
“Do you not like being a mom…?”
“That’s not it. Back then I wasn’t crazy about it. But he sort of insisted on it.” Mrs. Williams sighed. “But in the end, I didn’t regret it. I love you dearly, Toby. You know that, right?”
Toby gulped. “Right.” His grip on the book tightened. “Mom… would it be okay if I borrow this album for a few days? I… would like to take my time looking at it.”
“Sure. Just bring it back whenever.”
“Thank you…” Toby took the album, got up and Memis jumped off his lap. “I’ll cherish it like a treasure.”
“You better. It’s the last true memory of your father that we have. He was a truly air-headed idiot… just like you, in a way.”
“... Mom-” Toby’s looked down to his feet. “You loved dad, right?”
“... You should go to your room and stop thinking about me.” She grabbed another cigarette from her nightstand. “You said you want to know him, not me.”
Toby nodded. “Okay… I understand. I’ll go to my room.” Toby turned around to leave.
“Toby-” His mother raised her voice. “Do you have any plans for tomorrow?”
“Wha-” Toby looked at her again. “No- Why do you ask?”
“Don’t be silly. It’s your birthday tomorrow.”
“Uhm…”
“Will you spend it with your new friend?”
Toby thought about that. She obviously meant Roy – he had mentioned him before. And although he’d love to spend his birthday with Roy, he really didn’t think that he would be in the mood after what had happened earlier today. “No… I don’t think I will. We could maybe order some food – and watch a movie…”
His mother shrugged. “Sure, if you want.”
“That will be nice. I’ll go now.” Now Toby left her room and returned to his own, closing the door behind him sitting down on his bed.
“Wraff…?” Memis jumped next to him. “Are you okay Toby?
“Hm? Yeah- yes actually…” Toby opened the album again. “Why wouldn’t I be? I am finally closer to learning what happened with dad… And who he was.”
“Woooo…” Memis looked at the polaroids. “He looked really cool.”
“I’m wondering…” Toby looked in the direction of his mother’s room again, as he heard the TV being turned on again. “If dad were to return… if we could be a family again…”
“Mh… That’s hard to say.” Memis laid down. “How long has it been? 13 years? That’s a long time!”
“Yeah… That’s what I’m wondering.” Toby looked at the polaroids again. “In the end… I just want to remember him… Something – Anything about him.” Toby touched a picture in the album, as he began to tear up. “You can tell… he loved me so much. Yet I don’t even remember a single thing about him…”
“Toby…” Memis rested his head on his lap. “Don’t be sad… I’m sure you’ll remember something. Sometimes, our dearest memories are hidden deeply in our souls.”
Toby rubbed his eyes. “You think so?”
“Truly!” Memis wagged his tail.
“Ah…” Toby scratched Memis’ ear and smiled. “You’re the best, Memis. I’m glad I have you… You’ve brought so much positivity to this house.”
“Wraff! I’m trying my best!”
“L-Let’s look at all the pictures that dad took…”
“Okay!!”
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