October 5th

So, I’m not entirely sure how to start something like this. I’ve never really been one to just sit down and write things out, but Mrs. Frizz wants all of us to take up journaling for the rest of the quarter. At least two entries a week due on Tuesday and Thursday. It’s the weekend now and I have until Tuesday before my first entry is due, but I have nothing else to do with my family gone until who-knows-when. So why not get a head start?

But, where to start?

Mrs. Frizz promised to not read any of the entries, merely glance to see if at least a page is filled to get the full credit for this assignment. She said this way we can write anything we want to get off our chest without fear of having our secrets revealed.

“Everybody has their own secrets and reasons for keeping them,” she said, “And I’m not goin’ to take that from all of you.”

Weird, but okay, Mrs. F, I’m gonna trust your words on this type of privacy because I do have a few things I want off my chest and Taylor said this is a good way to start. So, I’m just gonna write stuff down until I can’t write anymore.

So, the main thing I want to get off my chest is how my family is almost never here. They’re always called out by Ray, who has located another energy orb that they need to retrieve before somebody bad does. I mean, I get it, I really do. Energy orbs hold so much power inside of them. A single orb can charge a twelve-story complex for at least three months with all the lights left on. So, just imagine if a bad guy managed to get a hold of one? It could be bad. But, it always seems that orbs appear when I finally get to hang out with my family. Just like today!

Mom, Dad, Evelyn, Wyatt, and Matt were all sitting with me, a promised movie night after they had taken off on my birthday this past Tuesday. And not even twelve minutes into the movie, my favorite by the way “The Hobbit,” when Ray’s face appeared on our screen.

“Another two orbs just appeared on the radar,” Ray said, popping up his radar screen next to his face and two dots in close proximity blink at us, “And I know for a fact that both Typhoon and Python have noticed the signal, too.”

And that really got my family going. The next thing I know, my family is all decked in their uniforms, retrieving their gear that Ray created just for them, and with apologetic smiles, left with quick ‘good-byes’. Ray even had this sympathetic look on his face before bidding me a good night and signing off with a, “Maybe next time, kiddo.”

But that’s what he said on Tuesday when he popped in with another report of three EOs being located and I had to eat my pie all by myself as everyone rushed off again. It wasn’t so bad when we were younger, I mean, only Mom or Dad would go, needing to stay with us, but when my siblings got older, then Evelyn would be in charge. Then when she got a better hold of her powers and could accompany Mom and Dad, and by the time Matt and Wyatt were old enough to accompany Mom and Dad, I was old enough to be left home alone. And being the only one of the family with no powers, I’m left home A LOT.

I mean, I know that I would just get in the way if I tried to help retrieve an EO and keep it out of harm’s way, but I know I can help in other ways! I have so many ideas on how to improve my family’s gear for obtaining EOs and even a theory on how to make a hand-held EO tracker. Heck, I have the prototype hidden away in my closet right now. But every time I mention it, I get shot down.

“No, Aydan, you should be thinking about applying to colleges right now.”

“No, Aydan, this work is too dangerous for you.”

“C’mon, Ay, I’m sure there’s more things you want to do than dealing with this type of work.”

“No, Aydan. Have you finished your homework yet?”

“Really, Aydan, there’s so much more you could be doing. Honest. Just let it go, ‘kay?”

Nobody ever gives me a straight answer when I bring it up on why I can’t help them. It’s a family business, right? That’s why Eve, Matt, and Wyatt get to help out, right? So why can’t I? I could help Ray! He could teach me things that my robotics class couldn’t, I’m sure of it! It’s just all so unfair! I want to help! But I can’t because I don’t have any powers. I’m the most normal out of all of my family, so why do I feel like I’M the weird one?

I really hope that Mrs. Frizz won’t actually read any of this. I can’t risk my family like that for some dumb assignment, but I really need to vent. I can only vent to Taylor and Jordan for so long, especially over text. It’s just not safe. And it’s nearly midnight, so I highly doubt their folks would be okay with them just leaving the house to hang out with me until my family comes back, even if it is Saturday. I mean, Taylor is also 18 now, so she wouldn’t get in trouble with the curfew law, but Jordan is still 17 and if caught, he would get in trouble. Majorly.

But it gets so lonely by myself…

I just never know when anyone will be back or how injured they’re going to be when they come back, though I have my guesses. It’s just, Dad can only heal everyone so much before putting too much strain on himself. Sometimes, they all come home unscathed and jolly and other nights, they come home bandaged, upset and wanting nothing more than to shower and forget the day. No one will tell me the details of what happens either, saying that I shouldn’t get caught up in this kind of business, but I’ve noticed the patterns.

Whenever Python is involved with retrieving an EO, I can expect at least some injuries on at least one or two of my family members. When it’s just Typhoon, it can go either way and when he is paired with Python? It’s usually ending in injuries and failure to obtain the orbs. When it’s just Shrapnel, well, she’s the newest bad guy out of all of them, so more times than not, my family can walk away with almost no injuries and an EO in hand. She hasn’t teamed up with Typhoon or Python yet, but it’s only a matter of time. And seeing as both Typhoon AND Python are hunting the same orbs as my family, I can expect some injuries I’m sure.

Wow… Okay, maybe this journaling thing isn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be, I’m already way past the single page requirement that Mrs. Frizz wants from us. But Taylor was right. Just writing all of this down has really helped. I’m not as mad as I was earlier when everyone just up and left. Irritated, yeah, but not mad. I just want to spend some time with my family, is that so bad? But how can I when EOs just randomly appear? I swear those dumb things appear when they do just to spite me. Oh, I hear noises coming from the garage, everyone must be back. I’ll just leave this here before Mrs. Frizz thinks somethings wrong with me with how much I’ve written. And to see if there’s anything I won’t be allowed to help with. Like usual. XP

I can’t believe I really just did this…