We take a S-Uber to the Skate Factory on the outskirts of Oasis Springs. The outside looks like an old factory building, but the inside opens up to a brightly colored restaurant and a skating rink. Claudia leads the way to the rink and immediately changes into roller skates.
Michael is right behind her…taking to skating like a fish in water. I sit down on the sideline to watch. After seeing Claudia fall a few times, I decide that I’d rather keep my feet on less slippery ground. Raul walks up to me…
Raul: Are you going to skate?
Alida: No…I prefer to leave here without breaking my neck.
Raul: *chuckles* I feel you. C’mon…let’s go play video games instead.
I follow Raul over to one of the video games and discover that I’m not very good at that either. After being beat by Raul a few times…I suggest playing a round of foosball instead. Michael eventually grows tired of skating and plays one of the virtual reality video games. Once Claudia leaves the rink she joins Michael and I at the game table. I decide to ask her about the conversation I overheard her having with Mama Nadine.
Alida: So…what were you and Mama Nadine talking about at breakfast time?
Claudia: We were talking about me moving out.
Michael: You’re moving out?
Claudia: Yeah…we’ll all have to move out once we become young adults. Living with Mama Nadine is just temporary…until we become grown-ups. Then we’re on our own.
Michael: But…I’ve been with Mama Nadine since I was a baby. She’s just going to kick me out like that?
Claudia: It’s not up to her. She just runs a group home…she’s not our real parent.
Michael: But what’ll happen to us?
I don’t want to admit it, but I’d never really given much thought to what happens when we become young adults. It’s not like other kids who grow up excited for their future…knowing that they have parents around to guide them and help them if they need it. It’s scary to think that we’ll grow up and be completely on our own…with no safety net. I try to quell my own fears…
Alida: *feigned confidence* My mom will be out of prison by then. She and I can just get a place together.
Claudia: But what if she doesn’t get out?
Michael: …and what happens to someone like me? I don’t even know where my mother is.
I immediately feel bad for being so quick to talk about going back to my mom. I sometimes forget that some of us don’t have and probably never will have the option of seeing their parent again.
Alida: You can move in with me and my mom!
Michael: Really? Will she want me there?
Alida: I’ll want you there. You’re my brother. I’m sure mama will want you there too.
Michael: Thanks Alida! I hope you’re right.
Claudia: I really hope your mom gets out and that it works out for you…but just in case, you need to have a plan B. I’d save up every dime I get if I were you because you might end up doing it all on your own.
Although I’m sure Claudia is telling me this as a precaution…her words leave doubt effectively knocking down the bit of confidence that I tried to build up just a moment ago.
Claudia pauses long enough to allow her words to sink in before she distracts me from my newfound fears by suggesting that we all do a bit of skating before we eat and prepare to leave.
I welcome the distraction by getting up from the table.
Claudia: *calls over to Raul* C’mon Rah – we’re all going out on the rink.
Raul: *complaining* But I’m about to beat my high score!
Alida: I don’t really know how to skate.
Claudia: It’s just like walking…you put one foot in front of the other. Take it slow and you should be okay.
Against my better judgment, I throw caution to the wind and allow myself to be fitted in skates. I follow everyone else out onto the rink, but before I can even make it all the way around… I fall flat on my back – almost taking Claudia down with me. It’s not like walking at all. Now I remember why I avoided skating in the first place.
Luckily Claudia doesn’t keep us out on the rink long. She walks over to the hostess to get us a table for dinner. We all tell Claudia what we want and she orders for us.
We chat and laugh like a real family while waiting for our food. Once it arrives our conversation begins to take on a more serious tone.
Alida: So where will you go? Will you stay in Del Sol Valley?
Claudia: I’m not sure. I mean – I know I’ll have to leave the valley…it’s just too expensive. So is Oasis Springs. I’m thinking I’ll look for a place in San Myshuno. The Spice district might have some reasonably priced apartments.
Raul: So you’re just going to leave me behind?
Claudia: I don’t have much of a choice. It’s either an apartment in San My or a trailer park in Strangerville. At least San My is closer.
Alida: Strangerville? Hmmm…that’s where they have my mom.
Claudia: Might be a possibility for you.
By the end of our meal, I realize that I‘ll really hate to see Claudia go. I shared a room with her all this time, but never really got to know her. Now it’s too late. I glance over at Michael to see how he’s dealing with the reality that we’ll soon have to say goodbye to one of “us”, but he seems to be a bit distracted…
We all finish up and Claudia pays the bill, then we head home. I drag myself inside feeling a bit weighed down by the reality that Claudia has opened our eyes to.
(Generation 1 Chapter Summaries)
