Today was Mom's funeral and we took all the kids with us. Most of them wondered why they had to come to 'my' mother's funeral but most of the grownups just did the whole 'it's curteous' things and even though they didn't understand, they still trailed themselves to where the funeral was being held. There weren't very many people there and the ceremony was pretty short and sweet, to the point. There were some indiscrepencies with the speech since she was locked in a crazy house but that could be overlooked, I guess.
Tayla had come with me and was holding me hand as we went back to the car when I thought I saw Mr. Ridder walking out. I tapped Jai on the shoulder.
"Hey, isn't that your teacher?"
He turned and smiled. "Mr. Ridder!"
Mr. Ridder looked startled but looked over and smiled, walking to us.
"Hello, Jai. What are you doing here?"
"We could ask the same thing..." Dad said with a smile. "Julie didn't get to know many people."
"I'm a friend of Sage and she had an appointment to get to so I came in her stead."
"Oh, you know Sage." Dad said, crossing his arms a little. "Surprising how that woman even has friends."
"She was worse than Julie..." I heard Uncle Tarot grumble from behind me and I smirked.
"Yes. She wanted to come but this was so unexpected and she had a very important trial date that she has rescheduled three times already so she asked if I would represent her."
"That was very nice of you." Dad said.
Mr. Ridder smiled and I got that weird feeling again. I could have sworn that he has given me the body scan and his mouth twitched a little. I pulled Jai to me and cleared my throat.
"Have you found out if Jai has won anything for the fair yet?"
"No, I'm afraid not. They are pretty tight lipped over there. It's a very ingenious project and I have no doubts about its abilities."
Jai looked up at me with a big grin and I smiled too. Jai turned to Uncle Miller.
"Hey, can Mr. Ridder come to eat with us?"
"Jai!" Aunt Lottie said with a look.
"Oh, no, I couldn't intrude on your dinner. This seems to be a family affair and it would be just rude of me if I threw myself into it. Maybe some other time."
"Yeah... some other time." I said, looking at him straight in the eyes.
Mr. Ridder nodded once and then brought his eyes look at me. For brief and terrifying moment, I thought that I was looking at Gerald and my body stiffened. But in an instant, it was gone and he smiled kindly.
"Well, I'm sorry for the loss for whoever it was that lost Julie."
"She was my ex-wife." Dad said.
"I see... Well then, it was nice to see you all again."
We nodded and headed to the restaurant where we were going to eat.

********************

"Hey, so do you get a really creepy vibe when you're around that teacher?" Bay said, twirling pasta onto his fork.
"You mean Mr. Ridder?" Jai said as he stabbed a ravioli. "There's nothing wrong with him."
"You're just blinded by whatever weird fascination you have with him."
"He's just a really good teacher. You know how I like to be challenged and all the other science classes have been too easy for me. He challenges me; he even gives me a separate test that has questions from college classes instead."
"Why don't you just skip two grades like Sim then?" Tayla asked.
"I like where I am. I like the company and science is the only one I'm really good at."
"You're good at other stuff." I said.
"I'm okay but I love science."
"Geek." Bay said with a thumbs down.
"You didn't invite your girlfriend, Bay?" I asked, looking at Ace who had brought Billy and then me, who brought Tayla.
But she's not my girlfriend.
"I dumped her like three weeks ago; where have you been?"
"Whatever."
"Anyhow, whatever the case may be, I'm just saying that that guy gives me the creeps. I sometimes feel that he's just staring at me from across the room or the hall or something. Plus, he's in the weirdest places."
"I have to agree with Bay on this one." Ace said from beside him. "He shows up in the strangest of places. Like, odd ones that are a little suspicious. The other day I saw him going into Miller's OB/GYN place but he didn't go in with a girl or come out with one. He just hung out there for a few hours and then left."
"How'd you see him then?" Bay asked.
"We were eating at the restaurant across from the clinic and I kept an eye on it cuz it was a little weird to me."
"He's just my teacher." Jai said, getting exasperated. "Eat the pasta."
"Well what do you think, Sim? Isn't it weird?"
"I have to agree that it's very odd. Almost coincidentally on purpose..." I said, thinking about everything.
Bay suddenly stopped laughing and cleared his throat.
"I'll be right back."
He went off and Ace rolled her eyes.
"He's so weird. He's been doing that for a month now. He'll be talking and stuff and all of a sudden he'll get pale and run away. Usually to the bathroom."
I accidentally dropped my fork and scrambled to get it.
"Learn to use your silverware." Tayla said with a smile.
I laughed a little and tried to eat.
"Yeah and you know what? It was so weird cuz I was watching Titanic the other day and it was at the end and usually he makes a scene about how Rose could have scooted over but I didn't hear a peep out of him. I looked over and he was actually crying." I dropped my fork again and this time it ended up under the table. "I'm talking tears running down his face."
"I did not." Bay growled, smacking his Ace in the head. "Don't confuse sweat for tears."
"When it's coming from your eyes and not your face it's called tears."
"I was trying not to comment on it so badly that it drove me to tears."
I got up and went over to the adult table.
"Uh... we have a problem, everyone." I whispered softly.
"What is it?" Dad asked.
"I think Bay's pregnant."
Tarot almost did a spit take with his drink as he looked at me.
"What?"
"He just got up to throw up and Ace said he cried on Titanic. Bay hates that movie and would never decide to delve into the story behind it. He never does... I think we need to do it tonight."
Dad looked at Tarot and he sighed, running his fingers through his hair.
"Now is as good as any."
"Uncle Miller? Aunt Lottie? What about you? Do you think it's a good time?"
"If what your father says is right about Gerald being back, then yes, I agree. Those boys need to understand the danger they are in so that they will keep more in tune with what's around them."
"Okay..."
This will definitely be very interesting.