Mark entered his small bedroom with a sigh. It was small, and almost so quiet it wasn’t hearable, but it was there. He sat on his bed, folding his legs near his pillow and dug through his bag. His homework couldn’t wait, especially since his mom decided to take time off her boyfriend to get reacquainted over dinner.

Ch-yeah.

An essay for a storywe read in class… A page long… Something or other…

Sounds easy enough. Half of an hour later Mark was finished with his essay, laying back on his pillow and staring up at the ceiling. One more hour of nothingness. Huh. Mark thought of going to Blockbuster and finding a quick game to accomplish, or going to the local bookstore for a book… But he couldn’t find the energy or interest to get off of his bed. What he did do, however, was lift an arm to retrieve his stereo remote from his bedside table drawer, and turn on the music in his stereo system. CD 3, ultra loud…A techno beat filled the room, and lyrics followed soon after. A man in his mid-twenties, near-screaming into the microphone about his experience of become a homosexual. One of Mark’s absolute favorites.

After a minute or so of listening to man-sex, Mark finally decided he should play an old game, and try to pass the time. Tomb Raided, an old Playstation favorite. A woman running around in short shorts and a tank top, killing helpless animals and jumping impossible distances. A great game…

Finally, his mom decided to show up, hanging off of her boyfriend’s massive arm, half-drunk. She was laughing about something, and when she saw Mark, she reached her hands - with massive talon-like fingernails - out to him, and gripped him in a tight hug.

“Sweetie! How are you? I haven’t seen you in so long!” And who’s fault is that? Mark thought sarcastically.

“Fine,” Mark muttered, moving passed her to the car. The bulbous man half-carried his mother to the car, and gently deposited her in the passenger seat while Mark took the seat behind hers.

They went to a nice little Greek restaurant; it was small and candlelit, and the food was expensive. His mom drank yet another bottle of champagne and then they were off, dropping Mark off at home, the man saying he needed to take his mother to a hotel room and that he shouldn’t witness someone that drunk. Yeah, right.

All the while this was happening, Robin was floating nearby, watching with amusement and pity. He followed Mark up to his room, and watched him for the rest of the night, until Mark fell asleep at two in the morning. Robin reluctantly left to his own world, wondering when Mark was going to acknowledge his existence.

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Robin's Note: This is coming slowly but steadily. Sorry...