Part 346: John and Mia
December 24th, 2004
John stared out the window onto the streets below. Their was a large group of people gathered in the streets amid the reporters. The archer had already been paid for an interview with Sports Illustrated. He was, after all, an athlete in his own right. He could hardly believe it was Christmas Eve. Fortune had smiled on him and his friends, to return home to such a glorious time. A knocking on his door interrupted his thoughts. “Yes?” he called.
Their lawyer Mr. Chiles slowly walked in with a smile. “Ah, Mr. Riggs, I am here to escort you to your mother.” He smiled.
“Thank you, sir.” He replied, joining out in the hallway.
As they walked over to the elevator, John paused for a second when he heard crying. He looked down the hallway to see Libby with two girls; presumably her sisters. They were all sitting together on a bench, happy to be reunited. The archer wondered if he would get that emotional. The door opened and the two men walked in. As Chiles pressed the button to the floor where his mother was, John looked at the man to ask him a question. “Mia get with her family?” he asked.
“Yes. Her uncle and her brother.” The lawyer smiled.
“How many others have been reunited with their families?”
“Quite a few actually. Miss Ana-Lucia was reunited with her mother. Quite an emotional experience if I do say so myself. Miss Vasquez, Miss Tower, Dr. Shepard, and a few others have been reunited. My hats off to Miss Loran.”
“Kristy?” John blinked, “What’s up with her?”
“She greeted the Chambers. And informed them that their son, Martin, had died on the Island.”
“Oh. Right,” John remembered his own duty, “What about the Vegas? Have they arrived yet?”
Chiles pulled out a notepad from his inner coat pocket. “According to our representatives, they flew from Spain two days ago about notice of your impending arrival, “ he said, “They will be here in two days.”
“Then so will I.” John whispered.
“As you wish, sir. If you like, we can inform them of Ramon’s unfortunate demise.”
“No. This is something I have to do.”
The elevator then dinged open and the two men walked out. Chiles led the way and opened the door for him. John looked in and saw his mother sitting by a chair, holding her purse. When she saw him, she immediately dropped her bag and ran to him. “Johnny!!” she cried.
The archer embraced his mother and kissed her on the cheek. “Oh, my boy, my boy.” His mother said in utter happiness.
“I’m home, mom,” John smiled, “I’m home.”
After a few minutes of getting his mother to calm down, John sat with her alone in the meeting room. He told her the majority of what happened on the Island and what he had to do to survive. He left out certain things that he knew would be difficult to believe. His mother informed him that his extended family was glad to have him home. He kissed his mother’s hand and just smiled at her. “I really missed you, mama.” He smiled.
“I was so upset, Johnny but I never gave up. I felt strange on a few days but I knew. . .I just knew you’d make it.”
“Thanks, mama.”
“I am . .sorry to hear about Ramon.” She said, patting his hand.
“Yeah, me too,” John sighed, “But . .I’ve had time to get over. I made sure he had a Christian burial.”
“Understandable. I hope his family will understand.”
“I hope so too.”
“Now, when you are done with them, I want you to come home for dinner so I can cook you some of your favorite fried dumplings.”
“Oh, mama,” he kissed her on the cheek, “You know I can’t pass them up.”
His mother laughed, no longer filled with sadness but the joy that her son brought to her. John looked at the wall and then rubbed his eyebrow with a small smirk. “Say, mama, “ he grinned, “You . . still renting out Uncle Earl’s old place, ain’t ya?”
“Yeah, course. Till someone wants to buy it.”
“Well . . .I think I will take it off your hands.” He smiled.
His mother looked at him perplexed. “What?” she stammered, “It’s out of the city, John. What are you going to do about your apartment?”
“Oh, I’ll leave it and move out there. The suburbs aren’t that bad. Besides . . .It might be a good place to raise a family.”
“Raise . . .a . .family?” his mother’s eyes went a little wider.
John shifted around and took her by both her hands. “Mama, I found someone there.” He smiled, “One of the other passengers. I was immediately attracted to her and in that short time, I fell in love with her. I know she is the girl for me. I’m . . .planning on marrying her.”
“OH . .MY . . GOD!!!” she embraced him,” You . .found a girlfriend?”
“I did, mom.” He laughed.
“What . ..what happened to that boy who always told me he’d never settle down and live the high life?”
John parted from his mother and smirked. “He grew up.” He laughed.
---------------------------------,
Mia was hoping that her family would be a little bit more receptive to her arrival. Her brother Joshua actually was but her Uncle was a little like his old self. He was happy she was alive cause he needed her now more than ever. Mia stared at him coldly, rubbing her fingers together. “Let me get this straight,” she whispered, “ I have survived a plane crash. You have presumed me dead. And now that I am back from that mishap, you have the nerve to ask me if I know where Granny’s key is.”
“Mia, please, he just-“ Joshua tried to say.
“No more games, Mia. I am happy you are alive but we are hanging on by a thread here. We need the money.”
“So get a freaking loan.” She sneered back.
“Coupled on top of the loans I already have? Mia, don’t be stupid-“
“Stupid?” she raised an eyebrow, “Of the three people in this room, I know for a fact, I’m NOT stupid.”
“What the hell is a matter with you?” her uncle snapped back, “Ever since you went on that crazy religious trip, you’ve become a-“
Mia then slammed her fist on the table. Her uncle and Joshua jumped at the quick display of strength: something Mia was not normally showing. The Lakota girl slowly stood up and looked at her Uncle. “First off, that JOURNEY as you call it was for my own faith, nobody else’s,” she hissed, “ And second off, were you about to call me something?”
Her uncle said nothing. This wasn’t the little girl he once knew; in a three month gap, it seemed like she had become more like her grandmother than anybody else. Mia slowly sat down and looked at him. “I didn’t think so.” She whispered.
“Mia, I’m going to ask you again; do you know where the key is?” her uncle asked.
“I know exactly where it is.” Mia stared blankly back at him.
Mr. Ray shrugged his shoulders. “Well?” he asked.
“Granny has it.” She replied.
“Wha . .what do you mean, Granny has it?”
Mia pointed downward. “I mean . . . . GRANNY has the key.” She said.
Josh then blinked when he realized what his sister was saying. Her uncle then coughed, when he also understood. “You . .you put it in her casket?” he stammered.
Mia leaned forward. “Yeah, I did,” she admitted, “So, if you want the damn key, you’re going to have to exume her body.”
Her uncle gasped at her remark. “How vile are you, Uncle Steven?” she remarked, “What would the elders of our tribe think if Granny’s body is brought up from her resting place?”
Mr. Ray then jumped and turned around; opening the door and leaving. Joshua looked at the door and then back to his sister. He fuddled with his fingers for a few seconds, then sighed. “Why do I think I won’t be able to bully you into doing my taxes anymore?” he smirked then removed his grin.
“Oh, I’ll still do your taxes for you, Josh,” she smiled, “However, you’re going to have to say PLEASE.”
“Mia, what . .what happened to you on that Island?” he asked.
“Why? You don’t like the new Me?”
“No, I don’t mind. You know I don’t.”
“Lots of good things happened to me out there, Josh. I renewed my faith. And I came away from that place with a new family and a fiancé.”
“fiancé?” Josh gulped.
“Yeah. I will soon be Mrs. Mia Riggs. It rolls off the tongue nicely, don’t you think?”
“You got a boyfriend . . out on that Island . . .How . .Mia, you haven’t had time to really know him.”
“Oh, trust me, Joshua,” the Lakota girl said in all seriousness, “I DO know him.”
“Okay,” he said, smiling, “I guess this is the new you, I’ll have to use to.”
Mia then stood up and walked over to her brother; embracing him. He held onto her arm and then started to cry. “I thought . .you were dead.” He whimpered, “I didn’t know what to do.”
“You’re going to have to grow up, Josh,” she kissed him on the top of the head, “I’ve got my own life to live now and I can’t be there to carry you anymore. You understand?”
Josh shook his head.
“I want you to be a part of my life but it’s on my terms, no one else’s. I want you to meet the love of my life, cause he’s going to be your brother-in-law after all, okay?”
“Okay,” he smiled.
A knocking came at the door. Mia walked over and opened it to see John’s handsome face. The archer bent down and kissed her, as she wrapped her arms around her neck. As they parted, Joshua stood up and walked to them. “John, this is Joshua, my brother,” Mia introduced him.
“Hello, Joshua,” John said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” the Lakota man said, “I had to see what kind of man my sister could fall for. So far, I think she’s found a winner.”
“Well, my mother is waiting in the lobby restaurant down below,” the archer smiled, “Why don’t we go get some lunch and get to know one another?”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” Mia said, taking his arm.
The young couple proceeded to walk down the hallway with Mia’s brother in tow. John knew she was seeing both her Uncle and her brother but her uncle was not in there. He decided not to ask her about it; knowing full well she would tell him all about it later.
After all, they were going to spend the rest of their lives together.
John stared out the window onto the streets below. Their was a large group of people gathered in the streets amid the reporters. The archer had already been paid for an interview with Sports Illustrated. He was, after all, an athlete in his own right. He could hardly believe it was Christmas Eve. Fortune had smiled on him and his friends, to return home to such a glorious time. A knocking on his door interrupted his thoughts. “Yes?” he called.
Their lawyer Mr. Chiles slowly walked in with a smile. “Ah, Mr. Riggs, I am here to escort you to your mother.” He smiled.
“Thank you, sir.” He replied, joining out in the hallway.
As they walked over to the elevator, John paused for a second when he heard crying. He looked down the hallway to see Libby with two girls; presumably her sisters. They were all sitting together on a bench, happy to be reunited. The archer wondered if he would get that emotional. The door opened and the two men walked in. As Chiles pressed the button to the floor where his mother was, John looked at the man to ask him a question. “Mia get with her family?” he asked.
“Yes. Her uncle and her brother.” The lawyer smiled.
“How many others have been reunited with their families?”
“Quite a few actually. Miss Ana-Lucia was reunited with her mother. Quite an emotional experience if I do say so myself. Miss Vasquez, Miss Tower, Dr. Shepard, and a few others have been reunited. My hats off to Miss Loran.”
“Kristy?” John blinked, “What’s up with her?”
“She greeted the Chambers. And informed them that their son, Martin, had died on the Island.”
“Oh. Right,” John remembered his own duty, “What about the Vegas? Have they arrived yet?”
Chiles pulled out a notepad from his inner coat pocket. “According to our representatives, they flew from Spain two days ago about notice of your impending arrival, “ he said, “They will be here in two days.”
“Then so will I.” John whispered.
“As you wish, sir. If you like, we can inform them of Ramon’s unfortunate demise.”
“No. This is something I have to do.”
The elevator then dinged open and the two men walked out. Chiles led the way and opened the door for him. John looked in and saw his mother sitting by a chair, holding her purse. When she saw him, she immediately dropped her bag and ran to him. “Johnny!!” she cried.
The archer embraced his mother and kissed her on the cheek. “Oh, my boy, my boy.” His mother said in utter happiness.
“I’m home, mom,” John smiled, “I’m home.”
After a few minutes of getting his mother to calm down, John sat with her alone in the meeting room. He told her the majority of what happened on the Island and what he had to do to survive. He left out certain things that he knew would be difficult to believe. His mother informed him that his extended family was glad to have him home. He kissed his mother’s hand and just smiled at her. “I really missed you, mama.” He smiled.
“I was so upset, Johnny but I never gave up. I felt strange on a few days but I knew. . .I just knew you’d make it.”
“Thanks, mama.”
“I am . .sorry to hear about Ramon.” She said, patting his hand.
“Yeah, me too,” John sighed, “But . .I’ve had time to get over. I made sure he had a Christian burial.”
“Understandable. I hope his family will understand.”
“I hope so too.”
“Now, when you are done with them, I want you to come home for dinner so I can cook you some of your favorite fried dumplings.”
“Oh, mama,” he kissed her on the cheek, “You know I can’t pass them up.”
His mother laughed, no longer filled with sadness but the joy that her son brought to her. John looked at the wall and then rubbed his eyebrow with a small smirk. “Say, mama, “ he grinned, “You . . still renting out Uncle Earl’s old place, ain’t ya?”
“Yeah, course. Till someone wants to buy it.”
“Well . . .I think I will take it off your hands.” He smiled.
His mother looked at him perplexed. “What?” she stammered, “It’s out of the city, John. What are you going to do about your apartment?”
“Oh, I’ll leave it and move out there. The suburbs aren’t that bad. Besides . . .It might be a good place to raise a family.”
“Raise . . .a . .family?” his mother’s eyes went a little wider.
John shifted around and took her by both her hands. “Mama, I found someone there.” He smiled, “One of the other passengers. I was immediately attracted to her and in that short time, I fell in love with her. I know she is the girl for me. I’m . . .planning on marrying her.”
“OH . .MY . . GOD!!!” she embraced him,” You . .found a girlfriend?”
“I did, mom.” He laughed.
“What . ..what happened to that boy who always told me he’d never settle down and live the high life?”
John parted from his mother and smirked. “He grew up.” He laughed.
---------------------------------,
Mia was hoping that her family would be a little bit more receptive to her arrival. Her brother Joshua actually was but her Uncle was a little like his old self. He was happy she was alive cause he needed her now more than ever. Mia stared at him coldly, rubbing her fingers together. “Let me get this straight,” she whispered, “ I have survived a plane crash. You have presumed me dead. And now that I am back from that mishap, you have the nerve to ask me if I know where Granny’s key is.”
“Mia, please, he just-“ Joshua tried to say.
“No more games, Mia. I am happy you are alive but we are hanging on by a thread here. We need the money.”
“So get a freaking loan.” She sneered back.
“Coupled on top of the loans I already have? Mia, don’t be stupid-“
“Stupid?” she raised an eyebrow, “Of the three people in this room, I know for a fact, I’m NOT stupid.”
“What the hell is a matter with you?” her uncle snapped back, “Ever since you went on that crazy religious trip, you’ve become a-“
Mia then slammed her fist on the table. Her uncle and Joshua jumped at the quick display of strength: something Mia was not normally showing. The Lakota girl slowly stood up and looked at her Uncle. “First off, that JOURNEY as you call it was for my own faith, nobody else’s,” she hissed, “ And second off, were you about to call me something?”
Her uncle said nothing. This wasn’t the little girl he once knew; in a three month gap, it seemed like she had become more like her grandmother than anybody else. Mia slowly sat down and looked at him. “I didn’t think so.” She whispered.
“Mia, I’m going to ask you again; do you know where the key is?” her uncle asked.
“I know exactly where it is.” Mia stared blankly back at him.
Mr. Ray shrugged his shoulders. “Well?” he asked.
“Granny has it.” She replied.
“Wha . .what do you mean, Granny has it?”
Mia pointed downward. “I mean . . . . GRANNY has the key.” She said.
Josh then blinked when he realized what his sister was saying. Her uncle then coughed, when he also understood. “You . .you put it in her casket?” he stammered.
Mia leaned forward. “Yeah, I did,” she admitted, “So, if you want the damn key, you’re going to have to exume her body.”
Her uncle gasped at her remark. “How vile are you, Uncle Steven?” she remarked, “What would the elders of our tribe think if Granny’s body is brought up from her resting place?”
Mr. Ray then jumped and turned around; opening the door and leaving. Joshua looked at the door and then back to his sister. He fuddled with his fingers for a few seconds, then sighed. “Why do I think I won’t be able to bully you into doing my taxes anymore?” he smirked then removed his grin.
“Oh, I’ll still do your taxes for you, Josh,” she smiled, “However, you’re going to have to say PLEASE.”
“Mia, what . .what happened to you on that Island?” he asked.
“Why? You don’t like the new Me?”
“No, I don’t mind. You know I don’t.”
“Lots of good things happened to me out there, Josh. I renewed my faith. And I came away from that place with a new family and a fiancé.”
“fiancé?” Josh gulped.
“Yeah. I will soon be Mrs. Mia Riggs. It rolls off the tongue nicely, don’t you think?”
“You got a boyfriend . . out on that Island . . .How . .Mia, you haven’t had time to really know him.”
“Oh, trust me, Joshua,” the Lakota girl said in all seriousness, “I DO know him.”
“Okay,” he said, smiling, “I guess this is the new you, I’ll have to use to.”
Mia then stood up and walked over to her brother; embracing him. He held onto her arm and then started to cry. “I thought . .you were dead.” He whimpered, “I didn’t know what to do.”
“You’re going to have to grow up, Josh,” she kissed him on the top of the head, “I’ve got my own life to live now and I can’t be there to carry you anymore. You understand?”
Josh shook his head.
“I want you to be a part of my life but it’s on my terms, no one else’s. I want you to meet the love of my life, cause he’s going to be your brother-in-law after all, okay?”
“Okay,” he smiled.
A knocking came at the door. Mia walked over and opened it to see John’s handsome face. The archer bent down and kissed her, as she wrapped her arms around her neck. As they parted, Joshua stood up and walked to them. “John, this is Joshua, my brother,” Mia introduced him.
“Hello, Joshua,” John said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” the Lakota man said, “I had to see what kind of man my sister could fall for. So far, I think she’s found a winner.”
“Well, my mother is waiting in the lobby restaurant down below,” the archer smiled, “Why don’t we go get some lunch and get to know one another?”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” Mia said, taking his arm.
The young couple proceeded to walk down the hallway with Mia’s brother in tow. John knew she was seeing both her Uncle and her brother but her uncle was not in there. He decided not to ask her about it; knowing full well she would tell him all about it later.
After all, they were going to spend the rest of their lives together.
posted by Jason | 2:27 PM
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