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Dec. 16th, 2008 05:51 pmEven from across the ocean, Kim tries to keep in close touch with her family -- or with her parents, at least. This week's conversation with first John, then Deirdre, goes pretty much as is usual these days.
That is, until Deirdre says, "Kim, darling... have you thought about Christmas?"
She unconsciously twists the telephone cord around her finger as she nods her head; then, realizing that of course she can't be seen, she says, "I, um, I have, some. I was thinking--"
"Because," her mother interrupts gently, "your father and I would understand if you wanted to stay in England this year."
The soft, crackling hiss of the overseas connection is the only sound between them for the few instants before Kim manages, "Really?"
"Really," Deirdre assures her. "You're still getting settled, I'm sure, and travel like that is expensive, not to mention that with things still... how they are--"
Between you and Meg, she doesn't say; she doesn't need to. Kim understands it perfectly well.
"-- it might be for the best all around for everyone to just have a little more time."
After goodbyes are said and she hangs up, Kim grabs her jacket from its hook and shrugs into it, then heads out the door and starts up the hiking path in the direction of the Tor.
She understands, of course; how could she not?
It's just that she'd never expected it to take even this long.
"Maybe I shouldn't have left after all," Kim says aloud, then immediately shakes her head on hearing her own words. "No, that's not it. I had to. But if I'd known there wouldn't be a bloody door to Milliways anywhere in town..."
With a pang, she remembers assuring Meg that they'd still be able to see each other. She'd meant it; moreover, she'd believed it. She hadn't thought that she wouldn't be able to find a door that opens on where she needs to go. It's not for lack of trying, either; she's tried every shop and corner in Glastonbury, even going so far as to walk through every archway at the Abbey, not to mention every other church within walking distance.
Nothing had worked.
Frustrated, Kim shoves her hands in her pockets and kicks a small stone that's lying in the middle of the path. The pebble ricochets off to the side, and for lack of anything else to do, Kim watches it as it goes bouncing down the side of the hill toward a haphazardly-gathered group of stones, then in between two of them, right where one leans heavily against another --
--and where the pebble suddenly vanishes.
Kim blinks.
Two seconds later, she's scrambling down the side of the hill.
That is, until Deirdre says, "Kim, darling... have you thought about Christmas?"
She unconsciously twists the telephone cord around her finger as she nods her head; then, realizing that of course she can't be seen, she says, "I, um, I have, some. I was thinking--"
"Because," her mother interrupts gently, "your father and I would understand if you wanted to stay in England this year."
The soft, crackling hiss of the overseas connection is the only sound between them for the few instants before Kim manages, "Really?"
"Really," Deirdre assures her. "You're still getting settled, I'm sure, and travel like that is expensive, not to mention that with things still... how they are--"
Between you and Meg, she doesn't say; she doesn't need to. Kim understands it perfectly well.
"-- it might be for the best all around for everyone to just have a little more time."
After goodbyes are said and she hangs up, Kim grabs her jacket from its hook and shrugs into it, then heads out the door and starts up the hiking path in the direction of the Tor.
She understands, of course; how could she not?
It's just that she'd never expected it to take even this long.
"Maybe I shouldn't have left after all," Kim says aloud, then immediately shakes her head on hearing her own words. "No, that's not it. I had to. But if I'd known there wouldn't be a bloody door to Milliways anywhere in town..."
With a pang, she remembers assuring Meg that they'd still be able to see each other. She'd meant it; moreover, she'd believed it. She hadn't thought that she wouldn't be able to find a door that opens on where she needs to go. It's not for lack of trying, either; she's tried every shop and corner in Glastonbury, even going so far as to walk through every archway at the Abbey, not to mention every other church within walking distance.
Nothing had worked.
Frustrated, Kim shoves her hands in her pockets and kicks a small stone that's lying in the middle of the path. The pebble ricochets off to the side, and for lack of anything else to do, Kim watches it as it goes bouncing down the side of the hill toward a haphazardly-gathered group of stones, then in between two of them, right where one leans heavily against another --
--and where the pebble suddenly vanishes.
Kim blinks.
Two seconds later, she's scrambling down the side of the hill.
