Family Farewells

One Week Later

“Mooooooooooooooooooooooooom! Staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahp!” Sydney cried out as her mom peppered her with kisses as the two stood at the door to Sydney’s childhood home. She lightly pushed on her mom. Her mother, however, had her in a **** grip hug as she continued to shower her daughter with love.

“Come on now Debra, let the girl go,” Grant said to his wife, much to his daughter’s relief.

“I know, Grant, I know. I’m just gonna miss my little girl! She’ll be gone! Forever!” Debra said in a sullen tone.

“Oh. Em. Gee. Mom! I am not ‘gone forever!’ I’ll be upstate! You can literally drive a few hours and see me every weekend if you wanted to! Stop making a big deal out of this!” Sydney told her mother.

“She’s right, dear. Our sweet baby girl is growing up and moving out. But she won’t forget us, right?” asked Grant, with a warm smile on his face.

“Of course not, daddy!” Sydney said as she gave her father a hug. Her father happily embraced her as he figured this would probably be his last hug for a while.

“We love you, sweetie. No matter where you are,” he whispered to Sydney, who smiled at hearing those words.

“I know, daddy. I love you both too,” she told him back. He gave her one last squeeze in their hug before he released her. A horn honk informed the three that the moving truck had arrived, along with the movers. A knock on the door alerted the family that the movers were ready to begin. Sydney opened the door to see a familiar redhead stand before her.

“Hello, everyone!” the cheery redhead said as she gave Sydney and her parents a hug each.

“Jean! It is a pleasure to see you again, dear!” Debra said as the two embraced.

“Now, you’ll take good care of our girl, right?” asked Grant as he hugged the visitor.

“Of course! It is a pleasure to always visit you all! Sydney,” started Jean as she turned to the girl, “your family is such a delight! Not all families accept their mutant children, so be proud that your parents love you that much,” Jean said with a smile.

“Oh, I am!” Sydney said happily as she hugged both her parents.

“Now!” started Jean as she clasped her hands together, “what do you say us ladies have a nice chat while these big, strong men do all the heavy lifting?” suggested Jean, of which the ladies quickly agreed.

“Jean, honey, you do know you could lift all of this on your own with your powers, right?” asked a tall man who seemed to have a slim frame that was bulking up. While he was in jeans and a t-shirt, he wore ruby red sunglasses.

“Ah, you must be Jean’s new husband!” Grant said as he walked over to the young man and tossed his arm around him. “Well, here’s some free advice from a married man of 20 years: you always do the heavy lifting,” Grant said as he basically dragged the man away.

“Besides, it is our duty to do this, Scott,” a stoic voice with a distinct Russian accent said behind Scott. The man towered over everyone in the house. Sydney was completely in shock at the man.

“Oh yes! I should introduce everyone!” Jean said. “This,” she said as she gestured towards the man in the sunglasses, “is my husband whom I love with all my heart,” Jean said. “His powers are powerful optic blasts he can shoot from his eyes. Unfortunately, he is unable to control them so he has to wear special sunglasses,” explained Jean.

“It is a pleasure to meet you all. Jean has spoken highly of all of you,” Scott said as he shook everyone’s hand. “I look forward to helping you understand and control your abilities, Sydney,” Scott said with a smile on his face.

“And this giant of a man is Piotr Rasputin. He is a mutant from Russia. He is able to coat himself in an organic metal that makes him quite durable and super strong. He is also one of the gentlest people I know!” she said as she gave him a sidehug.

“Come now, Jean, I do not need such praise. I am simply living how I should,” Piotr said.

“Well, it sounds like we know who will be carrying the bed and dresser!” Grant said in a cheerful tone as he gave Piotr’s arm a friendly slap. “Well, come on boys, let this old man show you how it’s done!” Grant told them as he marched up the stairs. The two young men quickly followed behind him.

“Now, ladies, what shall we talk about?” asked Jean as she headed towards the living room.

“Now, now!” started Mrs. Wilson. “If we are going to do this, we are going to do this right!” said Debra as she quickly made her way to the kitchen. After a moment in the kitchen, she returned back to the girls with three glasses of a red drink.

“Oh my! Mrs. Wilson, is that red wine?!” gasped Jean as she took it.

“It is, dear. One of my favorites, a red blend from Italy!” she said happily.

“Wait, mom...does this mean I can drink?!” asked a very giddy Sydney.

“Only because this is a special case. I don’t want you going off to their school and doing keggers or shots or anything like that!” she said in a firm, but motherly tone.

“Oh, don’t worry about that, Debra! We do not allow that sort of behavior at our facility. We are a school first and foremost,” Jean assured the worried mother.

“That is good to hear, dear. That eases my mind quite a bit,” said the mother. “I remember when I went to college and got away from my parents. I may have gone a little crazy, hehe…” said the mature woman as she sipped some wine.

“OH EM GEE! MOM! TMI!” shouted Sydney as her entire face turned red at the embarrassing moment her mother just put her in. The two older women laughed as the youngest of the trio attempted to melt into the couch the three were sitting on.