I thought this was funny. I was looking at the stars and the photographer came over to me laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I asked absently as I tilted the telescope. We couldn’t really be alone in this big old universe could we?

“You and Dane are so much alike it’s not even funny.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you would pull your eyes away from the telescope and look at the picture you could see what I’m talking about.”

Sighing, I took a step back and then looked down at the digital camera she was trying to shield from the rain. The rain? When had it stared raining? I choked on a laugh when I saw the picture.

Dad was on the other side of the house doing the exact same thing as me.

Check out mom’s new work outfit. Dad doesn’t really care for it. He said all her goodies are hanging out for everyone to see. She said that was the point. If they’re looking at her boobs then they usually aren’t paying attention to what they’re saying. And then she leaned over and whispered something in his ear that I’m grateful that I didn’t hear because they went to their room soon after. Perverts.

I walked into the house one night to see Val hovering behind mom. Mom didn’t seem to notice the chill in the air or hear all the noise that Val was making. When Val heard me she turned around and stared at me before drifting through the wall to the back of the house.

Or that’s what I thought. It’s a good thing I had just gotten up from the toilet otherwise I would have peed all over myself when Val popped in front of me and made this crazy looking face before she laughed and zipped out of the bathroom.

“That’s so mean!” I hissed, hoping she could hear me. Washing my hands I inched back toward my room. Peeping in I checked around to make sure Val wasn’t hiding anywhere before I raced across the room and dove under the covers. After about an hour I finally drifted off to sleep.

With mom’s new job came new hours of course. Now she would stay up and see me off to school before she went to bed. A few mornings though she just wasn’t able to make it. I’d look around for her but just thought she had crashed into bed so I didn’t want to wake her up to say good-bye.

Dad was racking up the promotions. One day he came home and said that he needed a hair cut. Something to fit the image of a president. I was kinda sad to see his mohawk go though. I mean, for as long as I could remember he had always had it and rocked it well. But, I guess he knew better than anyone what the image of the company was. So, he started to let his hair grow out.

I was trying to work on my musical points for a scholarship one afternoon after school when all of the suddenly Donna burst into the room and starting howling. At first I thought something was wrong so I stopped playing but then she stopping howling. Frowning I stared to play again and she started to howl again…in perfect harmony with my beat.

“Are you kidding me?” I demanded over the music. In reply she only tilted her head back and continued to howl for all her little heart was worth. Grinning, I continued to play.

A few months later dad was telling us how this corporation had tried to swoop him up with a huge sign on bonus but he had decided to stay with the smaller, more family orientated company. It was all supposed to be hush hush but word got around and his company gave his a huge amount of money. That’s not what counted to dad though. He said that the head honchos were finally taking his ideas seriously now.

See! I knew we couldn’t be alone in this galaxy! I was minding my business in the kitchen, trying to think of something to make for dinner before the parents got home and this woman just walked by.

I knew! I just knew it!