Noah's Adventure

Untitled Part 1

Noah stared into his computer screen transfixed and mesmerized by the motion and color of the action on his twenty-three inch monitor. It was the hottest game of the year that drew away so many hours of his days lately. His parents would beseech him to go outside and play, whatever that was, to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine of the southwestern city they lived in. But Noah's world was on that computer screen and that had become his reality lately.

He thought he heard someone squawking at him so he answered with his usual, "I'll be there in a minute." That was the standard response a twelve-year old like himself would give. He knew adults would be satisfied for only a few minutes with that answer. He figured if you said it enough times you could buy yourself time to stall out the inevitable.

About ten minutes later Noah was in the back of his parents classic old 1952 pink Buick. He only hoped none of his friends and certainly the young ladies of the neighborhood would see him. He hunched down in the back seat trying to hide from the almost certain disdainful or whimsical looks he would get as the hunk of iron rolled down the street. He couldn't stand the looks or stares; he just wanted to be left alone.

When she smiled Noah noticed his mother always seemed to look prettier. She turned from the right front passenger seat and flashed that electric smile of hers at Noah.

"Noah, isn't this going to be fun? It's a beautiful crisp clear day to be wandering through the zoo and seeing all those fascinating creatures?"

He stared back at her with no response and finally gave a low harrumph of agreement.

His father, strong, tall and somewhat humorless had to chime in. "You'll love it buddy. You'll final get off your duff and away from that computer."

Noah turned to watch the traffic on the fast moving highway. "I know, it will get you moving again, Noah."

His mother's smile dropped a bit, "It's good to get out more, Noah, to explore and see the world."

Noah turned away again and watched cars on the highway. Everyone he saw on the road was rushing about, pressed by deadlines. Places to go, people to see, deals to be made, and purchases, always purchases.

He barely listened to his parents' voices as they chatted away about which continent they should visit first. Maybe they should get the noisy aviary out of the way or the small aquarium. Can they see it all, how about lunch, where should that be or should...

Noah's imagination began to take him away from that huge old Buick rolling down the road. But the visions he saw in his head were jumbled and non-specific, he was just moving through time. And not enough of that had passed yet for him to feel normal.