until the sun sets. When he lands, he becomes aware of someone watching him. He looks at me, and I look at him. I feel as if my arm and hand are not part of my body as they rise together and give him a slow wave. We does the same gesture back at me. I turn to go, feeling as If something important has just happened, but an unable to grasp what it was. I am so occupied that when I return to the condo, I fail to notice the silver charger in the driveway. I do not realize that my parents have come for a visit until I walk in on them and my sister talking in the kitchenette.

There is a moment of silence where no one knows quite what to say. I am sure that they were talking about me, something that they will not admit to.

"So, what are you guys doing down here?"
"Why, visitng our dear daughters, of course!" my mom chimes happily.

I look to my dad, who is leaning against the kitchen counter, glass of wine in hand. "We wanted to get some good seafood and chill in the sun for two days."

"Yeah, I can believe that." I pause, considering sleeping arrangements. "Look, how about I make up the couch so I can sleep downstairs and ya'll can have my room. I have to work in the morning."

"You can't take two days off to spend with us?" My mom's face fills with dissapointments. My little sister gestures from behind my dads back. They don't know we've been off for four days. They would have wanted us to visit with them, and my sister dosen't want to hear the impending lecture.

"Uh, no. Not this weekend. One of my coworkers is sick, and I have to cover the store. But we can have a family dinner tonight." I make a mental note to trade in with the girl that comes on after me for the afternoon shift.

"Okay, that's great!" My mom hops off her stool and starts out the door. "I want some shrimp scampi, or maybe Gumbo. No, snow crab legs. Maybe craw-fish or crab-claws?" She links arms with my little sister, and they waltz out the door. My dad and I follow, shaking our heads at their antics.