“Uncle Charlie is here!”
I yell through the house. Pa comes running from his office and Tacoma from his room with Rori on his heels.
“Who is Uncle Charlie?” Rori asks.
“He is our late mother's brother.”
Tacoma explains, and I smile.
Those two have become very close.
The doorbell interrupts my thoughts. I run to open it, but Tacoma beats me.

“Uncle Charlie!” I exclaim as he wraps me and Tacoma in a tight hug.
“My little lassie! My have ye grown.”
My uncle replies smirking.
He hadn’t visited us for at least a year.
“Where have you been, Charlie? We’ve missed ya.”
Pa asks, shaking hands with him.
“I've been everywhere. Was in Boston last week, I was. Finally figured it ‘twas time for me to come visit me family.”
His bushy orange beard rubs against my forehead.

My mother's family was African-American, but when she was six they adopted a little Scottish boy.
And that was little Charlie.
Well he is not little anymore.
Uncle Charlie is a very muscular, tall man with white skin and a bald head.
He travels a lot, but always comes back to see us.

I don’t think he has any other living family.
My grandpa died before I was born and my grandma just a few years ago.
My mother only had three siblings.
Charlie, Diana, and one named Arabella.
Diane passed away when she was quite young, and I don’t know what happened to Aunt Arabella.

All I know is that she was (or is) the youngest. My mother, (Charlotte Harper) was the second youngest.
Then Diane.
Charlie is the oldest.

“Azibo, I need tae talk tae ye. Privately.”
I glance up to see Uncle Charlie looking very serious.
Pa nods with a look of confusion.
Letting go of me, Charlie follows Pa to his office.
After a moment Tacoma follows.
I watch him go.
I glance over at Rori and raise an eyebrow.
“Doors’ closed.” Tacoma announces when he returns.

”I wonder what's so important.”
Rori mumbles, almost to herself.
We all take seats in the living to wait.
”Hey, where's Mom?” I ask to break the silence.
”Her room, maybe?” Rori replies, glancing up from her phone.
I scowl.
”I'm gonna go see.” I say walking down the hall.

I find Melissa asleep on her bed.
She's shivering, so I cover her up.
Stepping back, I frown.
She looks kinda pale.
I press my hand to her forehead.
Feels normal.
She must just be tired.
I leave her alone a stroll back to the living room.
Tacoma lies stretched out on the couch, eyes closed. Rori still sits; on her phone.
I sigh, and flop down next to her.

She glimpses up at me.
”Wassup?”
”I don't know. Mom was asleep, and she was shivering and kinda pale. I covered her up and her temperature felt normal enough.” I tell her worriedly. 
Rori’s forehead scrunches up and I can tell she is concerned.
”That is weird. Maybe we should tell Pa.”
”Maybe.” Tacoma consents, eyes still closed.
Ping!
I hear my phone ring, and pick it up.
It's May texting me.

May- Hi! What are you up too?

Me- Nm. Wby?

May- Homework. 😩

Me- 😬 Poor you

May- Yeah 😂

May- Would you wanna come over when I finish?

Me- Sorry, probably not. My uncle is in town and I never get to see him so....

May- Ah. Okay.

Me- Yeah... Well gtg bye!

May- Bye!

Pa and Uncle Charlie have just walked in.
I stand, hopping they explain, but to my disappointment Pa just says Charlie is staying for dinner.
“Pa, Mom is asleep.” I inform him.
A flicker of worry shirks over his face.
”Well, then I guess dinner is up to us.”
He finally answers.

We end up eating homemade hamburgers and hotdogs that Pa and Tacoma cook on the grill.
Uncle Charlie stays the night and departs after we get home from school the next day.
Oddly enough, we rarely see Melissa the whole time. She stays in her room and Pa brings her food.
Rori seems just as worried as I.

I sigh, hoping she is not sick, then grab one of my favorite books from the ’Keeper of the Lost Cities’ series, and flop down on my bed to read.