out of the blue

Alo just got off his cell with his mum. He guessed he was still glad to hear her voice. He knew she was glad to hear from him. At least once a day. He didn't mention these phone calls to Vada. Alo didn't want her thinking he was a momma's boy, but it might be true.

Dinner was being made in the kitchen. It was good to be a part of this family, even if he was a boarder. He went to set the table, as it was he hadn't exactly been asked to cook, but he always cleaned up after himself.

"Set one more." Topher mentioned.

Alo nodded and did what he was told. There really wasn't that many in the house. There was a college student that never ate with them. Boarders didn't have too, but they could, if they wanted too.

"New roommate?" Alo shrugged.

"Yeah, I knew him back in high school, actually." Topher told him. "He's sort of an old friend."

"Really?" Alo couldn't imagine letting old friends moving in with you and expecting rent from them, but then again, he'd never rented rooms out in his house, either.

"He's all on his own." Topher told him as he got out the chilled water, that the guy had been through a bad breakup.

"Well, he's got us." Alo half-way smiled. Funny, he'd never really felt that until now. He'd always felt on his own. Yet not. There was always a way to get money if he needed it. He tried his best not to ask for a whole lot, but he knew he did have a lot.

Topher on grinned.

Finally, the new boarder arrived. Alo looked up, slightly startled. This Jude looked exactly like his brother Lars, except he was a bit scruffy. Definitely, not the brother Alo knew.