Remind Me

Chapter Twenty

"You gonna answer that?" Joey asks, holding the remote up to pause the movie.

I sigh. "Yes."

I try to hop up off the couch, but Owen holds me in place. I whip my head around and look at him. He just smiles.

And then I answer the phone. "Hello?"

"Brinley!" Clarin's voice comes through the speaker. "How are you?"

"I'm great, how about you?" I ask, embarrassed because Owen and Joey are both staring intently at me.

"Really good- oh, and Gramma Jane says hi... Gramma, I already told her, she doesn't remember you... No, Gram, she can't-"

"Hello? Brinley?" A new voice comes into the speaker. I assume it's my grandma. "Are you there?" I actually have to pull the phone away from my ear since it's so loud.

"Yes," I reply, eyes wide.

"Honey!" She exclaims. "I miss you! Where are you? Why won't you come visit your old Grammy?"

"I-"

"Gram, give me my phone!" Clarin calls in the background.

Joey's laughing at me. Owen looks amused. I sigh.

"Leave me alone," my grandma, who seems to be a bit insane, says to Clarin. "Brinley? Are you still there?"

"I am," I say in an absolutely monotone voice.

"How are you doing lately? How's school? How's that cute boy of yours-"

"Sorry about that, Brinley," Clarin has returned to the phone. "So anyways, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine, I guess. I mean Owen and Joey took me to the lake yesterday. It was fun, I suppose," and Owen winks at me.

"Wow," she sounds utterly impressed. "I'm glad you got to do that."

"I am too," I smile. "How are you, up there in Missouri?"

"I'm... Dealing. I wish I didn't have to come here. I would much rather be there with you than here with these legit crazy relatives. Not to offend you, but if I were in your position, not remembering any of these people, I would be content," Clarin says.

"I can't say I'm too sad either."

"Clarin! It's time to read the bible with Nanna! Come on downstairs," I can hear a familiar voice call. It must be my mom.

I can hear Clarin sigh, roll her eyes, and then, "I'm sorry, Brin. I would love to hear more from you, but... We've got to get Gram down to bed by a certain time, and she refuses to sleep unless she's read her bible..."

"Oh, that's okay. I'll talk to you again tomorrow, yeah?" I say.

"Course. See you later."

"Good luck," I smile to myself. And then I put my phone away.

"I remember old Granny," Joey says. "You used to go visit her every few months and you hated it."

"Plus that one time she came here to visit," Owen raises his eyebrows. "That lady is... something else."

"Anywaaaays," I say. "Can we keep the movie going?"

<•>•<•>

I can't find the light. I can't find any switches. I can't find any matches. I'm stuck in the darkness.

My mind won't work.

It doesn't remember how to get out.

I haven't been here since I was a child, but I can't remember.