The Unusual Occurrence Of Mote

Saturday herald the start of the weekend for all kids, all except Eary. As the teenage boy woke, he was immediately accosted by Mote "Hey small fry, get up! We need to go investigate that park from last night. Something doesn't feel right 'bout it." Mote threw a pile of clothes at Eary.

He groaned, "Mote, it's Saturday,  I wanna sleep in." Mote landed hard on Eary's bed, launching him on impact. Mote replied, "Them baddies don't sleep in! I told ya we needed to look around more last night, but 'NOOO!'. Now I'm dragging ya there, kickin' and screamin', if ya like!" Mote flew off to his treasure chest home before he slammed the lid he ordered."Now get ready!”

Eary reluctantly dragged himself out of bed, still tired from the late-night escapade. He knew that when Mote had a gut feeling about something, it usually paid to listen. With a sigh, he got dressed in the clothes Mote had thrown at him.

As Eary made his way downstairs, he found his parents in the kitchen, sipping coffee and chatting about their plans for the weekend. He waved a quick greeting but didn't want to explain his early morning excursion to them. They had enough to worry about with his brother, Josh, and his late-night antics.

"Morning, sweetie," his mother said with a smile, giving him a kiss on the forehead. "What are your plans for today?"

Eary replied casually, "Oh, just thought I'd head to the park for a bit. Maybe get some fresh air."

His father looked up from his newspaper and nodded. "Sounds like a good idea, son. Enjoy your day."

Eary quickly finished his breakfast and headed outside, where Mote was waiting impatiently. The little Moteling hovered in the air, his fur bristling with anticipation.

"Finally! Let's go!" Mote exclaimed, zipping off toward the park.

Eary followed Mote's lead and soon arrived at the park where they had encountered the strange creature the previous night. The morning sun had begun to cast long shadows, and the park appeared peaceful and ordinary. Eary scanned the area, trying to recall where the creature had been when it exploded.

Mote, who had been circling around the park, landed on Eary's shoulder. "Over there, by that old tree. That's where it happened."

Eary cautiously approached the spot and looked around. He didn't see any remnants of the creature, but then his eyes fell on something unusual. There, partially buried in the ground, was a small, shimmering gemstone.

He knelt down and picked it up, examining it closely. The gemstone was unlike any he had ever seen. It glowed softly with an eerie, otherworldly light. It shined a brilliant blue, much like Mote's light.

Mote's voice buzzed with curiosity. "What's that, Eary? Is that the thing that creature left behind?"

Eary nodded, still captivated by the gem. "Yeah, it looks like it. This is definitely not normal."

As he held the gemstone, a strange sensation washed over him. It was as if the gem was communicating with him, whispering secrets and mysteries that he couldn't quite grasp.

Mote chimed in, "You should probably put that thing away, kid. It gives me the creeps."

Eary hesitated but carefully placed the gemstone in his pocket. "You're right, Mote. Let's head back for now and figure out what to do with this.

Back at home, Eary couldn't stop thinking about the strange gemstone he had found. It sat on his desk, emitting its mesmerizing color.

Mote perched nearby, still a bit uneasy about the discovery. “Eary, you've gotta be careful with that thing," Mote warned, his tiny face showing genuine concern. "I've seen my fair share of magical stuff, but this, this is different. “Eary nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "I know, Mote. It feels... powerful. And it's like it's trying to tell me something, but I can't quite figure it out."

The two of them spent the morning researching gemstones, magic, and anything that might provide a clue about the mysterious artifact. But their efforts yielded little information. It seemed this gemstone was truly unique.

As the golden hues of afternoon transformed into the dusky embrace of evening, Eary gathered with his family for their nightly ritual of supper. With each careful step down the worn wooden staircase of their cozy home, he could feel the comforting embrace of tradition beckoning him.

Turning the corner, he entered the heart of their home—a living room and dining room intertwined in a harmonious dance. Eary settled into his customary spot, right beside his twin brother, Josh. His mother, the nurturing Delia, always occupied the chair to his left, while his father, Mitchell, found solace in the seat to Eary's right.

Yet, a poignant presence lingered across the table—a conspicuously vacant place setting. It was the void that once cradled his eldest brother, Luke. A decade had passed since the day Luke was snatched away from their lives, leaving an indelible void in their family's heart. The empty chair and untouched plate were a perpetual reminder, a wound that never quite healed, and Eary found himself struggling to meet its sorrowful gaze.

As the family said grace and the portions served, Delia asked “So what did you guys do today?” Josh replied with a wide grin “Ephraim and I went to a movie, and then out….” Mitchell loudly interrupted “Josh!”, Josh slumped down in his chair “Not much.” Delia turned to Eary “How about you, sweetie?” Eary, looking around awkwardly, replied “I went bird watching.” Mitchell chimed in “That’s great! What kinds of birds did you see out there?” Eary dismissively replied “I didn’t see any.” Mitchell nodded and replied ‘Oh’ as Eary quickly finished his meal. With a big smile, he asked to be excused. After taking care of his dishes, he made his way back upstairs to his room.

In his room, he found Mote exploring the internet. He made his way to his bed. Collapsing on the red and white spread, Mote inquired “How were the chops? I’m not sittin’ up here, starvin’ or nothin’.” Eary groaned back “Sorry, I’ll go back down later, I promise.” Mote replied “Nah, don’t bother. I’m orderin’ up me some doordash!” Eary inquired “Where do you even get money for something like that?” Mote chuckled “Texas hold ‘em! I’m a wizard on bets.” Eary relaxed in his bed, the sound of the mouse clicking, hypnotized him. A moment later, Mote nudged his head. The moteling urged “Eary, hey Eary. My door dash is here, and you need to go get it.” Eary let out a loud groan as he got up to retrieve the motelings order.

Making his way downstairs, he dodged the inquires of his parents and stepped outside. On the front step sat no small order. A large box, filled with fast food, goodies, booze, and prepaid credit cards, stood imposing in Eary’s path.

He picked up the box, hurrying its contents off to his bedroom window. Tossing a few stones up, Mote poked his head out. He called down “I thought it would be too big to sneak past your parents.” Eary replied in an annoyed whisper “What do you mean think? What am I supposed to do with this?” Mote tossed a rope out of the window. He exclaimed “Tie it around the box ya got there.” Eary nodded, securing his knot," he replied “Now what?” Mote called back “Now get up here and pull it up.” Eary huffed back inside, past his parents, and back to his room. Pulling up the box, Mote quickly made a b-line for the vodka.

Eary shook his head at Mote's indulgence in the goodies and booze. He stashed the food and drinks in a corner of his room, hoping his parents wouldn't notice. With the gemstone still on his mind, he sat down at his desk and began to research it further online. He combed through forums, articles, and even reached out to a few experts in gemology and magical artifacts. Despite his efforts, the gemstone remained a mystery. Hours passed, and the night grew darker. Eary's room was bathed in the soft glow of his computer screen, and the occasional click of his mouse was the only sound in the room. Mote, now slightly tipsy from the vodka, was dozing off on the window sill. His search yielded nothing, Eary he decided to retire for the night.