Lance Knight stared at his brother. "Did mom and dad say why they were coming back to Moon Lake?"
Benton just shook his head. "I only talked to dad, but no. Just that they would be here as soon as they could make the arrangements, which would be either sometime late Wednesday or early Thursday at the earliest."
Lance didn't bother telling Benton that he had been in touch with their parents before. Granted, it was just an e-mail here and there, or a phone call on somebody's birthday, a couple of major holidays or their wedding anniversary, but it was certainly more contact than Benton maintained with them over the years since they left Moon Lake to that tropical retreat for rich retired weres.
They've never even met Frieda. So why do I feel like I'm the one being called to the principal's office? Lance asked himself, looking at his brother.
"How are you holding up?" he asked Benton, genuinely concerned.
"Okay, I guess," admitted Benton, while shrugging his shoulders. "I take my medicines, call Doctor Twist in the morning and make an initial therapy appointment, and go back to the hospital sometime Tuesday for a blood test to see how I'm doing so far on these pills," he added, while staring at the pill bottles sitting on the table between them.
"Speaking of hospitals..." began Lance, figuring there'd never be a better opening, "I'm making arrangements to have myself checked out to make sure I'm not bi-polar either, and I humbly suggest you do the same for Frieda."
"OH GOD! I NEVER THOUGHT—" began Benton, as he started reaching for his cellphone.
"Don't panic," said Lance, trying to calm him down. "Doctor Tachibana explained to me that while bi-polar disorder runs in families, it also has a tendency to bounce around the family tree, skipping branches and even whole generations. My suggestion is just a precaution. Nothing more."
"You're right," admitted Benton, which shocked Lance greatly, for his older brother would never have said such a thing in the past, even if the subject was something as simple as The world is round. "I'll check with Frieda in the morning to see what's convenient for her, but otherwise will do it either tomorrow after school or after our parents leave. After all, we do have the werepanthers' meeting Tuesday night."
"I'll be there," promised Lance, because he had already promised Frieda too, since it would also be the induction ceremony for her friends and lovers Eric Anderson and Spencer Lawson into the group. "By the way, out of curiosity, have you seen Eric Anderson's fursona?"
"No. Why? Is there something wrong with it?" asked Benton.
"No. It's just that he's the first white panther I've ever seen."
"What do you mean, white? Like a snow leopard's?"
"No, not off white like any snow cat's. I mean 100% pure white fur, except for a very light hint of brown on the top of his head because that's his natural hair color in human form," revealed Lance.
"I've never heard or seen of such a werepanther before. Are you sure?" Benton asked in return.
"As sure as I'm sitting here right now and the world is round," said Lance, unable to suppress a smile.
"That is something I have to see for myself," said Benton, wondering if this unique trait had any actual significance or was just an oddity of were-nature, because he had yet to totally believe the story about Frieda, Eric, and Spencer having an unique bond between them, despite the fact Frieda's eyes were now green in either form; something they weren't before.