Tia
What happened, Kieran? Who did this to you?
Kieran
I can’t remember too well. Not — not the part at the end.
Kieran
I know I was at Grandpa Hurley’s, but then it’s just kind of blank.
Tia
Grandpa Hurley? We haven’t seen him since he went to jail!
Tia
That had to be ten years ago.
Kieran
YOU haven’t seen him. But I ran into him a few months ago.
Kieran
We were both getting gas at the same place. And we started talking.
Kieran
I was curious, I guess.
Kieran
You know how Mom never talks about him.
Tia
Didn’t you think there might be a REASON she never talks about him?
Kieran
Yeah. And I wanted to know what it was.
Tia
Going to jail for being a thief and a drug dealer wasn’t enough of a reason for you?
Tia
And what did you find out?
Kieran
He’s not a bad guy, T.
Kieran
He’s crusty, sure, but he’s been out of jail for years.
Kieran
He’s got his own business fixing up cars, and his wife is really nice.
Kieran
Actually, she’s into all this stuff. Like, afterlife stuff.
Tia
His WIFE? Grandpa Hurley got remarried?
Tia
And you’ve been spending time with them?
Tia
God, Kieran, I knew you were being weird and had a secret…
Tia
But I thought it was something GOOD, like being gay or something.
Tia
Hanging out with Grandpa Hurley? That’s just weird!
Kieran
He’s working really hard to get his life back together.
Tia
Why didn’t you ever mention this to me?
Tia
You didn’t think I might be interested?
Kieran
You might have been interested, or you might have told Mom and Dad.
Kieran
You’re a bit of a rule-follower, T. You don’t like to take risks.
Tia
And you’re a bit of a rule-breaker, and look where it got you!
Tia
Shit, I’m sorry, that was —
Kieran
True? I mean, I’m dead. Because I broke rules. You’re right, T.
Kieran
Shit, Tia, stop crying. Please. I just finally admitted you were right about something.
Kieran
You should be celebrating!
Tia
I just can’t believe — no. We need to focus. You’re in trouble and you need help.
Tia walks away from the birch tree toward the house.
She brushes her tears away impatiently with her free hand.
Kieran
Tia! Where are you going?
Tia
If that was the last place you can remember being,
Tia
Then I’m going to go over there and find out what’s going on!
Kieran
No! God, don’t be stupid!
Kieran
If something bad happened to me over there,
Kieran
Then it’s the one place you SHOULDN’T go.
Tia
You said you were hanging out with them!
Tia
If we’re going to figure out what happened, we need to start somewhere.
Kieran
No! Tia, damn it! No!
The screen of Tia’s phone flashes, then cracks, corner to corner.
Then she then picks it up and stares at it for a while…
Before starting to type again.
Tia
Was that you? Did you just BREAK MY PHONE?
Tia
Kieran? Are you okay?
Kieran
I told you. It’s hard to — to stay me.
Kieran
To stay calm and think things through.
Kieran
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.
Tia
So you can DO things?
Kieran
I don’t know. I guess?
Kieran
I’ve never done that before, though.
Kieran
I didn’t even mean to do it this time.
Tia
Wow. That’s really neat. What else can you do?
Kieran
Are you trying to distract me?
Kieran
Do you think I won’t notice that you’re in the house, looking for your keys?
Tia
I’m going to help you. It’s that simple.
Tia
So whether you’re distracted or not, I’m going over to Grandpa Hurley’s.
Tia
Do you have a better idea?
Kieran
His wife! Aurora. She’s safer, I think, and I have her cell number.
Kieran
You could just text her, see what’s up. See what she knows.
Tia
Okay. That can be the FIRST step, at least.
Tia
I’ll play it cool, see what she knows.
Tia
Maybe she’ll give something away.
Kieran
She’s not part of this, T. She’s not the enemy.
Tia
What makes you so sure?
Tia
You said you couldn’t remember anything.
Tia
If all this happened at her place, I bet she’s involved.
Kieran
I put it in your phone. Her name’s Aurora Hurley.
Tia
You’re really good at this. At…being a ghost.
Tia
Damn, Kieran, that’s NOT what I want you to be good at!
Tia
I want you to be really, really good at playing practical jokes.
Tia
Then you could open the door and come inside and laugh at me.
Tia
And I’d beat the shit out of you and be mad at you for, I don’t know, months or years.
Kieran
Yeah. I want that too. But it’s not going to happen, T.
Tia takes a deep, shaky breath and then pulls up a blank text message.
Tia
Hi. This is going to sound weird, but — I’m Kieran’s sister. Tia.
Aurora
Tia. Oh, sweetheart. I’m so glad you got in touch with me.
Aurora
And I’m so, so sorry for your loss.
Tia
My loss? Kieran’s just missing.
Tia
He ran away or something. He’ll be back soon.
Aurora
Oh. Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry. But I don’t think that’s true.
Tia shoves her phone in her pocket.
Then she speaks out loud to herself.
Tia
You don’t think it’s true, do you?
Tia
And what makes you think that, exactly?
She climbs into the car, her grief replaced by determination.
