| Episode: | Season 1, Episode 2 – Every Station A Menagerie |
| Location: | District Walkway |
| Written By: | James Cohen Rhys Bennett |
| Date: | 09/04/2026 |
| Word Count: | 1,137 |
James casually walked away from the middle school after dropping his daughter off. He looked up, seeing the top of the skyline for the petals above him, and grinned. His daughter’s experiences at the gala seemed forgotten, for that he was thankful. Now he just had to get through the rest of his daughter’s time at school and he’d be in a good position.
A slight smirk played on his lips, replacing the smile, he didn’t think he’d ever be ready for any milestone his young daughter reached. That was okay, he was happy and that was the important part. Or, so that’s how he tried to feel. James heard footsteps behind him, he turned and saw Rhys coming toward him.
“Dropping your kids off?” James asked Rhys.
Rhys finally caught up to his friend, they’d known each other for a number of years and always made a point to try and talk as much as possible. “Course,” He answered with a nod of his head. “How’s Miss Paige?”
James had his hands interlocked behind his back as he walked along the path toward the government quarter of the station. He assumed Rhys was probably heading toward the hospital which was in the same general direction. “She’s growing too fast.” James answered.
“I know that feeling,” Rhys answered. “I swear I was just changing diapers yesterday,” He answered. Rhys knew that for better or for worse, at least the twins still had their mother. She was now in the psychiatric wing of the station prison. And, while their mother was no longer permitted visitation he’d hoped it would get better.
“Oh, I get that,” James replied. There was a small smile playing on his lips still as they continued to make their way through the station. “Are the twins excited for the art festival?”
Rhys didn’t know the answer to the question because he’d not asked them. Everything had been so focused on the problems regarding their mother that he’d hardly had much time to think about anything else. “I really don’t know,” He answered. “I would assume so. I’m guessing Paige is excited for it too?”
James nodded, “Course she is,” He said. “If she’s not reading, then she’s trying to draw something on her data pad.” He answered. “I even heard there’s going to be a number of fun activities this year unlike years past.” James pointed out with a shrug.
James paused as they came to a cross way that led toward the government building, unaware that they’d walked that far in the first place. “How did their visit go with their Mom?” He asked, deciding to change the subject away from the festival.
Rhys still had the conversations with Azalea running through his head, and how both Riley and Todd seemed to be disconnected from their mother after. “Not very well,” He answered. “It turns out there’s more of a psychological element to the problems for Isabelle.” Rhys frowned, furrowing his brow, “I was surprised her yelling at them didn’t terrify them more.”
Rhys paused, this was usually where he’d turned and walked toward the hospital. He looked at James while shaking his head, “Their therapist Azalea Gibson is a good young woman, she’s done really well with them.” He mentioned.
James hadn’t met Azalea before, “I’m glad. When Mia died I had Paige seeing someone at the hospital and they did a really good job. I think she’s retired now though,” He said. “I know it’s different, but I hope things get better.”
“So do I,” Rhys answered. He wasn’t really sure what else to say, “Perhaps I could introduce you to her some time?”
James scratched the back of his head, “Azalea?” He asked.
Rhys nodded, “Yeah her,” He answered as he continued to nod his head. “How long did it take for her to get over the death of her mother?” Rhys knew that the children didn’t need to get over a death, but he wondered if perhaps this was similar. He’d made a mental note to ask about that at a later time.
If they never reconciled with their mother then it would be pretty similar, or at least that’s what he assumed it would mean. Rhys shook his head, trying to get that thought out of his mind, he wanted them to have a relationship with their mother. However, there was a part of him that was really worried about what sort of damage that might bring.
James shrugged, “I don’t think she ever really did get over it.” He answered his friend, “Sometimes she still wakes up and forgets, so she wants her mother. That’s become less and less of an issue as she’s gotten a little older. I’m guessing Riley and Todd never asked for their mother when they were little?”
Rhys tried his best to remember whether or not that was the case. “You know,” He answered, “I don’t remember if that was ever really a problem or not. When they were little I always just told them their Mom was traveling, or something. Once they were old enough to understand I told them where their mother was.”
He recalled telling them why, and their reactions to the news about their mother. “Then eventually I told them why their Mom was in prison. When the truth finally came out, they didn’t handle it very good at first. But, now I think things are a little different. Perhaps having them visit their mother was a mistake though.”
“Why’d you have them do it in the first place?” James asked him.
“Because their mother was supposed to be getting released soon,” Rhys answered. “I knew she’d want to see them so Miss Gibson decided it was a good idea to try in a controlled environment. The result was this,” He answered.
James nodded, now understanding the point. And, now it was going to be a much longer time before they saw their mother again. It was sad, they still had their mother around but couldn’t see their mother. At least Mia loved her child, James didn’t know if Rhys’ ex-wife had those sorts of feelings about her children.
He knew the rest of the story, of course, James had been told a long time ago the story. “Why do you want me to meet Azalea he asked?”
Rhys laughed, the change in subject again helped break his focus. “Oh, I just thought you two would get along really good.” He said with a shrug and a wink, “I need to get to the hospital.”
James nodded, “Right,” He answered with a laugh. “See you after work,” He said to Rhys. The two of them had plans before school let out. He waved, and turned crossing the walk way that separated the district away from the central ring.