Imre picked up Harvey's fallen stool and placed it back on its feet. Bringing the last stool in front of his father and brother, the family of three formed a triangle of trial.
Pushing his glasses up higher on the bridge of his nose, Imre cleared his throat, "So, I'll start."
"From what I gathered we need to review three things. One, mother's new-"
"She's not my mother."
A fierce glare from Imre had Harvey sitting up ramrod straight and completely quiet.
"One, the emotional and physical disintegration of our family unit in regards to River and Theodore's roles and obligations to each other and their children Harvey and Imre."
Theodore squirmed in his seat and placed his hands obediently upon his knees.
"Two, Harvey's professional opinion and feelings on this subject. Three, Theodore's explanation and feelings on this subject. We can consider apologies and forgiveness after the 30-minute session."
"I think this trial is long overdue. Harvey has even forgotten the rules to-"
"What about you?"
"I'm the mediator."
"But this involves you as well. That was in the first point."
"Hmmm. I see the issue."
"How about we have Imre interject when he has something personal to contribute."
"That won't work dad. The rules are too loose and can be exploited. Plus, I don't want to accidentally break anyone's momentum in releasing their thoughts."
"I see."
"What I see is that the time now is ten past eight and we need to be at Levgardian Secondary campus for my interview in 45 minutes."
Theodore swung his head to read the clock, so frantically that Harvey felt the whiplash, and stood up in a panic.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry. Imre grab the folder and Harvey close all the windows. Quick, quick!" Theodore started running to his room to get changed and bumped into the coffee table in the living room.
"Careful, dad! Harvey, can you get the folder on my bed, please. It's green."
With a non-committal mumble that indicated he heard, Harvey exited the room; not a single thought in his head after the interruption, making him feel very spacey. Imre grabbed one of the preservative containers from the cupboard above the stove and transferred his father's unfinished breakfast into it. Taking out the fruit smoothie from the cooling cabinet, Imre packed everything into his brother's lunch bag with a few snacks as well.
"Imre!"
"Coming. Coming."
Locking the door behind them, Imre and Harvey chased after their father down the stairs.
"Stop, stop." Panting heavily, Imre begged his father to calm down. "The next tube is in fifteen minutes, we can easily make it even if we walk."
"But come on, Imre. Live a little!"
"If we run to the tube station I won't be alive when we get there."
"You should take this opportunity to work out. The only exercise you do is with your eyes; watching plants grow."
"Hey now, don't look down on other people's interests. Mind you though, it's actually very interesting."
Theodore caught the small nod that Imre gave him, but the same smile on his face, that formed listening to his sons' banter, still did not reach his eyes. Smelling a faint scent of the roasted nut with a hint of caramel, Imre let his father dwell in his own thoughts.
Imre surprised Harvey, pulling him into his embrace the second time this morning, stopping him from walking by wrapping his arms across his younger brother's shoulders.
"Are you in or out of your headspace?" Imre bent slightly so that only Harvey could hear his words, but not so close that his breath would tickle Harvey's skin.
"Out."
"How many steps?"
"Completely. It snapped and everything burst out."
Imre rubbed his dear brother's hair, and shoving him out of the way, proceeded to sprint towards the tube system. Well, sprint in Imre's terms.
"Hey! Cheater!"
Theodore heaved a sigh, something he seemed to be doing a lot since his sons arrived, and chased after his unfilial children who left an old man behind.
"Do you remember where your teacher's office is?"
"Yeah, yeah. Come on, dad! I want to go examine the fountain sculpture again."
"Hey, stop! You're not allowed to go near that fountain. Harvey!"
Imre wondered how his brother still had the energy to run after running all the way to the station. He himself had still been out of breath until they were halfway to the campus.
Imre gave his forms in the green folder to the Dean's secretary who had politely requested he sit and wait after verifying his personal details. Exactly on time, Dean Ruefallo's office door swung open to reveal a scowling youth.
Imre greeted her with a nod, "Mel."
"Ray."
"Will I be seeing you around here?"
"Yeah. My uncle's keeping a tight leash on me. Don't want that wild girl ruining the family reputation now do we?"
"Have you got any plans to change that?"
Mel scoffed. "You think this is still your little fishing planet? There are sharks every corner you turn here in the capital."
"Well, I believe myself to be a lotus so it won't matter how many sharks there are."
Mel frowned and grew irritated at Imre's seemingly lack of concern.
"I'll keep to my freshwater and bloom to be exquisite."
"Do you think you'll be safe if you isolate yourself."
"Without the salt in saltwater, the cells of sharks will rupture and cause bloating and death."
She gave an indignant huff and left Imre alone in the reception area without a goodbye. But he was quite satisfied after smelling burnt nuts when Mel walked past.