My mom came down with cancer and couldn’t take care of me so I went to live my uncle, her brother. I overpacked and overthought the whole scenario. I could just stay in my room the whole time like I’d done all my life.

I hardly thought living at Uncle Louis’ would be any different than living with my mom. They were both peculiar. Heck, a change might be good. Maybe I’d get out in the world more without my overprotective mom.

The bus ride was long, giving me plenty of time to come up with coping strategies. I went through quite a few “If Then” flow charts in my head. By the time I got off the bus to meet my uncle, I was a nervous wreck.

We rode together in silence. He was smoking a cigar but driving quite safely. I was grateful; sometimes my mom would speed if she was angry.

“Nice to meet ya, kid,” Louis said. “I hope you’ll be happy at my apartment. My son will be glad for the company. Since your aunt passed, he’s been a bit reclusive. Maybe he’ll soften up when he meets you.”

I was shocked. A cousin I’d never known! This was not what I expected. I knocked on his bedroom door. When there was no answer, I walked in.

What I saw was a gangly teen with headphones. He had no idea I’d walked in. I walked back out.

I broke out one of my science fiction novels and got lost in the story.

After about an hour, I was hungry, so I went to the kitchen. Uncle Louis was stirring some beef stew that smelled delicious. We ate in silence. So far no one was trying to be friendly. It was going to be pretty boring if this continued.

I wondered what school was going to be like. Was the Baltimore high school lively? Had I just entered the Twilight Zone?

Thank goodness school was very interesting. I was placed in a gifted class. My cousin came out of his shell and told me his life story. I guess I just had to press him.

Maybe I could make the best of the situation. But I couldn’t help but miss my volatile mother. For all her faults, she made my life interesting. I called her one afternoon to share with her my impressions of my new family.

“Your uncle’s got a secret,” Mom said. “He’s a spy. But you’re safe with him- he’s the best agent undercover. Don’t be too nosy, and you’ll be fine.”

And I was- until I was 18. I moved out the day a wet team murdered Louis and my cousin. I felt guilty for running. But they had kept me in the dark and never asked for help.