Parker's Place

For the past three years, Parker had been a completely virtual student on a medical conditional pass signed off on by his pediatrician and his mom.

His first day of school was a terrifying one. Parker's mom had set up a special classroom area with a camera for him to be seen as well as a computer for him to watch the lectures on. Perhaps it was because it was a private school versus a public school, but Parker felt like he was just like any other student.

Mr. William Tamplin was a great teacher and he always made sure everyone was seen and heard if they had questions. He was a curious man with black rimmed glasses that reminded Parker of the ones Clark Kent would wear. He had sandy blond-brown hair, like Parker, but he had pale blue eyes like glacier ice. He was a young teacher, but he knew the answer to everything, even though he usually taught English.

Parker's other teachers were nice, but they weren't the same as Mr. Tamplin.

On that first day, Mr. Tamplin had Parker introduce himself and talk a little about what he liked and what he wanted to learn. All of the other teachers had Parker do the same thing as the camera and screen that represented him was shown to the class.

Parker had never seen so many children his age before, and he was both excited and terrified. When he was in Mr. Tamplin's class, however, he felt safe, especially when it came to questions about why Parker couldn't come to class. That was another thing Parker liked about Mr. Tamplin. He, unlike the other teachers, didn't request that Parker explain anything about his condition.

Parker and his mom went over the details in depth every day to make sure Parker didn't say too much. For whatever reason, Parker's mom seemed uneasy about Parker sharing the name of his condition and details about it. It was weird, but the small child figured that it was such a rare condition that not much was known about it and that he wouldn't be able to answer the questions he would receive.

"So, Parker, if anyone asks…"

"I know, mom. I just say that I have a special medical condition that is still being explored. It's not contagious, but it just makes me a little fragile, so I have to stay put at home until we find a better solution," recited Parker.

It was the same thing he told everyone in his classes and to his teachers.

There were a few who asked further questions when he was in private group study sessions or if they had free chat time and one of the kids came up and decided to talk to Parker, but Parker's responses were always the same, and so the topics were changed.

Through his fall and spring of his first year, Parker made several friends. There was Bailey, a black haired girl who loved to draw, and Billie, a kid who couldn't hold still to save his life. The three of them were fast friends because of their love of the same cartoons and, with Amanda's permission, the three of them had phone calls and video chats outside of school hours.

Neither of them seemed interested in Parker's condition and, for them, it was cool having a virtual friend. Sometimes, they even called Parker "the spaceman," pretending he was in some kind of protected facility that was doing research on Mars or whatever.

In the end, it didn't matter. They had continued to be friends all through his classes, even as he excelled in nearly all of his subjects and jumped grades. Parker was good at making friends and learned quickly how to socialize without bringing up his special circumstances and condition.

Now, for the first time, he was getting an actual birthday party.

True, it was still virtual for all of his friends to log in, but it was going to be the greatest thing ever!

"Hey, mom? I know it's a little early, but could I go ahead and log into Discord?" asked Parker as he tapped on the mouse. He was so close, tantalizingly so, to spending a great afternoon with his friends. The mouse danced across the screen over the camera image, highlighting it every time it traced over the icon.

Amanda approached and looked at the camera and its placement in Parker's room. It looked like everything was set up to avoid showing too much about him and his room. The thought of someone seeing Parker for the size he was felt close – too close, but she wanted to give Parker this birthday.

He was thirteen after all.

She thought of the gifts she had prepared for him and hoped she was doing the right thing with it.

Years passed and now he was officially a teenager.

The time really had gone by so fast.

"Sure," she replied after a moment. "I don't see why not. If you have any problems with the program or camera, just let me know. And remember…"

"About my condition and what we talked about. I remember mom. Thanks!" Parker clicked on the camera icon so fast that it made Amanda's head spin. She carefully tiptoed away and listened as Parker began calling out to his friends.

The moment his mom gave the go-ahead, Parker saw that Billie and Bailey were already online and ready for him. He eagerly entered the "Parker's Party" channel he created and watched as his friends' faces flickered onto the screen.

"Hey spaceman!" greeted Billie. He leaned forward so his nose was blown out of proportion. The grin he had on his face was absolutely priceless.

"Sup man! How've you been?" asked Parker as he leaned back in his chair and stared at the camera at his friends.

"Hey! What about me?" asked Bailey. She was dressed in a pretty pink dress and folded her arms in a full body pout.

"Hey there to you too Bailey," Parker said with a wave. "You guys are the first online. Any word from Spencer or Selina?"

"No, not yet." Billie's connection garbled his response but cleared up shortly after. "But you know them. Twins dude. They'll be online together or never."

"I hear ya on that," Parker replied. Just then, Spencer and Selina's icons popped into the chat followed shortly by ten other friends Parker invited.

The chat and the cameras were filled with cheering and kids talking over one another, creating jumbled connections and amusing breaks in conversation. Games began of Among Us, Speed Racer, and a few other odd ones that Parker was able to access on his device.

After games and other discussions of the fun, nerdy things they were watching or reading, they took a break to sing happy birthday and open the cards they all made for Parker. Because of his condition, Parker requested that his friends make cards for him that they could send to him later.

They were all hilarious.

Parker was rolling on the ground laughing, as was everyone else, and they decided to have an impromptu competition for whose card was the best.

Selina won, naturally. Her sketching abilities were unparalleled, and her use of humor was worthy of the Sunday funnies. The image was Parker in a spacesuit hovering over planets with Mars in the background. It looked like he was outside of some big space station and the caption read, "Comet me, bro!" and underneath read, "I wanted to have a space-themed birthday party, but there was no one to planet. Happy Birthday Parker!" What really caught Parker's eye was the little heart next to Selina's name.

"Wow, Selina. That one is fantastic," Parker complemented.

"Awww! Thanks Parker! Thanks guys!" said Selina with a wink. For whatever reason, Parker felt his heart flutter and his insides flip when he was Selina staring directly into the camera right at him. It was like she was right there looking into his eyes. "Only the best for my bestie."

"What!" Billie roared. "He's my bestie!"

"Uh, I talked to him first, so he's my bestie," retorted Bailey.

"Can't you all be my besties?" asked Parker, recovering

Hours passed and, eventually, everyone was called away for dinner or some other activity. Parker waved his hand and wished his friends a great day, and all wished him a happy birthday.

Finally, it was just Bailey and Selina left.

"Well, Parker, I hope you had a great birthday," said Bailey. "And don't worry! I'll be sending you my card A.S.A.P!"

"Yeah, same here," chimed in Selina. The look the two of them gave one another made Parker's hair stand on end. It was like there was some unspoken rivalry between the two of them that, for one reason or another, involved him. Parker wasn't sure really what was going on, but he didn't want to get in the middle of it.

There was that instinct in him to back away slowly and hide under something big and tall, but Parker held his ground and swallowed his apprehension, addressing his friends

"Well, I can't wait to get them," said Parker. He stared into the faces of his friends for a little while longer before Bailey's mom could be heard in the background calling for her. She huffed dramatically and leaned forward.

"You'll be getting mine first, so message me as soon as you get it, okay? Talk to you soon Parker! Bye!" said Bailey as she disconnected. Parker looked back at Selina, now realizing she was staring right at him. Her cheeks were a little rosy and the light hit her eyes in a way that made Parker's insides flip.

He swallowed dryly, but Selina spoke first.

"I'll be sending mine first, but I wanted to ask if it's okay if I post it on my Tumblr account before I do. I wanted it to just be for you, but it would be good for my portfolio. I'm applying to the Visual Arts program and want to get some traction," Selina requested. Parker nodded, but a curiosity tugged at his mind.

"Sure, I don't have a problem with that, but what's Tumblr?" asked Parker.

"What? I'm surprised you don't have one for your writing and everything," Selina replied. "It's just a place online for you to submit your stories, poetry, art, and all of that stuff. You should totally make one! I'll be your first follower!"

Parker hadn't really thought about publishing his scribblings. Mr. Tamplin was always complementary of his work, encouraging him to do more, and his other writing teachers and tutors said he had a gift for the written word.

Maybe it was worth a shot.

At the very least, it would give him a chance to make more friends.

"Sure. I mean, I have to double check with my mom and everything, but I'll send you the link if I get one. Sound good?"

"Great! Well, I'll talk to you soon! Bye Parker!"

The connection was cut and, once again, Parker was left alone in his room, his camera being the only one facing him. He stared at the lens and at his own reflection in the shaped glass. He wasn't sure why, but it made him feel the slightest bit lonely.

Despite having friends and being online with them for hours, it didn't change the fact that he was still completely and utterly alone.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you."

Parker turned around to see his mom approaching with a cake with two tiny candles labeled "1" and "3" on top. It was his favorite, a strawberry cake, and he stepped out of his room to the bedside table to greet her.

"Thanks, mom," smiled Parker as he gazed up at her. She balanced his cake, which was about as big as his torso, on the tips of her fingers as she smiled at him.

"You're so welcome," she said, her adoration clearly audible. "Now, you know the rule. Take a big breath and make a wish."

She held up her phone camera and hit record. Parker took a few deep breaths, unsure of what to wish for, and stared at the melting wax as it dripped down the edge of the candle.

What did he want?

What was his desire?

He had friends and time at school. He had technology and knick knacks as well as all of the books he could possibly want.

The only thing he would really want was to actually go outside and play with his friends, but that wasn't possible. It was too dangerous for him, as his mother explained on numerous occasions.

Parker knew the wax wasn't dripping any slower so, without a wish ready and writing himself a rain check, he blew out the candles.

"Yay! Happy birthday, sweetie," Amanda said as she set Parker's cake over onto the small table she brought with her. "Now, do you want cake or presents first?" Parker knew the answer already and, leaving his momentary sadness behind, he decided to enjoy the day rather than be brought down.

"Presents please," he said as he stepped onto his mom's awaiting hand. His mom's smile broadened.

"I hoped you would say that. I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to start with the biggest one first. Otherwise, the others aren't going to make sense," said Amanda. She carefully stood and walked out of the bedroom and toward her office.

Parker leaned forward to look down over the edge of his mom's hand at the vast distance below him. Something about the height was enticing and thrilling to him. It made his mom anxious anytime he was near the edge, but something inside him said that he could fall and be fine.

"Okay, I really hope you like it, but do not feel pressured into liking it," said his mom. Parker felt confused as he looked away from the ground and toward the table by the side of the room. Immediately, his mind went blank as he looked at the thing on the table.

It was a miniature house.

It was made of pale blue panels and even had light brown shingles and white trim on the windows and doors. From what Parker could tell, there was nothing on the inside except for a few wrapped presents. It was three stories tall and had a little porch area with a gazebo.

He honestly wasn't sure what to make of it until his mom asked, "Do… you like it?"

Parker, still unsure, gestured to the front door and his mom carefully set him down. The miniscule boy stepped up onto the porch, noticing how the steps were perfectly set for him. There was a wooden sign on the door that caught his attention immediately, adding to his swirling emotions.

"Parker's Place"

He reached out and pushed the door open, noting the hinges were just like the ones on the big doors, just smaller.

When he entered the main area, he spotted a set of stairs on the left hand side as well as two entryways leading to two rooms. The rooms themselves were massive, to the point where Parker could run from one side to the other, spin around, and stretch without fear of hitting anything around him.

The outside world shifted as the house spun effortlessly around and the far wall opened up into two separate panels. His mom knelt down and watched him intently as he walked over to the right and into the kitchen. There was a box which had a bit of a hum to it and, when Parker opened it, the air was cold.

Parker, fascinated, turned on his heel and ran into the next room, seeing some old looking wallpaper and several large windows that led to the gazebo.

He needed to see more.

Adrenaline and curiosity fueled him as he sprinted up the stairs, each fitting him perfectly, as he found three new rooms with large windows all around. Still, there was another set of stairs. Parker glanced into the other rooms and found what looked like a miniature bathroom and what could be a bedroom before running upstairs to the top floors. Parker didn't even mind that he ran past a stack of presents to continue his exploring.

There were two smaller rooms with a narrow entryway to get in, but it was still a massive space.

Now practically at eye-level with his mom, he turned around and looked into her eyes, his words finally manifesting.

"What… is this?"

"It's a little house made for you," she replied. Parker spun around in the space, mind still wrapping around the concept.

"For… people like me? But… how? Why?" Something felt odd about this place; like some kind of trap. Parker couldn't explain the feeling, but something about this place didn't quite feel right – like he didn't quite belong there.

"Yes, something along those lines. Do you remember our conversation the other day about how you're getting older and… things are going to be changing a bit?" asked his mom. Parker nodded vaguely while his mind processed how perfectly everything about this house fit him and why it didn't feel right.

"Yes, I remember."

"Well, you're getting older now and I think it's time that you had a larger space to call your own," said Amanda. "It'll let you gain a little independence and give you a little more freedom and privacy. You can decorate everything how you'd like, and we can set up the hot and cold water and lights together if you want."

Parker stared around at the vast space.

Except for his room, he had always been surrounded by things that were immense compared to him. His tablet. The books his mom borrowed from the library. The camera he used for class.

Everything was big…

And now it wasn't.

Parker finally pinpointed the feeling swirling inside him that overrode the sensation of this place feeling like a weird trap.

Normal.

He had always felt normal, but now the world around him felt like it fit him.

"Parker?" His mom's voice pulled him back to the moment. "Do… you like it? Remember, you can say no. I just tho-"

"I love it."

Amanda couldn't be more relieved. She had been holding her breath the entire time Parker explored the dollhouse she purchased online for him. It was a miracle he didn't find it sooner, but thankfully she had only had it for a few days. Dragging the package through to her office while Parker was in class was her saving grace.

Now, seeing the smile spreading across his face, it made it all worth it.

Yes, she felt an immense guilt for buying a dollhouse when Parker obviously was a person but keeping him in a shoebox on her bedside table felt wrong now that he was officially a teenager.

"You really like it?" asked Amanda, her voice choking up as she looked into those thoughtful brown orbs belonging to her son.

"Yeah, this place is sweet! I mean, it kinda has a weird smell and will need some stuff, but I've got so many cool places to go now! I can have a library and book area over on the gazebo in that side room. Bedroom is above that. Upstairs here is the recording, writing, reading area. I get a kitchen and my own bathroom too?" Parker felt himself geeking out.

"Well, I'm thrilled you like it," said his mom, wiping her eyes with the heel of her palm. "Anyway, your other presents are related to this place, so I hope you like them."

Parker could barely contain himself.

He sprinted down the stairs, reveling in how they were perfectly sized just for him, and tore open the presents. Some of them were games he had wanted to buy and the others were gift cards. One gift card was from a place called "Tay Models" that really intrigued him.

"It's an independent company that makes furniture and accessories for people like you," replied Amanda. A pang of guilt hit her, but she disguised it behind a smile. Tay Models came up during a search for dollhouse accessories and furniture, but nothing on the website indicated that it was meant for toys and dolls that were Parker's size.

It was the best solution she could come up with without telling Parker more about the condition she had fabricated to keep him – both of them – safe.

"No way!" Parker was overjoyed and eagerly leapt down out of the house and onto the table to hug his mom's fingers. "Thanks mom! When can we start working on the water and motors and lights?"

Amanda swallowed hard and nodded. "Today, if you want."

Parker beamed at her and nodded.

"Yes, please. And… momma… could I sleep in here tonight? Move some of my things in here?" asked Parker. The question made a lump form in Amanda's throat. This would be the first time Parker would be sleeping in another place instead of right beside her.

It made Amanda feel hollow but also reassured at the same time. She knew it was probably unhealthy to have her son sleeping in the same room within arm's length of her for the majority of his life, but only now did she feel like she could leave him to his own devices.

Parker was a trustworthy boy, and now he was going to be able to practice his independence at a safe distance.

"Of course, sweetie," she replied as she turned her hand and Parker leapt on, ready for the next phase of his life.

The rest of the evening was eventful to say the least. Both Amanda and Parker had accidentally soaked themselves while getting the water running in both the kitchen and the bathroom, which was the essential if Parker was going to stay in Parker's Place.

The two of them had dinner and cake while reading the manual on how to set up the electricity of the house but elected by unanimous vote to work on it tomorrow in favor of watching a double feature before bed.

Parker drifted off to sleep at one point through the movie, leaving his mom to carry him to bed, but woke just long enough to give his mom a kiss goodnight and tuck himself in under his blankets. He stared at the ceiling that, for once, didn't tower above him.

Things were different, both weird and good, and Parker was excited for the things he was going to get to do with his place.

He drifted into a dream filled sleep of far off adventures and worlds beyond comprehension. When he woke, he hurriedly scribbled down his thoughts and what he remembered about the dream, realizing that it would be an amazing plot for a story.

He suddenly felt like it was a shame to keep all of his ideas to himself. He stared at the countless notebooks that were scattered on the ground and, suddenly, it hit him.

Parker knew what he wanted for his birthday – to be able to publish his ideas.

So, as he stood and stretched, one of his objectives of the day became crystal clear.

He was going to start publishing, just like Selina said, and it was going to start today.