Odyssey of the City of Lights

Odyssey of the City of Lights - Book 1 - Chapter 6

Before leaving, Aaron suggested I change if I wanted to. I was confused. I felt comfortable in my Old World clothing; the simple shirt, pants, and suspenders had always been enough for me.

"Your choice," Aaron said, his tone light and nonjudgmental. "You might get teased a bit. I just wanted to warn you."

I chose not to change into the modern clothing. Aaron accepted me for who I was; why would his family be any different? In fact, the only person who's so far made any kind of reaction to me being dressed this way was the proprietor of the pizza establishment.

We got into Aaron's car and drove through the city. We were leaving behind the tall buildings. In fact, the houses were starting to look almost normal to me. Crossing a green space dotted with trees and metal constructs milling around with gardening tools, Aaron explained that his parents lived in a suburban-style community with a small batch of shops, a quaint school, and a limited number of attractions.

It was almost like a modern version of my home village—just nestled inside this sprawling, futuristic city.

Our driving pace slowed considerably as we ventured deeper into the suburban area, giving me an opportunity to observe the locals. Dozens of people walked around with personal computers and glasses like Aaron's. The kids, however, didn't seem to have the devices. They were focused on playing with various remote control vehicles, both rolling along the ground and flying through the air. Their laughter and excitement filled the air, making me feel oddly at ease.

Aaron took a few turns through streets lined with flowering trees that didn't make sense for fall. He caught my puzzled expression and explained that they were custom-bred to flower year-round. The vibrant hues of pink, purple, and white blossoms brought bursts of color to the otherwise earth-toned neighborhood.

We pulled into the driveway of a house that, aside from a few differences in color and size, reminded me of my childhood home. It was two stories, but the windows were larger and tinted nearly black. The yard was immaculately manicured but with no house animals in sight. An abundance of flowers and berry-laden shrubs attracted birds and squirrels that chattered loudly among themselves.

As we walked up to the house, an impossibly loud barking erupted. My heart raced, and I froze, then stumbled backward, looking at Aaron for reassurance. He laughed and said, "He's just a puppy. Don't worry; he won't bite."

No sooner had he spoken than the door opened, and the largest dog I'd ever seen leaped onto Aaron's shoulders, its front paws gripping him as it licked his face with a giant tongue. Then the dog turned its gaze on me. My blood ran cold, and I found myself rooted to the spot from the growl that came from the giant tooth-lined maw.

A man who bore a striking resemblance to Aaron emerged from the house and grabbed the dog by the collar, yanking it back. "Down!" he commanded. "I know you haven't seen him for a while from your perspective, but it's only been a week." He looked at Aaron and greeted him warmly: "Good evening, son."

Turning to me, he man sized me up from head to toe. "I'm Thomas Sterling," he said. "You must be Aaron's friend he warned us about." Leaning to the dog and pointing at me, he added, "Friends." The growl stopped instantly.

A voice came from inside the house. "Oh my... Honey, Aaron told us not to warn us about the guest, just to say he invited a friend!" A woman appeared in the doorway, her smile bright but her eyes tinged with sadness. "Sorry about him; he has an unintentional mean streak. I'm Patricia." She put an arm around Thomas's waist as he held the giant dog with the other hand. "Hi, son. Ready to come in?"

I nodded hesitantly, still somewhat intimidated by their massive dog but determined to make a good impression. We stepped inside the house, and I marveled and gawked at the pristine interior. The mixture of advanced technology with homey touches made me feel oddly at ease. There were several screens I saw already, and a little round thing was scurrying around the floor. Otherwise, the couches and décor wouldn't be that out of place in my village.