"Why do we have to know the modern world ended seventy-five years ago?" asked the ten-year-old Lucas to his mother.
"Well, it's so we don't forget where we came from, honey," said Claire, while picking up the laundry basket.
"Well, I know where we come from; we came from here... our home..." replied Lucas, confused.
His mother wasn't quite active in the little boy's conversation; she had a few errands to run before dropping Lucas off on his playdate. She was working against the clock.
"I don't know. I find it hard to believe that we could just walk into one of these strange things and fly across the world... it's impossible, right?"
Claire finally sat down next to her son.
"I know, right? How can a giant metal box fly? It's too heavy," said Claire to her son.
Her son smiled and gave her a hug. Claire noticed something in her son's hand.
"Is that your report card?" asked Claire.
The boy timidly handed over his report card, and as Claire was reading through it, she hugged her son and congratulated him for his good work in school.
"Your father is going to be so proud of you," Claire said.
Lucas pushed himself out of his mother's arms and said, "How can dad be proud of me? I only scored an eight on marksmanship... Dad never misses his target..."
The little boy stormed away to his room.
Claire read her son's report card once again and rushed to her son's bedroom door.
"Oh, Lukey, you're ranked top of your class. Don't overthink it too much, and besides, your father misses sometimes too, you know," she said, trying to comfort her son.
"Not true, everyone says it. My dad never misses," yelled Lucas.
"And who is to blame him? My brother was born with a talent, and the world noticed," said a deep voice behind Claire.
For a brief moment, Shane's voice startled her, but she turned around and greeted him.
"Wasn't expecting you, Shane. How has it been?" she asked.
"As good as the chief of patrol can be, am I right?" ending his sentence with a laugh.
The two walked towards the kitchen, and Claire prepared Luke's lunch for his playdate.
Shane sat at the dining table and looked around the kitchen.
"You know, my brother has always been sentimental. That's why he kept this old house," Shane said.
"Oh, you mean the house you guys grew up in," replied Claire.
"Yeah, well, the newer models are way more spacious, and they come with their own coolers," Shane said.
Claire looked at Shane. "I know. I have been to your house, Shane," she replied.
Shane smiled at her and asked about Luke's report card.
"Well, you know, he's just like his father—perfect in everything they do," Claire said.
"My brother isn't perfect... and you know it, Claire," Shane said.
Both of them exchanged a long and uncomfortable look until Shane stood up and said, "Yeah, anyway, I originally came here to tell you that the farm got their shipment from the capital, and what Joe was looking for was in it, so I'm just relaying the message."
Claire looked at Shane.
"Oh, what, you don't want it... Come on, you know it's cute," Shane said as he was leaving the house.
Lucas finally decided to get out of his room.
"Mom, I'm hungry. Can I have a cookie?"
Claire picked up her son and said, "If you're old enough to slam the door in your mother's face, then you're old enough to wait until lunchtime. And besides, it's almost time for your playdate with Sammy. Fun, right?"
Both had a great view of Charles Town as they watched their neighbors cook dinner together and saw kids playing in the tall grass. Their house was one of the first ones built in Charles Town, built on a high hill. The Sullivans always joked that the town was built around their house.
"Your dad should be arriving anytime now. Yeah, it's almost time for your little brother's dinner," Claire said.
Lucas looked at his mother funny.
"It's not dinner when all he does is drink breast milk..."
"Hey, you're forgetting that you also did that. Back then, we would spend all day together—your sister, my little Lukey, and me, all day," Claire said as she kissed her little baby boy.
"Every time you tell a story about how we used to be, why is Dad never in it?" asked Lucas.
"So I don't forget where we're coming from, Lukey..."
