Catching Stars

My Name is Landor

Hank Fletcher sat at the small table in his kitchen with his youngest nephew. Sometimes, he wished Josh and Drew would leave and get their own lives, homes, jobs. Moments like this were completely good examples what he thought about that wish: on one hand, he loved being able to sit with Josh while they just talk over a beer, but on the other hand, worrying about Drew was the worst feeling ever.

Hank felt an annoyed sigh come from his mouth. He felt Josh look over at him before his youngest nephew said, "You know, Uncle Hank, if you're really that worried about him...you can go look for him."

The old man met his nephew's gaze as he defended himself, "I ain't worrin', ya imbecile!" Josh lifted his hands in defense. Hank then sighed, gentler this time. "Get a beer from the fridge, son. We'll be celebratin' you going to college. I'm sure yer brother will be fine."

Josh quirked a small smile as he went to the fridge, pulled out two beers, and took a seat beside his uncle. They sat together, just talking about random things, and, for a while, it was nice. Just him and his nephew. Well, that was until the trouble-maker burst into the room.

'Burst' was an excellent way of describing how Drew came in through the door of his kitchen. The door flew open, bouncing off the wall a bit, when the young man came in panting and...wet? The old man looked out the window to see rain pouring down from the sky and hitting the ground fiercely. It was raining...again. Great, that was exactly what they needed. More rain.

"Hey...!" the young mechanic greeted through heavy pantings and a wide smile.

"What're you smilin' 'bout?" Hank asked, suspicion clear in his tone.

Drew's eyes widened and he stood up straight. "Uh...there was a meteorite."

Hank and Josh's eyes widened, as well. "What!?" the older man exclaimed. "What d'ya mean there was a meteorite!?"

"You mean that comet that was flying through the sky a little while ago!?" Josh asked.

"Yeah," Drew answered as he fumbled through the pantry next to the fridge. "Well, except for the comet part." He turned around, this time with tons of medical supplies in his arms. "It was actually a meteor that landed in our field." The young man suddenly looked up at his brother and uncle. "Don't worry, I cleaned it up."

Hank looked down at the four first aid kits in his hands. "Did ya get hurt er somethin'?"

Drew's eyes widened again as he glanced between his uncle and the supplies he was carrying. "Oh...yeah.... This is...for me...." He started to move towards the door backwards.

"Do yeh need help?" Hank asked seriously, eyebrow raising.

"Oh! Nah, I got it," Drew closed one eye, lifted one side of his mouth in a smile, and shook his head with a small laugh.

"Are ya sur-" the old mechanic wasn't able to finish as his nephew was suddenly running outside. Hank shook his head, turning back to Josh. "Yer brother sometimes, Josh."

Hank saw himself as a very intelligent man. He enjoyed studying and learning, so he knew of many things. There was one thing, however, that he believed that, no matter how much he studied it, he would never understand for as long as he lived: Drew Fletcher.

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Drew ran across the muddy grass, under the few trees that grew on the twenty-acre land they lived on, and past the salvage yard. He finally got to the old barn that sat around several trees. The young mechanic then pushed the door open with his side and burst into the old building.