Gravity Rises (S3)

LC: Part Five

SUMMER 1969

When Fidds stepped down from the bus, he felt like he was floating.

The bus driver retrieved Fidds' luggage from the storage compartment, and Fidds didn't even harp on him to be careful with the case that held the exoskeleton. He was too busy breathing in the familiar Tennessee air and holding back tears as he realized that, after a whole year, he was home.

A minute later, he realized the bus driver had set his suitcases nearby and was now climbing back into the bus. "Thank you," Fidds called as his ride pulled away.

The town appeared to have remained the same for the entire year Fidds had been gone. He walked slowly down the streets (partly to relish the sights, but mostly because his suitcases were cumbersome), and he wondered where he should go first: home, to put down his things and kiss his mother, or Lilith's shack, to give her the exoskeleton?

A car horn pulled him out of his thoughts. He jumped at the sudden noise, looking around wildly. A voice called, "Fiddleford! You're home!"

Fidds turned to the voice. "Ma!" he said, surprised. "You — you have a car?"

Mrs. McGucket pulled over, got out of her sleek little car, and hurried over on short-heeled Oxfords. She pulled Fidds into a hug. "Oh, Fidds, it's wonderful. I got a job with a makeup company, and now I have a car and new clothes and everything!"

Since the time of her husband's death, she'd worked a thankless secretarial job. Now things seemed a lot better. "That's great!" said Fidds.

Together, the McGuckets lifted Fidds' luggage into the trunk of the car, and Fidds swung into shotgun. Just like that, his decision on where to go was made for him — he went home with his mother, told her somewhat about his first year at college, heard a lot about her new life selling makeup and jewelry, and ate a good home-cooked meal for the first time since he'd left. It wasn't until the next morning that he had time to visit Lilith.

With the newly risen sun peeking through his window, Fidds gingerly lifted his exoskeleton from its case. Thankfully, it was still intact, though he had to make some adjustments as he fitted it onto himself. For the sake of his class project (which he'd scored highly on), he'd built the exoskeleton to support him. When he gave it to Lilith, he'd adjust it to fit her.

With the exoskeleton on his legs, Fidds grabbed its case and went to the kitchen to get some food. He ate a muffin and packed two lunches — one for him and one for Lilith, who admired Mrs. McGucket's cooking (though the cook had no knowledge of this). "I'm leaving, Ma! I'll be back for dinner!"

His ma hollered back in the affirmative, and Fidds left.

The summer weather was beautiful. Fidds whistled as he walked, and the clanking of the exoskeleton provided percussion to his tune. This was it! He was finally going to see Lilith again!

He was halfway up the hill that led to her shack when he saw her.

It seemed she hadn't learned to fly yet. She crested the hill, hobbling on her cane, and didn't see him at first. Then he called her name, and she stopped, squinting down at him. "Fiddleford?"

"Lilith!" He ran up the hill — slower than usual so as to not mess up the exoskeleton, as he'd built it more for walking than for running. "Lilith, I'm home!"