Cipher

Chapter 27: Grand Canyon

Cipher was relieved when the weekend finally arrived. He was curious to see if the Grand Canyon lived up to its status as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

They took Saturday getting everything ready for the next day so they could get an early start. Gathering everything they would need, from water bottles and snacks to sunscreen and hats, it was all packed into the back of the car.

Sunday morning the whole family was up and ready to go bright and early with varying degrees of enthusiasm. They all settled into the car, Mr. and Mrs. Johnston up front and the three boys in the back with Aaron and his booster seat buckled into the middle. It was going to be a long drive, but Cipher didn't mind, there was so much to look at outside the window. Even though it had been several weeks since he arrived, the height of human architecture still amazed him. Where humans tended to build up, Aeolians built down leaving most of the architecture below ground and invisible from the outside.

About an hour into the drive Isaac seemed to realize something, he suddenly looked over to Cipher. "Mom's going to want to take pictures," Isaac said quietly, so as not to catch his parents' attention.

Cipher tilted his head, "okay. What does that have to do with anything?"

"How's your smile coming?"

"But you did not approve last time."

"Just try," He encouraged, turning to more fully face him across the car.

Cipher turned as well, looking at him over Aaron's head. He tentatively pulled his face into an approximation of a smile. It felt almost wrong, though, baring his teeth at someone who was, in many ways, family.

"Gah, you look like a little kid trying too hard to smile," Isaac feigned a grimace before it morphed into a huge grin.

The 'smile' dropped off Cipher's face with an air of playful annoyance. "It is strange and I do not like it."

"It's really not that bad," Isaac chuckled. "But just, just do your version of happy. I'm sure it'll be fine."

Aaron seemed a bit confused, looking back and forth between the two older boys. "What you guys talking about?"

"I'm trying to teach Cipher how to smile."

Aaron's head turned to Cipher. "Smile like this," the four-year-old bared his teeth in a way very similar to what Cipher had done moments before.

Cipher's eyes jumped to Isaac who was behind Aaron, shaking his head mouthing the word 'no'. He looked back to the little one. "Thank you, Aaron, that is very helpful."

A genuine smile lit up Aaron's face as soon as the boy wasn't thinking about it anymore. "Good!"

As soon as the car came to a stop in the parking lot, Aaron was beyond ready to get out. Isaac helped him unbuckle his booster seat and get out of the car.

"No running off!" their mother exclaimed as she sensed Aaron's excitement. "Hold hands in the parking lot." Aaron begrudgingly took his brother's hand.

They made their way through the parking lot and over to the lookout over the vast canyon laid out in front of them.

"Wow," Cipher breathed.

Aaron seemed less than impressed with the canyon itself and more interested in the large rocks in front of him; immediately crawling all over them. Mr. Johnston kept a close eye on him as the older boys made their way closer to the railing. Looking over the landscape, Cipher leaned onto the railing, his attention completely focused on the sight in front of him.