Space Explorers

Chapter 2: The Sun Through the Rainclouds

September 9th, 2032

Ilriu and Hisumi's soup bowls clattered on the counter and the siblings returned to the old table. A knock was heard from the old green door, Ilriu and Hisumi's posture straightening at attention to the noise. Ilriu stood from where he was seated and swung open the door to reveal a woman in her early 50's with a beam on her face. The brightness of her expression in contrast to the Tull's gloomy household was like a breath of fresh air to the siblings.

"Wyu!" Hisumi greeted, her normally dull toned voice growing light.

"Hiya there Hisumi!" Wyu waved back to the girl as she spoke and moved over to the table seating herself where the siblings' father had eaten breakfast that morning. Ilriu followed, sitting back in his chair. Even his mouth curved upwards into the smallest of smiles at his sister and tutors' excitement.

Once everyone was situated, pencil and notebook in hand, Wyu began today's lesson with a question. "What do you value in life?"

It was an odd question, one they hadn't been asked so directly before. Ilriu spoke up first, raising his softer voice to speak to their tutor in confidence.

"I value my family," Ilriu stated.

"We also value things like money, and treating people righteously," said Hisumi.

"Those are all good," Wyu began, "I want you to make a new page in your ethics notebook and label it Values. Come up with at least five things you value each, and then I want you to think about how those values impact the decisions you make."

Hisumi and Ilriu did as she asked, copying 5 things they each valued on the page. It seemed a bit elementary, this style of lesson. No textbook, or math sheets, or lecture. Just a question and answer in a notebook. However, pondering how the values they contain impact their decisions was a harder task. It seemed obvious at first, when you feel strongly about a subject you are more or less inclined to do something related to the subject you feel strongly about. Although Ilriu and Hisumi knew, their tutor would be searching for something more in-depth and descriptive. A specific value, and specific action.

The siblings glanced up from what they wrote, to find Wyu staring back. The tutor nodded, speaking up once more. "Hisumi, you first."

"One value I chose was family. Family has impacted quite a lot of my decisions, usually in a positive way. I am grateful for the family I have and because of this I put many funds I collect from jobs and gifts towards our savings jar." Hisumi motioned over to a jar on the kitchen counter closest to the front door, which contained many silver coins and older green dollar bills. "The jar has helped fund for trips into the city when our father is free from work, and other things like fixing broken appliances."

Wyu nodded at this, it was a description she was content with. The tutor then turned her head to face Ilriu, wondering what the quiet boy had listed for his values.

"And you Ilriu?" she asked.

The lean blonde peered over at his notebook, reviewing what he had written before looking back up at his sister and tutor. "I value public transportation-"

"That's odd," Hisumi interrupted, earning a glare from Wyu.

"Go on, Ilriu." Wyu motioned towards the male.

Ilriu sighed, staring at his sister pointedly before beginning again. "As I was saying- I value public transportation since we can't afford a car, giving that our mother took the one we had when she left. The train is the only way our father can make it to work every day, and how we get into town." Ilriu lifted his right hand, delicately shutting the ethics notebook.