"What about your friends?"

"What friends?"

-A Year in the Life: Fall

Ten years later- 1974

Everybody knew the Danes family. They were at every town event, always the first to arrive and the last to leave. The children were happy and polite. Luke carried old people's shopping bags across the street and it was generally agreed that he was the best paperboy the town had ever see. 'Little Lizzie', as everyone called her, was full of life. She could not be contained and was usually found in dance class, disrupting Miss Patty and making the other children laugh by putting her skirt above her head.

William and Lottie always made an event out of every little town hoopla, dressing the children up and getting them all excited. Throwing themselves into town events was a Danes family tradition. Though generally grumpy in disposition, the family had a deep love of community and felt the need to serve and connect to it as much as possible.

Luke stood timidly in the doorway and watched his father tie, straighten and re-tie his tie.

"Damned thing!" he grumbled, chucking it on the floor. Luke giggled.

"Which rugrat is that, huh?" William called out. It might've sounded rough or scary to some children but Luke knew he was just being playful. All of Liz's friends were scared of their dad. He was very tall and very strong and had a deep voice. His default state of being was annoyed, and you could tell. But he worked harder than anyone else in town and he had a heart of gold. Especially when it came to his kids. "C'mon rugrat, show yourself." William coaxed.

Luke shuffled into view of his father.

"Ah! Boy! C'mere let me show you something."

Luke stumbled into his parents' bedroom and sat up next to his father on the end of the bed.

"You see this?" William said, showing Luke the tie. It was his dad's favorite tie, sort of soft green and cream. "What is this?"

"It's a tie, Pop," Luke replied.

"That's right, it's a tie. You see that drawer over there? Go open that, go on, don't dawdle."

Luke jumped up and opened the drawer, pulling out a smaller black tie. "This mine?" he asked, running the soft material through his fingers.

"Yep, that's yours."

"But I don't like wearing ties. They make my neck feel funny."

William sighed and leaned forward on his knees. "Lemme show you how to tie it. Stand here, face the mirror." Luke did as he was told as his father fastened the tie around his neck. He watched William concentrate hard on the mirror to get the tie right. His stubble scratched Luke's cheek. Luke wondered if he'd ever have scratchy stubble like that. He hoped he would.

"Why do I have to wear a tie anyway? It's just some dumb town thing." Luke protested once the tie was on and straight.

"Hey now, son. It's not dumb. Turn around, look at me a sec." William placed his hands on Luke's shoulders. "When you're wearing a tie you're telling the world, 'Hey! I feel good today.' That make sense?"

Luke nodded. "It's still uncomfortable though."

"Yes. I know." William snickered.

Lottie sauntered into the room, Liz in tow, searching under pillows and chairs for her purse. Liz copied her, picking up the same pillow after her mother had put it down. Bending over to check under the same chairs. Eventually, Lottie caught sight of Luke and her hand flew to her mouth.

"Oh baby, you look so handsome! So grown up!" she cooed, placing her hands on his cheeks.

"So grown up!" Liz echoed, grabbing her big brother's hand.

"Come on, no need to get all emotional it's just a tie," William said. He wasn't big on feelings.

"Can I have a tie, Papa?" asked Liz.

"You want a tie, my sweet Lizzie? You got it. As soon as you turn ten, like your brother, I'll get you whatever tie you want. What colour you thinking?"

"Umm... Orange!"

"Orange? Sounds like a great tie."

"You don't want one, Liz." Luke interrupted. "They're really uncomfortable."

"Then I'll wear it like a belt," Liz retorted, sticking her tongue out. "Belts are cool, huh mom?"

"Absolutely, babe," Lottie said, preoccupied with her suddenly grown-up-looking little boy. She smiled and patted her son's cheek one last time before locating her purse which had somehow been kicked under the bed. She snatched it up, victorious. "Right! Are we ready to go?"

"Ready as we'll ever be."

The town square was heaving with people when they arrived. The Spring Fling was everybody's favorite festival, so even the people that weren't the most community-minded came out to celebrate.

"Carrie!" Liz squealed, as soon as she saw her friend. "Can I go play, mom, please?" she begged.

Her parents nodded. They didn't like to be super overprotective of their kids. They pretty much let Luke and Liz do what they wanted when they wanted. It was William's philosophy that the kids should learn to be independent and stand on their own two feet. As a result, both Luke and Liz were very self-sufficient at a young age.

"What about you, honey, got any friends you wanna play with?" asked Lottie.

"Not really." Luke shook his head.

"What about your cousins, Jim and Frannie?" his father asked.

"They're sorta mean."

"They're family, bud."

"Doesn't make them not mean."

Lottie looked at her husband over their son's head. She couldn't deny that Jim and Frannie were sort of mean. Still, she worried because Luke never really seemed to have many friends. Liz had come out of the womb a social butterfly but Luke, Luke was always more of a lone wolf.

"I'm gonna go check in with Louie, wanna come?" William asked his wife. Lottie shot him a 'Do I have to?' look. She loved William, but his family drove her crazy. "Ok, you can stay with the kid," William said, patting his son on the head and wandering off to find Louie.

"Alright, buddy, just me and you. What you wanna do?"

"Lemonade?"

"Sounds like a plan."

Once Lottie and Luke had gotten their lemonade, they sat down together on a bench. Lottie watched her son sip his lemonade as he watched all the other kids run by, chasing each other and giggling. She wondered, did he really just like being alone? Or did he want friends but just found it difficult to make them?

"Hey buddy, how's school?" she asked, trying to probe some information out of him.

"Fine." came the reply. He had never been a chatty child. Liz was much easier in that respect. Obviously, Lottie loved both her children equally, but she'd always found it easier to understand her little Lizzie. They were very alike, and very verbal.

"You learning lots of stuff?" she tried again.

Luke shrugged. "Sure, I guess." Luke hated school, it was his least favorite place. He much preferred helping out his dad in the hardware store or helping him with the boat. There weren't many people around and his dad appreciated quiet even more than Luke did. There was never pressure to talk with William, to fill the silence, but Lottie seemed intent on communicating.

"You don't feel like talking, huh?"

Luke nodded. Like father like son Lottie thought.

"Ok well, I'm gonna go check on your sister..." Lottie began, starting to stand up.

"No," Luke said, grabbing her arm suddenly. "Please, can you just sit with me?"

Lottie's heart melted. How could she say no to that? "Of course I'll sit with you. I'll always sit with you."

Thank you for reading this chapter! Leave some reviews, let me know what you think. I love love love reading them and I really do appreciate it x