Owen Lars slammed the phone down on the receiver angrily. He growled as he walked from behind a counter to a small window. He bent slightly and gave a shove, using his full force to open it. "Needed some air in here," he said to himself, nodding his head. Just as he did so, his nephew, Luke, rushed through the front door of the building.

"Will you tell me why it's so damn hot in here?!" Luke exclaimed breathlessly. Immediately, he turned to a window on the other side of the door and opened it. He brushed his sandy bangs out of his eyes only to have them fall again, more disheveled than before, and blew out a breath.

"The air conditioner's broken again," replied Owen grimly.

"Well, can't it be fixed?"

"No, Luke," his uncle said impatiently. "I'm stuck working in this hellhole..."

"Managing," interjected Luke.

"Managing this hellhole..." Owen paused to give Luke an annoyed glare. "...and there's nothing I can do about the AC right now."

"Fine by me," said Luke, widening his eyes dramatically. He was tired of his uncle's grumpy nature as of late. "It's not my business." He looked around the small video store. The paint on the white walls was peeling, and had faded to a dingy yellow in some places. The store was completely empty except for the two of them. Actually, it looked more like an ugly old house that had been for sale too long; hot, smelly, and forgotten.

"It will be your business when you're an adult if you don't start working harder!" Owen scolded, raising his voice slightly.

"Are you saying that YOU didn't work hard enough?" By now, Luke was beginning to lose his temper. And Luke Walker never, *ever* let someone else win in an insult war when he lost his temper.

"I worked as hard as I could, I just ran into some insurance problems." Owen looked to the ground and dropped his voice slightly. "And after the robbery...well, you know what happened after that."

"Yeah," said Luke quietly. He wrinkled his brow for a few seconds, as if in thought. "That's why I have to go to college. So I can get a full education and increase my chances of getting a good job. Then I'll be able to make enough money for myself, along with you and Aunt Beryl, and you'll have to try hard to convince yourself that there ever was a robbery."

Owen fidgeted uncomfortably, keeping his eyes to the ground. "You can't go this year," he said under his breath.

"What?!"

"I need you here," said Owen, raising his eyes to look at Luke. His nephew couldn't help but feel a small amount of pity for him, even though he knew that his uncle didn't want pity. He was getting old, and it showed in his face. His gray eyes had lost their sparkle, and his skin was dark and weathered from many years of work. His black hair, pinned down from sweat, hadn't been combed all day. Luke sighed.

"I'm sorry, Luke. It would just be better if you didn't go anywhere for the time being."

"If I don't go anywhere now, I'll never get anywhere! You have to stop holding me
back from what I want to do! I'm not a child anymore." He pounded his fist on the counter. And looked at his uncle, trying to stare a reply out of him. All he got was silence and an apologetic look from his uncle.

Owen took a breath. "Just go home," he said, waving his hand in the air. Luke's shoulders dropped and he walked behind the counter to place a hand on his uncle's shoulder for a moment before passing him by. He walked to a small rack of video games and picked one up, holding it towards Owen.

"You mind?" he asked.

No. After all, I am the manager of this hell hole." They both smiled at Owen's remark. "I just got that one in. I don't usually take 'em used, but this woman offered such a great price. I can't figure out why she was coming through here, but she said she was from Philadelphia. Something awfully strange about her. I'm not one to judge peoples' feelings, but she seemed awfully sad to me." He shrugged, and Luke made no reply, but nodded and headed out the door.