ONE MONTH LATER

Luke had been very careful to do as Uncle Owen asked and not to agitate him in any way. Heeding Ben's advice, he accompanied his uncle on every trip to Mos Enley, Mos Eisely, Bestine, Mos Espa and even Anchorhead one more time. They searched and searched until Owen was at his breaking point. Frustrated, Owen completely gave up on searching for a few weeks.

The very day at the end of the month when the Jawas stopped by, a distraught Owen finally gave them an audience.

Ben was right! Once I stopped pushing, he was open to other suggestions. Luke watched in amazement that Uncle Owen was even talking to the little creatures, much less doing business with them.

At the end of the day Owen was the happy new owner of an R5 astromech droid that was still in good shape (for a piece of junk) that went about its work quite well with little fuss.

"Heck", Luke had overheard Owen say to Beru that day, "with Luke around it might even last 5 more years in the heat with good maintenance."

Pleased with the results of his patience, Luke remembered his motives for keeping Uncle Owen's anger in check. He found himself happier this way, but also he found that Uncle Owen started to let Luke get away with more of the 'little' things. There was less griping going on, and more productivity.

Luke did his work well, making sure he worked a full day, if not longer. He even had to turn down running off with Biggs to go racing through the Dunes of Esla a few times to get his work done. But, he was working hard towards something he really wanted:

Freedom. MY freedom to do what I want with my time.

Through it all, something else continued to tug and nag Luke's mind. All month long he thought of the storm – and his encounter with Ben. The mysterious old man reminded him of wizards he read about in fairy tales as a small child. In those stories, wizards always showed up when they did for a reason. Luke couldn't dismiss any of this as coincidence. But he had to plan carefully, and keep his uncle sated.

Luke would leave earlier than Owen to get started in the morning. He showed up for dinner on time, every single night.

Uncle Owen would chuckle and say sarcastic things like, "Well, look who showed up on time for a change!", or ,"Someone must have taken a shortcut in his work to get home so early!", only to find out that Luke had not only done all his chores, but done some extra work ahead of schedule for the next day.

Both Owen and Beru had been pleased with his improved performance. Beru gave him that knowing smile once during dinner, to reassure him that he was doing the right thing.

A few more days passed. Finally, Luke felt the time was right. Finishing up dinner in a rush one night, he stood up and said, "R5 really needs oiling before tomorrow. We've got several vaporators and condensers to work on, and I don't want any chance of it breaking down."

Owen didn't look up from his food. He casually waved a hand in Luke's direction, acknowledging acceptance of Luke leaving dinner early to go take care of business.

Just before leaving the dining area, he called out, addressing both of them. "And, um…I'd like to watch the sunset tonight while the oiler is doing its work, will that be alright?"

Owen's eating utensils dropped from his hands and he glared up at Luke. Before the harsh words could come out, he felt a soft hand on his own. Owen looked to find Beru gazing at him longingly. This was out of character for her, but her look said it all. It spoke volumes in kindness, which is why he fell in love with her in the first place.

After a long pause, Owen looked up at Luke and said begrudgingly, "All right, but I expect you to be in before I shut the power down; without me having to call you."

After Luke was out of earshot, Beru walked across the table and kissed her husband tenderly on the cheek. "Please, Owen. Let him do this. He did ask your permission. He's worked very hard at improving his attitude. He's done that for you. As long as he does what you say, then there's no harm in him watching the sunset."

"His mind is always in the clouds, Beru," Owen grunted, then changed the subject slightly. "I've never known you to speak your mind about the boy before now."

Beru continued to smile. No matter how much she aged, her smile was as timeless as the day he met her. "Well, maybe it's time I did. Owen, you and I both know he won't stay with us forever. You are my husband, and you know I love you. But, I have always held a concern for your relationship with him. There will come a day--"

"I know," Owen said with a sad look on his face. "I don't want to think about it until then."

"Maybe you should consider thinking about it before then."

"Why?"

Beru leaned over him and said, "Because, if you don't tell him the truth sooner than later…your actions or lack of actions could taint him for life. Luke does not enjoy making you angry, anymore than you enjoy getting angry with him. Try seeing him for what he is rather than what you would have him become. If you can do this, maybe you'll both find a bond you never knew you had. He already sees and accepts you for what you are."

She continued to smile at him. "He has made an effort to understand and be supportive of you. Now you must try to do the reverse. There are two choices here, and the one you make will determine whether or not he loves you more or despises you more when the time comes for you to tell him who he really is. He has a harder burden to bear coming to him than either of us EVER will."

"Alright, I'll start thinking about it," he said reluctantly. "You know me, though. It may take me ten years to figure out how to tell him. But, I promise you that I'll start thinking about it now." He looked into her eyes with a seriousness that made Beru know he was telling the truth. "That much I can promise to you, Beru."

Owen kissed his wife tenderly, and Beru said nothing more. The kiss she returned was all the thank you he needed.

Luke worked furiously at getting R5 into the oiling machine. This astromech droid was far more polite than the last, but was still lodging complaints at the boy for handling it so roughly.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry..." Luke said hurriedly. "Tell you what…I'll give you an extra ten minutes in the oiler if you just humor me, ok?"

The droid beeped in delighted agreement as Luke set the timer and the droid was lowered happily into the oil bath.

He hoped he wasn't too late as he bolted up the stairs and out of the garage entrance.

Although he did have an agenda other than the sunset tonight, he did manage to think to himself, Oh, good! First one I've gotten to watch in a month!

There was still plenty of light left outside. Luke looked and tried to remember with every fiber of his being exactly where he stood the night the sandstorm occurred. He stood in slightly different places each time, but always within the safe perimeter of the homestead and its sensor beacons.

I think -- I was close by the roof of the main living area, just off center to the left.

He looked at his chronometer. Fifteen more minutes.

I've got to find it. Luke didn't understand why this was so important to him. He just simply knew that it was.

Luke stood firmly, to the best of his knowledge, in the spot he thought he was in a month ago. If only I could have done this a day later, my tracks in the sand might still have been visible!

More time passed. He began to feel panicked. Where the heck is it? I know I saw it plain as day, and it was right over here!

Luke started thinking maybe the sandstorm just swirled up a mirage.

No. What I saw was too obvious to be a mirage.

He looked, and searched with growing dismay. He checked his chronometer again. Ten more minutes.

Blast it!

I'm not going to find it, Luke finally resolved, sadly. It's just not here. If it was, it's gone now. Maybe Uncle Owen knew about it and took it away. Maybe-

"Beeeep!"

The oiler sounded loudly from the garage, letting him know the droid's oiling would be finished in another five minutes.

Drat, I didn't even set my chronometer right! He thought, as he whirled his head behind him, then turned it back towards the twin sunset--

Wait a minute. What I'm looking for is right over there!

Though his mind was racing, he could make it out faintly. A large hill of sand stood about ten meters away. There were three peaks on top of a small sand hill that looked like mini-dunes.

He started off towards it, carefully marking in his mind where it was. He knew he was out of time, and would not be able to do anything about it until tomorrow. He had one minute to get back to R5 and get inside.

Uncle Owen said he didn't want to have to call me in. I don't want to make him mad, not when I'm so close.

Hastily running back to the garage, he pulled the droid out of the oiling machine quickly. The R5 unit once again protested, but Luke said quietly, "Hey, we had a deal, remember?"

The droid reluctantly let out a beep that sounded like "Ok", and was shut down and put on the power-charger for the night.

He walked back to the main entrance of the homestead, entering right on queue. Uncle Owen was still five minutes away from shutting the power down. He walked past Owen and Beru as nonchalantly as possible, telling them that all was well and he was ready for another hard day's work, so he was going to turn in early.