Chapter 4

David sat on the little dock from before; the sun hung low…preparing to disappear over the horizon. The heat was tame; warm…but depleted by the lack of sunlight.

The only sound that could be heard was the slight lapping of the water against the wood and the bank…and the croaking of frogs.

In his right hand was a small and aged fishing pole; dangling over the side of the dock was a line embedded in the water.

In his left was a book…a science fiction novel of the twentieth century.

David chuckled at the inconsistencies; the human's of the past had such strange ideas of what the future would look like.

David glanced over his left shoulder; he heard a sound from dirt road up ahead.

He shook it off after a moment…returning to his reading.

"I hesitated — and suddenly realized that, if I didn't take a swing at it, I would wonder all my life whether I was anything but the boss's son. "I'm going to chance it."

David read the words on the page; he turned them over in his head for a moment. They carried an emotion; he knew they had some relevance. But he didn't know what. After a few minutes…they faded away into the back of his mind. Locked away for another day…another time.

David heard the sound again; it was much closer. It was the sound of boots crunching gravel.

He looked over the page he was on for a moment…glancing over the words…not processing any of them.

He glanced over his shoulder again…and spotted the image of a man approaching him.

"David!?" they shouted. David said nothing. He watched them carefully as they approached.

The closer they got…he started to recognize them.

"Ed…?"

Ed sauntered over to the dock…leaning on one of the wooden posts. The two grinned at each other mildly.

"Heard you were back in town,"

David nodded.

"Came back six months ago; how've you been?"

Ed looked out onto the water.

"Eh…could be better. Could be worse,"

David looked down at his book; he gently closed it and set it down.

"Heard you joined,"

Ed nodded his head. He hunched down and took a seat next to David.

"Yeah…I mean…figured might as well,"

David chuckled a little.

"Same old Ed. Those professors running circles around you?"

"Yeah…I'm swamped. Four classes devoted to legal and philosophy are required."

"That sounds like a nightmare,"

"That's on top of my core stuff,"

David cringed. He made a face.

"To hell with that,"

The men sat in silence for a moment.

"Have you thought about what you want to do?"

David looked down at his hands. His eyes darted to a frog nestling on a lily-pad.

"No," he said quietly.

"Are you going to go to school?"

"I don't know," David said with the same tone.

Ed grimaced a little. He quietly nodded his head.

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know, Ed!"

David got to his feet. He grabbed a stone and tossed it into the water. Ed's expression changed to discomfort.

"I'm sorry. Everyone keeps asking me."

"Because they care about you, big guy."

David sighed and turned to Ed.

"I honestly don't give a damn…I was just curious,"

David grinned.

"Ed…I've missed talking to you,"

Ed got to his feet and leaned on the wooden post again.

"I've missed talking to you too, to be honest,"

The two men turned to the water.

"You still seeing Helen?"

Ed nodded again.

"Yeahhhh…."

"You doin' okay?"

"Yeahhhh…I mean its kind of complicated right now. She's off in Berlin studying biology. We have no idea how its going to work when I graduate,"

David nodded solemnly.

"I understand,"

Ed flipped his communicator open to check the time…then flipped it shut.

"I'd better shove off…I got things to do. Dinner tonight?"

"You bet,"

Ed turned and started sauntering away. David watched him for a moment.

"Ed,"

Ed paused.

"Yeah?" he called out…glancing over his shoulder.

David's eyes were fixed on the Starfleet emblem on Ed's communicator. The image invoked an emotion in David…one that he didn't understand.

"I…" he stopped himself.

Ed furrowed his brow in confusion; David shook his head.

"Never mind. I'll see ya later,"

"Kay kay,"

Karen sat on the front porch…sipping a glass of iced tea. She had a novel in her hand; but her eyes seemed to be focused on the front yard. Her eyes bounced from object to object…no real focus on any of it.

Just up the dirt road…she spotted the outline of her brother…carrying his fishing pole. His shoulders were slouched forward in a care-less fashion; his eyes walked the ground as he walked.

He turned and marched up their dirt driveway…the fishing pole slipping off his shoulder a bit. He pumped his upper-body upwards to catch it and slip it back into place.

Karen frowned slightly as he approached.

He hopped up the steps…spotting her as he jumped.

"Karen," he groaned.

She glared at him and rolled her eyes.

"Is mom around?"

She opened up her book and fixed her eyes on the first line on the page.

"I asked you a question,"

Karen groaned and rolled her eyes again.

"No!"

A look of frustration crossed his face.

"Where…"

"I don't know! I'm not your secretary!"

David's look of frustration turned into a glare.

"Seriously?"

Karen glanced up at him.

"What?"

David could feel his blood boil a bit. He glanced around in an irritated fashion…then headed for the front door.

He paused with his hand on the handle. Karen glanced up at him with a confused look in her eyes.

"What?" she said with a look of disgust.

In a split-second…David was within inches of her face. He snatched the book out of her hand and tossed over the porch.

"What the hell!?"

"You've been acting like a total brat since I got back. Not even the slightest attempt at being civil or sympathetic. What is your problem?"

Karen stared daggers at him.

"Go get my book, you ass," she snarled through gritted teeth.

David stood up straight and crossed his arms.

"Go get it," she repeated.

David locked eyes with her…not making the slightest sound or movement. After a few minutes…she huffed and got up to grab it herself.

"Leave me alone,"

On her return…David grabbed her by the arm. She struggled to get free…to no avail.

"Let me go!"

His stare pierced her. After a moment…she stopped struggling.

"What the hell did you want me to say 'its so great to see you, David. I'm so happy you're home, David." She snarled.

"That's exactly my point. You've hardly said five words to me in the last six months!"

Karen flashed a look of disgust.

"I'm sorry if I haven't made the 'Prodigal Son' feel more at home. Maybe I should make your bed for your or make a nice home-cooked meal. Better yet…I'll give you a back massage and ramble on how happy I am that you're safe,"

"Is that it? You're just bitter that I left?"

Karen glared and rolled her eyes.

"Don't be so conceited. You got all huffy and stormed off when you finally had the chance. Had you even stopped to consider what it did to Mom?"

David's face turned slightly soft.

"She never said anything to me,"

"Of course she wouldn't! Mom is like a stone statute when it comes to her feelings! Mom was a mess after Dad died. But you never stopped to even consider her."

David was silent. He let Karen's arm slip out of his hand.

"All our childhood all you cared about was your bitter little rivalry with Dad! Guess who always got stuck taking care of everyone and watching after Mom while you had you're stupid little hissy fits!"

David snarled.

"That's easy for you to say! Dad loved you!"

"You're an idiot! You hardly even knew him!"

"That's right!" he shouted. "He was never even here!"

"You wanna the truth…dear old brother!? You've spent you're life being bitter at people who loved you because it just wasn't good enough. Dad tried to guide you but wasn't good enough. Mom throws her love at you bit it wasn't good enough. And I was ALWAYS the one left to clean up your GOD DAMN MESS!"

David was silent; Karen headed for the front door.

"Karen…I came here to make things right." He whispered.

"It doesn't work like that," she spat.

Karen left. David stood there for a long while…turning her words over and over again.

"Maybe it is too late," he thought to himself.