"Pinkie Promise it."

"I pinkie promise it."

"That we'll always always be best friends?"

"Forever and ever Lana."

"I don't want to lose you Clark."

"You won't. I'll always be here Lana, we live right next door to each other."

"Nell said things change."

"Let them. We'll stay the same."

I was baking again, yes the good ol'mama Kent passion. But I still can't believe I'm the good ol'mama Kent now. I loved it when the house smelled of apples and cinnamon. If it was a perfume, I'd wear it. As I put one in the oven I wiped my hands clean and moved on to other chores.

I went into the living room and stopped when I saw Clark standing at the window. Surprisingly, anger took a hold of my heart at that moment. Why should something so unexplainable happen to him? And have such devastating effects? As the days had gone by, he and Lana saw even less and less of each other. And it broke my heart.

Clark stepped back from the window and turned. He stopped when he saw me. He didn't do anything but stand there, a bitter sadness clearly evident upon his face.

"Lana's coming."

I looked over his shoulder through the window and could certainly see a pink sweatered little girl walking up our dusty driveway.

I shared a strange tense moment with Clark. I know all he wanted was to open that door and run to her. His best friend. His first love. But for some unfathomable reason he couldn't. Something to do with his origins. And even he doesn't know the full truth of that matter. He just knows that if it is a sickness or an allergy, he's not allowed to go to the doctor.

And so he doesn't open the door when it rings. He doesn't wave to Lana over my shoulder. He doesn't give her a hug. He just stares back at me and raises his shoulders and hands slightly into the air with a pained look on his young face. What can he do?

He leaves and I walk over to answer the door.

"Hi Lana, what a surprise, how are you?"

"Hi Mrs. Kent, I'm pretty good, is Clark home?"

"He is, but I'm afraid he's feeling rather sick at the moment."

"Really? Well, is it alright if I sit and talk to him? It's important." How in the world can I deny the sweetest little girl I know? My voice comes out strange, like it's been strangled.

"I'm sorry, Lana, but it's not a good time now."

Dejection is clear upon her features.

"Oh, well, maybe tomorrow then."

"Mmhm, goodbye Lana."

I see her linger for a few seconds wondering if I was kidding her and Clark is about to bound around the corner. But a minute later he's not there. She flashes me a faint smile, but I think I can see tears forming in her eyes. Oh, Lana, my dear sweet Lana. I just wish I knew how to fix this terrible nightmare.

She turns around slowly and totters off the steps looking back at me occasionally as she makes her way back toward her house.

She came again the next day. And the next. And the next. For a whole month she didn't give up.

Until the day came when no little girl knocked on our door.

Clark was devastated. She had given up on their friendship, not so unlike he had done. He stayed in his room for long periods of time just looking up at the ceiling.

I spoke to Nell less and less, as our children were no longer friends, it seemed as though we had less and less in common. She never did ask me why Clark stopped playing with Lana. I never brought it up. She told me she has Lana busy in a number of new activities. Especially cheerleading, track, and art. She doesn't mention if Lana is as saddened by this as Clark is. I don't ask.

A few days later I take Clark up to the loft in the barn.

"It'll be like treasure hunting, won't that be fun?"

"I guess."

The loft is still piled high with boxes and chests full of old things from the Kent family. I try to keep his mind occupied on other things besides his recent loss. We dig through the old boxes as I clean, store and finally clear the loft area.

"Hey, what's this?"

"Oh, now that's cool, a one of a kind find. That's a telescope."

"Something you use to see stars and other planets?

"Yeah, or things that are far away."

"Mom, do believe in aliens?"

I accidently drop the box I'm holding out of surprise.

"Well, actaully, yes, I do, Clark."

He giggles, "That's silly, Mommy."

I smile, "Maybe."

Over the next few weeks we clear more of the old junk away, Jonathan helps drag up our old couch, and a few other pieces of furniture. I help Clark decorate his new club house. And it actually looks inviting. A fun place to play in for my six year old and his friends.

However, he seems most fascinated by the telescope.

"Did you figure out how to use that? What are you looking at, Clark?"

His cheeks turn red for a second. "Just something...far away."

Somehow I have a feeling I know what it is.