Chapter 1: The Dream

Wander peeked out from the window, staring at the irked mother and daughter, holding his breath. Neither of them said anything for several minutes. Their backs were stubbornly facing one another. No one said a word. But then, Sylvia sighed heavily.

"Mom, you baby him too much. He's over a hundred years old -"

"Then why doesn't he remember his life up until now?" Dorothy interrupted bitterly.

Sylvia groaned and faced her mother, looking even more annoyed. "Oh my gosh, Mom! We've discussed this a gazillion times! His memories are blurry because he hit his head! He can only remember fragments. He even recalls when he bumped his head and lost all those memories, and the doctors predicted this themselves. Remember?"

Dorothy narrowed her eyes stubbornly, her back still facing Sylvia. "That's unbelievable. But you want to know what else is unbelievable?" She finally turned to her only daughter. "That my daughter, a former bounty hunter, who should know more than anyone in this family about the dangers in this galaxy, is taking her little brother out there and risking his life! Now, a witch may be after him! Didn't he learn from last time not to land on forbidden planets?"

Both Sylvia and Wander remembered that visit to the planet Prisma vividly. The planet had various warning signs all over it, but Wander really, really wanted to see how shapes lived their lives. It was the first time they ever witnessed the Black Cube in a bar fight, and it was the first time a mob of geometric, three-dimensional shapes chased them to a cliff. Sylvia insisted they were innocent, because they had no idea how sensitive shapes were about their vertices.

Sylvia shrugged. "On Brew, there were no harbingers, no signs, nothing. Looked completely harmless. Boring even."

"Nevertheless, you and Wander are grounded for two weeks -"

"Mom!"

"- Until you learn that one of you always has to ask me before you decide to go on another suicidal mission."

The younger zbornak growled, feeling herself lose composure. "You wouldn't have allowed it." Sylvia always felt compelled to win their arguments about Wander, always wanted to get that last laugh. Maybe it was because she acted defensively when it came to Wander, or maybe she was just that headstrong. Either way, she almost smirked triumphantly as her mother heard her smart comment.

"Sylvia..." Dorothy's harsh tone softened a little. "You are encouraging him to disobey me and get himself hurt. Is that really want you want? If your father were here -"

Sylvia felt herself finally lose it. That was the final straw. Hardly anyone mentioned her father around her because she missed him so. And when Dorothy saw the tears brimming in her tough daughter's eyes, she knew she had crossed the line.

"If he were here, he'd support me because he was proud of what I did for a living, unlike you!"

Dorothy frowned sternly at her. "I am always proud of you, young lady! And yes, he was proud of you, too. And he was just as stubborn as you." Dorothy wiped her eyes. "And he was just as selfless as Wander. And I believe that's what cost him his life: his headstrong, selfless nature."

She was not wrong in that he was stubborn and caring. Will, Dorothy's late husband and Sylvia's late father, was a bounty hunter himself and taught Sylvia all the tips and tricks. One day, he was given strict orders to bring an infamous murderer to home base alive. Unfortunately, the murderer killed him before he could kidnap him by tricking him into believing he was injured.

When his family heard, they could not believe it, but the murderer was also one of the best con artists in the galaxy. Ever since then, Sylvia and her family hardly trusted anyone else, until Wander showed up and stole the widow and her daughter's hearts. (Of course, they'd never admit that.)

With his bright attitude and bravery, Wander reminded them of Will. (They'd never admit that either.) Still, no one could replace Will.

Dorothy was not wrong, but Sylvia did not want to hear anymore. "How dare you talk about him that way!" She stormed off to the house and into her room before her mother could utter another word.

Back at the front of the house, Wander stared at his sneakers guiltily and walked away from the window. He hated when they fought. It wasn't like the bantering of his three older brothers; it was harsh, cruel fighting. And this time, Wander knew he caused it all, just because he wanted to go out again.

Why do I have to be so curious? Why can't I just be content where I am? Wander thought as he entered the living room, where his three brothers and grandmother were watching TV from the sofa. He glumly sat in the massive recliner.

Phil spotted him immediately. "You're not using your head, bro." They heard the first part of the argument. "Why would you go to such a dangerous planet?"

Wander shrugged and gave him a small grin. "The witch sounded like she just needed a friend. And so did Lord Hater -"

Gil spat out his soda. "What?! Lord Hater? Damn, you've got guts, little man!"

Bill shook his head. "He's just a big softy with a big heart."

"And a head full of delirium," Phil grunted, elbowing Bill for more room on the sofa.

"Shut up, Phil! He can't help that he's a small softy!"

"No, you shut up, Bill!"

"Both of you shut up!" Gil snapped. "I'm trying to watch this!"

Phil snatched the remote from Gil. "I hate these stupid cartoons! Let's watch some horror flick!"

Gil grabbed it from Phil. "No way, man! Today's my day to have the remote! Besides, our little bro's just gotta be more evil." He gave the star nomad a wink and jabbed Bill in the ribs. "Like me."

Bill smacked the back of Gil's head. "No! He needs a girlfriend here. That way, he'll want to stay here more."

"No!" Phil smacked them both. "Ugh, you're both morons! Right, Wander?"

Wander just watched the usual fight wordlessly. So when Phil dragged him in their mess, he really did not know what to say.

"Um..."

"No, he is! Right, buddy?"

"C'mon, Wandy! I'm your favorite older brother!"

"No, I am!"

"I AM!" And after that one last cry, the brawl began. Fists and jabs and smacks proceeded. Thankfully for Gram and Wander, they quickly took their fight elsewhere.

Gram rolled her stiff neck and relaxed on the sofa. "Finally! I thought they'd never leave." She glared suspiciously at Wander and clutched her purple pearls. "Stop eyeing my pearls."

Wander smiled at her. "You don't have to worry about me, Gram." He suddenly heard Sylvia crying from her bedroom. Gram heard it, too, and stiffened. And when Dorothy entered the humble adobe, she heard it as well and took in how heartbroken Wander was.

"Wander... Come into the kitchen." He nodded and followed her.

Gram sneered at them. "You should whip him, Dorothy! He'll turn into one of those no-good, dirty hippies if he keeps this up!"

Dorothy halted and clenched her fists. "Ma, not now." She and Wander went into the kitchen, where Wander sat at the counter and Dorothy checked the status of her ground beef casserole.

"Needs five minutes." She slammed the oven door shut and turned to Wander. "You're grounded for two weeks."

He simply nodded. He was never one to defy his mother, the hardworking zbornak who raised him and was his closest friend and guardian other than Sylvia. Besides, he felt too ashamed of himself to argue.

Dorothy pursed her lips. "So you heard..." Wander's drooping head was her answer, and Dorothy knelt to his level. "Come here." Wander wrapped his skinny arms around her neck, and Dorothy softly patted his back. Then, after a minute, she released him.

"Feel better?"

"Mm-hmm."

The motherly zbornak gave Wander her gentlest smile. "Sweetie, I'm tough on Sylvia because she responds well to tough love. Tough love is the only kind of love that gets into that thick skull of hers. You're different." She stood up and patted his head. "Now I'm making this casserole and a salad to go with it. Go relax and find something to do that's quiet and won't get you into any trouble. But stay here on this planet. Understand?" Wander nodded. "Good." She resumed to chopping carrots.

Wander skipped out of the kitchen and in front of Sylvia's room to see how she was faring. "Sylvia?" He knocked on her door. But then, he heard her sob some more and decided to just stay in the living room until she felt better.

"Wait a while, stubborn kid." Gram reprimanded him bitterly. "And get over here."

Wander quickly plopped on to the couch beside his grandmother, grateful for any distraction. "Yes, Gram?"

The frail zbornak scowled and handed him a few coins. "Buy something good for you and Sylvia. Seeing you mope is much more annoying than seeing you smile stupidly."

Wander gasped and grinned hugely at her. "Thank you, Gram!"

"Yeah. Whatever."

With a chirpier gait and a smile on his face, Wander grabbed his banjo, walked out the door, and skipped over to the nearest shop. After a few minutes of walking, Wander strummed his banjo and sang one of his original songs.

"Oh, Wander over Yonder, and check out this and that.

If you Wander over Yonder, be sure to wear your hat.

All the things that you will see, and you certainly will be free,

if you Wander over Yonder, just you and me!

If the darkness comes a creepin' and you're feeling down,

just Wander over Yonder, and turn your life around!

Oh Wander over Yonder. Be sure to lend a hand.

All your helpful, friendly good deeds will spread across the land.

All your helpful, friendly good deeds will spread across the land."

Secretly, Wander daydreamed of the next time he would go to another planet. He loved his home planet, but he wanted to see more and to meet more people. There was just so much to see, and he wanted to see all the galaxy's splendor and beauty. Before Sylvia and her family took him in, that was all that Wander did: wandered. Only this time, Wander knew his travels would be much better because he had Sylvia there to appreciate them, too.

Wander hoped that one day, his mother would trust Sylvia and him enough, and that they could roam wherever their hearts desired. But until then, Wander kept his chin up and dreamed happily. Because a bad attitude only makes life tougher.