The Last of the Modern Men

by Scaleface

On a dying world, an old man has selflessly raised two generations of his family to be inquisitive, positive, patient and kind. Finding his grandkids no longer need him, now that they have their own lives, Donald forges a restorative friendship with compassionate schoolteacher Miss Hanley.

6. Chapter 6

Donald,

In answer to your riddle, he is your son. (Thanks for the tip about drawing the family tree.)

The book I'm reading at the moment is a comic book in which an elephant born with extraordinarily large ears learns to fly. Is this still an A?

I'm glad you enjoyed the code breaking exercise, it's one I do with the kids after a week of something particularly boring. I don't usually write codes about my drinking habits for them though.

Is Tom's steady Lois Dixon? I heard those two are pretty serious, that's good, she's a really good girl. Dedicated and focused, but romantic too, it'll be good for Tom to do a bit of dreaming. I know he's a good worker, but I think there's got to be some fantasy in everyone's life. You know, like imagining a cartoon elephant could fly.

Now a stupid question from me: Did you ever see an elephant, Donald? I'm not going to ask 'could they fly?' I'm not a moron. I just wanted to know what was it like? Not just elephants. Everything. My mom and dad were good teachers, they cared about their students, but they weren't nostalgic, they taught Math and English and fact… I think they thought that if I didn't know what things had been like before, then I wouldn't be upset that there was so much I'd never see. Did you travel, Donald? Where did you go?

Please tell me.

Carrie.