Chapter 32 [Lana's Birthday]

The next few days passed by. Sol rose and set. A few clouds passed across the sky. People scrambled about. Muses operated at peak efficiency. Quills scratched across parchment. Preparations ambled toward their completion.

Of course for certain people, things stewed…..

[Kent Farm]

Clark inspected the bouquet lying on the kitchen counter. He sipped on a glass of milk. His mind swimming over the changes of late. He'd discovered his real identity and lineage. Lana now had abilities. His parents had argued with him off and on about the storm cellar situation. Still what was done was done. Right? This will give her a great start to her birthday. Wish I knew more about the whole boyfriend/birthday thing. He conceded a nod at her favorite blooms. Then he considered the rolled up parchment paper.

Thoreau's poem seemed to resonate for some reason.

Wish I was like Byron. I'd write my own. Still he liked it. Hope she does! Worry creased his brow. Anticipation energized him on the other hand. He tapped his fingers on the counter.

"Big day, Son?"

Clark turned to see Jonathan standing at the foot of the stairs. "Oh. Hey, Dad. I got the chores done. I was about to make some coffee." The butterflies really batted about in his stomach by this point.

Jonathan shook his head. "Thanks, Clark. I'm okay on that." He ran his hand through his hair. "Wish you'd checked with me on the other stuff first."

"Dad." Clark rolled his eyes. "It's not like Lana and I had a lot of choice. We were drawn to it."

"Drawn by the key, the Ship or your curiosity? Clark, you really need to be more careful. Fortunately neither Lana or you were hurt. I'm glad she's taking everything as well as she is." Jonathan measured out several spoons into a coffee filter and started the pot brewing..

"We're trying to be. I'm helping her to learn about things," Clark reminded him.

"That's great, Clark. Your Mother and I are glad you're stepping up in that regard. We need to support her. Maybe she'll speak to us more after today?" Jonathan complimented.

"Definitely. Lana just wants to be accepted. Hopefully we can find out about our respective pasts." Clark drained the milk from his glass. He set it in the sink and filled it with soap suds.

"Clark, do you really…?" Jonathan started.

"Dad, it's important to us. We need to know at some point." Clark frowned. He sensed Tension's wave bearing down on them at that point. "While we should be careful, we need to know." He took the bouquet and scroll. "Lana needs her birthday presents. Have a great day." With that, he sped away at super speed toward the farm down the road.

Jonathan shook his head. I wish Clark would understand. He poured a shot of honey into the black java.

"You two never change." Martha trudged into the living room. She'd overheard the budding argument from the next room over. Still she hadn't intervened hoping for the two men to resolve their differences. She sighed. "Jonathan, Lana's Clark's girlfriend now. She's also like him."

"I know that. I just want him to be more careful. I also wish he'd look ahead. His planet and family are gone, Martha. Why is that so hard?" he griped.

"Clark wants to know where he came from. We need to accept that. It's a part of who and what he is. Either we do that or he'll shut us out." She took the milk pail. "I'll see if Bessie needs milking."

Why can't things just stay the same? Jonathan fumed over his coffee. Granted he did agree with Martha on her points. Still he didn't understand why Clark couldn't just let Martha and him make those decisions.

Nothing was easy…..