An African American Teen was on the phone, waiting after walking out of the airplane.

"Yes. Yes, I did have fun. No, I didn't work while I was there. Okay, that was a lie."

I pulled the phone away from my ear as I was getting berated for working on my vacation. I saw nothing wrong with it. Got me $500.

Vacation is a wonderful time for hard-working people in the world. But for me, it's relaxing, but I'm a workaholic.

I waited at the carousel with everyone who was on the airplane with me, looking for my suitcase.

I traveled to a beautiful place called Inna Da Poona. It sounds weird, right? What was weirder was the event that happen when I was there.

The week-long vacation was going wonderful. The beach was amazing with crystal blue water. The nightclubs weren't my forté, but it was cool. I suck at dancing still.

But the weird part was when the hotel was invaded by some medieval knights looking for two people that were related to The King.

That...was what the newspaper reported. I slept through the majority of the chaos. I woke up and went to get some lunch. One to see the final fight was going on. Then, a thought came into my head.

When there's a final boss, there's dead henchmen. A job came into my head. One job can't hurt my vacation.

Throwing the corpse of the Knights in a rolling dumpster and putting them in the basement for the police to deal with. I clean the carpet and walls for hours that the Head Honcho, Ms. Belrose was brought over.

I think she fancies me.

The easiest $500 I received. I needed it for a gift.

I grab my suitcase and went downstairs and out of the airport to find a cab. I'm back home and there's a lot of work to be done.

Oh, where are my manners? Hello, I'm Dodger. Welcome to my story.

Dodger: Certified Hero (in Training)

Carlson, Indiana is where I kinda live. Why kinda you ask? Because this will be the last time in a while that I'll be here.

I'm a foster child. Been in foster care for all my childhood. My mother passed when I was born. My father passed months before. He was shot in a bank robbery from what I searched.

I was with 2 families. The first family didn't like my attitude and how I would yell out at them. I was being difficult when going to another family that wasn't mine. They didn't deserve it.

My second family is who I'm with currently. They're not my official foster family. They run a foster home and they treated me like their own son.

The couple weren't able to have kids of their own. So, becoming a foster would work, right?

Speaking of them, the cab arrives at The Fayetteville Foster Home. Home sweet home.

After grabbing my stuff and paying the driver, I knocked on the door and it immediately open up.

"Dodger! There's the birthday boy!"

"Hey, Dad!"

A 7 feet tall bald man with a long beard wearing jeans and a Chicago Cubs jersey grab Dodger up for a hug.

This is Dillon Fayetteville, my foster dad. The biggest Cubs fan you'll find...in Indiana. They won the World Series and he never let it go. He works on the railroad and the farmer's market on Saturday mornings to help out his Uncle Roscoe. I help them out if I don't job to do.

He picked me up for a hug and was squeezing the life out of me. Thank goodness I saw Mom coming by.

An African American woman with curly black hair and glasses tap on her husband's shoulder. She wore a white sundress.

"Honey, I don't think Dodger can celebrate his birthday dead, can he?"

Velvet Fayetteville. The greatest thing to come into my dad's life. The sweetest and most caring mother I've...well had. It's weird because she works in Human Resources and I use to work that job and wanted to blow up the planet.

How does she do it?

"Welcome home, Dodger" She hugged me as I enter the house. Once the doors closed, she begin to hit me with my dad's hat. "What did we tell you about working on vacation?"

"Ouch, ouch. Sorry!"

"We didn't send you there to work. Especially what happened there."

Dad nodded. "She's right, Dodge. We're glad you're okay."

Before I could talk to them, the sounds of a stampede from above our heads, descended to the first floor. I know who it could be.

"Dodgy!"

"Biscuit!" I smiled, hugging my little sister.

Brenda aka Biscuit is the cutest of the cutest. Seeing her smile always brightens my day. 7 years and her two missing two front teeth melt my heart.

Behind her was DeeJay, one of two bros. 12 Years old and already in the middle. This smart kid is gonna go places if he keeps this up, he'll be an entrepreneur or better.

"Hey DJ, that's my DJ."

"Hello, Dodger. Happy Birthday."

I reached into my suitcase and pulled out two big seashells, getting the two of them to smile once again. One pink and one crystal blue.

"Thank you, Dodgy!" said Biscuit.

"This is the sapphire shell. This cost a fortune to buy and is rare to find. How did you..."

I winked at DJ. "Won it in a dance-off."

The two siblings hugged me once again. This is the reason why I am the way am I. They're my reason for working hard.

"Excuse me, Birthday Boy" Mom got my attention. "Wash up for dinner."

I nodded and walked upstairs to my room. It was empty from my packing. I should be happy that I'm back home and it's my birthday. Yet, I'm not.

I'm sad because it's my 18th birthday and my last day here.

Hours pass from playing with DeeJay and Biscuit, it was time for dinner. I return upstairs to wash up in the bathroom. Getting out, I was blocked by someone.

"Well, well. Dodger survived a vacation. I thought you would die from not taking a job."

"Babs? Look who's talking, Queen Beefy." I stick my tongue.

A tall brunette lady wearing a polo shirt with a mini logo of a cow's head wearing a crown tucked in her black pants stood at the door.

Barbara Thompson, Dillion's daughter from her previous marriage was the store manager of Beef Kingdom after working there since she was 16, starting as a cashier. All this while dealing with high school and college.

We hugged it out and went downstairs. I enter the kitchen, lights off. The only light was the candle on a chocolate cake while everyone sing Happy Birthday. Blowing it out, everyone took a piece on a plate.

The greatest combination of chocolate and peanut butter; is ice cream and cake.

It was nighttime. I volunteered to put Biscuit to bed, reading a bedtime like I've done since she arrive here. I checked DJ who was sleeping soundly. Babs was on the roof, playing her guitar. I joined her and we sang for a bit and I said my goodbye to her.

I walked downstairs, looking at the pictures on the walls. Pictures of Mom and Dad, young me, Barbara, and the little kids. This place has been my home since I was 8.

Being 18, I'm legally on my own. I'm used to it as I started my own business. Dodger's Certified Calvary Call.

"Are you down a person for your job? Need extra muscle? Maybe you need help with the lawn. I'm Dodger and I'm the calvary! Call me and we'll get the job together and fast. I'm certified in over 60 positions. Hit me up now!"

Creating this job and hours spent working on certifications since I was 16, I was a major hit in Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. So many jobs, so much money. I brought my first car, the 1987 Hammerhead.

The majority goes to the family and the little bit stays with me. I brought another vehicle, a van for my equipment.

With one last look when I stood at the front door, I felt a tear roll on my left cheek. I walked out. "I'll be back."

When I got out of the house, mom who was sitting on Dad's lap in the pouch, drinking wine.

Velvet smiled at me. "Leaving so soon, Dodge?"

"Y-Yeah. I gotta make my way to Michigan. Helping a farmer and babysitting his son and friends."

"Well, Dodger..." Dad got up after Mom. He held my shoulders, looking at my face. He look like he was holding his tears back. "I remember taking you to your first Cubs game. Haha, you would always want to go every year. I still remember the World Series. We went outside Wrigley Field."

"Game 7, 10th inning, Cubs up by one. You didn't want to watch anymore and you stared at the sign. You wanted to see it say Cubs World Champs. I joined you. When it did, the look of glee on your face brought a smile to my face."

"I'm proud of you, Dodger. I know I'm not your official father. But I wouldn't trade you for anyone else. The son I watched grow all this time.

Dillon and I embrace, crying together. Mom joined us as we stayed like this for a bit before breaking off.

"Dodger, remember to text when you get there so we know you're safe. Be safe and not get hurt. Please take breaks. It's spring, stay hydrated. And Dodger..."

I smiled at Mom as she wipe a tear from her face. "Take a break. Take a vacation when needed. Don't work yourself to death."

"I won't, Mom. I'll be okay. I promise."

With one more hug, I begin to step off the porch for the last time as I'll be coming over on occasion to see everyone. But it was time to go out into the world and make a name for myself.

Watch out everyone, I'm Dodger; Certified Hard Worker.

NASA Kennedy Space Station

Merritt Island, Florida, USA

It was late at night in the command center of the station. People were working on projects. A few were cleaning the large room. Some stare at the computer, looking at recording footage from the satellites that are scattered around Earth, the moon, and other places.

A woman sat down on the rolling chair at her desk with a can of beef ravioli and a plastic fork. Stirring the tomato sauce with the pasta, she stabs one and proceeds to put it in her mouth.

The only thing to stop her was the footage on the computer being static. With a roll of her eyes, she begins to type on the keyboard to fix the issue.

It wasn't resolved as the screen went black with words in white: Satellite is offline.

The lady looked around the room. She wasn't the only one having this problem. Looking around the room, she saw her colleagues panicking.

With the sounds of keyboards tapping and talking about the backup cameras not working, the station was on full alert.

As the lady was typing in a chat room with online support, the camera recording was back online, easing the chaos in the center with the sounds of relief sighs.

She returned to her slightly warm ravioli. This night was going to be long after this mess. Questions about what happened will drive her to jump off the roof. But everything was fine.

It didn't seem that way as on the footage recording on her computer, a circular object slowly flew past the satellite, making its way to the planet.

A flying saucer.