I don’t know why my father carries around a knife, or why I’m having nightmares about it.
Or even better, how does a knife make you hallucinate?
There is something about it. Time slows down, or seems to. And my dad, he’s acting weird all of a sudden.
What the hell is happening?
Geoff woke later than usual. He'd slept in until almost seven-thirty. Ashley and her parents were sitting quietly in the kitchen. Geoff came downstairs, still in his pajamas.
For a moment, no one spoke.
His mother took his hand. "Honey, Jack died in his sleep last night.”
A couple of hours later, Dr. Fox had finished digging a nice-sized hole at the edge of the property. The new scar across his forehead had turned red and swollen while he dug.
Ashley didn’t ask about it, but Geoff did, after an hour or so.
Andrew said he’d gotten it after a nasty spill on a wet bathroom floor, which was the truth, if only part of it.
They put Jack in a towel-lined wooden box, and Dr. Fox set him into the deep hole. Several feet of dirt would cover the beagle's casket.
The children looked on as Dr. Fox solemnly bowed his head. "Today we bury our dear friend, Jack. He was a good dog, a puppy still, but he was a good soul. We are thankful for the time he shared with us and will remember him fondly, until the end of our days.”
Geoffrey leaned against his mother. Dr. Fox picked up the shovel, and with blistered hands, he began filling the hole.
Ana led Geoff away from the grave, over to the canopied swing. They sat in the shade as Dr. Fox shoveled in the dirt.
Ashley stood beside her father. She held a small bouquet of wild flowers and watched the dirt rise.
Once he was finished turning the hole into a small hill, she set the flowers at the head of the grave.
Dr. Fox said nothing further and carried the shovel back to the shed.
Ashley’s Journal, June 26, 2308
I know, somehow, that it was my father's fault Jack died. Just like I know that he lied about the knife. Somehow, I know he is responsible.
Geoff will be okay, eventually. I hope. But I don’t think we’ll be hanging out in the canyon much this summer.
Ashley’s Journal, Sunday, June 28, 2308
It’s been three days since Jack died.
Four, since the man fell out of the sky.
Geoff stayed in back yard most of that first day, but he hasn't been outside much since. He’s been glued to the vid streams and net games. Otherwise, he seems fine.
I bet once school starts he'll be back to his old self.
I haven’t seen Doug, or Jamie, or any of the other kids who were in the canyon that day. In fact, I haven’t seen anyone out since then.
The neighborhood has been dead quiet.
You can feel it in the air. It’s gotten hot. Doors stay closed, and blinds are pulled tight. Everyone is inside blasting the AC.
Geoff says their gamer ids are online.
Only tourists and strangers are down in the park now.
Ashley’s Journal, Monday, July 6, 2308
My dad has been home a lot more lately. In fact, it seems as if he’s here all the time now. He even took us to see fireworks.
He seems a little different, but I like it.
I’ve still got that thing in my desk. I didn’t see any blood on it. I know it’s his. It looked just like the one he had at dinner.
He’s got another one, but why would he have two?
I haven’t touched it.
Camp.
Today we leave for camp.
I don’t know why I complained so much about this.
It all feels anticlimactic now. I’m kind of interested. I wonder what they’re going to teach us.
Last summer was boring. I hope this is better.
Monday, July 6, 2308
With brief goodbyes to their mother, Ash and Geoff boarded the shuttle. Dr. Fox had been summoned to Washington and left the day before. Ash and Geoff waved to their mom from the shuttle window and watched their home fade into the distance. The transport was half-full, all children, all bound for the same destination.
Every summer hundreds of kids attended the camp programs at the Heart O' The City Summer Camp Facility. Geoff would be on one of the three-dozen terra-formed levels, while Ashley would be on another. New programs began each Monday and the courses rotated regularly, 'graduating' students all summer.
Ash and Geoff stayed together until protocol separated them.
They didn't make a big thing of it. The time came and they waved each other goodbye.
As she watched Geoff go, Ash was overcome with a feeling of loss. She didn't know what to do with it, so she swallowed the emotion and went to look for her quarters.