Chapter 1
"Come on, daddy, let's go."
"Not now, son, Daddy's busy. Now what were you saying about a trade?"
"You're interested?", he said with a grin, "I thought with your son and all, you wouldn't be interested."
I looked away, ready to leave. "Never mind then, if you don't think I can live up to it. Oh, I don't even any doubts about you, but..." He gave my son a sneer look. "I'll be back in a few days before I head out of town. But if you're not here. There's no deal."
I shake my head in acknowledgement.
"Let's go men, there's plenty more to do tonight."
I grab my son's shaking hand and left.
I turned on the lights as we entered our small home. It was nice, but something always needed fixing. With my job and my wife's job alone, we couldn't keep up. We barely had enough, to clothe and feed our son. We had to plan all year, to make today special.
"Hi sweetie. How was the movie?"
"It was great mom. We watch a man eat eaten by a wolf."
"Oh, my. Was it scary?"
"No." My wife smiled and our our son a hug as I walked in.
I listened to my wife and my only child talk about the movie, I half watched the movie because of those men. Those men. Whatever the trade or deal was, I could do it to make our life better. I would sleep there, if it meant not missing them.
"Are you ready for another surprise?", my wife smiled at me.
I tried to smile back, but she gave me that worried look.
"Really! Another one?"
"Only the best for my little boy, on his 6th birthday. Ready?"
"Ready."
I knelt down to cover his eyes and he laughed. "Now your ready. What do you smell?"
"I smell... I smell... something sweet."
I removed my hands from his eyes. "It's a cake. Your mom made a chocolate cake." His eyes light up. He has never seen or tasted much of sweets.
We gathered around our small table and my wife cut the cake, handing our son one first.
He looked up at us. "This is the best birthday ever."
I grabbed my wife's hand and smiled, wishing I could give him more.
We finished our cake and sent our son off to bed. My wife joined me on the couch. After a few silent moments, I asked, "What would you give to get out of this life?"
"What? I wouldn't give anything. I love the life we have. Of course, I wish we could have more, but that's just not possible."
"But what if it is?"
"Nothing would be worth it. What would even make you even think like that?"
"Well, I overheard..."
"Nothing good can come from overhearing, you know this. It's how we ended up here. I think you forgot the last you tried to get us out. You nearly got yourself killed. I love you with all my heart but don't. No. Don't."
"I want a better life for us, for our son. Can't you see that. I trying to think about our future. His future."
"Do you hear what your saying? Do you understand, that if you... when you don't come back I will be left on my own with him and the town won't see me fit to raise him. He will get taken from me and I don't think I could stand being without either of you."
Our town thought that men were the only ones capable of raising children. Women were nothing expect house workers. Some had jobs and were allowed to work, but often it was hard labor and long hours. Men raised children to be warriors of the future. For there was a constant war or battle going on and our town provided the warriors they needed.
"I love you, but I also want you with me. Don't try something again, for my sake."
I pulled her to the floor with me. She laughed, even though she was trying her hardest to be serious with me.
"I can't help but to fall in love with you." She smiles. A few hours later I carry her to our own room. I let her sleep as I take a shower. Yes, I don't want to, but and that but is what gets me in a lot of trouble. In a few hours, I have to head out for work, so I really need the sleep. I get in bed with my wife and fall into a gentle sleep.
