Chapter 8: Overnight
David woke up the next morning refreshed and with a new outlook on his new life.
By the time he reached the kitchen, his father was already there, cooking scrambled eggs and honey bread. The scent of the vegetable wafted through the air, assaulting David’s hungry senses.
Harlon glanced over his shoulder, spotting his son lingering by the door of their narrow kitchen. "You’re awake!" he said with excitement. "I thought you’d be asleep for a little longer."
David smiled. "Wanted to spend time with you today. We don’t have much of that left until I leave for Beastcorp."
Harlon agreed with a smile of his own. "I’m making eggs and honey bread. I know how much you like honey bread."
David got closer to the pan and peeked into its content, watching the egg bubble in vegetable oil. "Did you pick these eggs yourself, Dad? From Mr. Raekson? You know he keeps complaining about his eggs?"
"Eh, he’s going to have to prove it was me who took it!" Harlon chuckled. "Besides, every credit I save is one more for you at the Academy. Tuition might be free but I know that you’re certainly going to need credits for a lot of things."
A trace of a smile, deep in thought, crossed David’s face.
"I wish you didn’t have to, but thanks for all the sacrifices you make for me, Dad," he said, images of his father pushing him out of the car before it exploded into flames flashing in his mind. "I know for sure my life would have been worse if I didn’t have you."
Harlon stopped stirring the eggs, turned and pulled David into a rough hug. "I’m your father, Jet. If I don’t make the sacrifices for your sake, no one else will."
He released him just as abruptly, returning to the stove. "By the way, have you seen Spanner?"