Snippet #2471835

As Matthew was finishing breakfast, a groggy Maxy came out and sat on the kitchen counter, still clad in pajama pants and a red t shirt. "Mattie, I need to ask you something. What happens if dad comes back?"

Matthew paused at this question. It was tough enough dealing with mom's death for Max, but their dad...even he didn't have answers. He was two when dad left, Max had been born only a week ago. "I don't know if he ever will come back Maxy".

He served them both breakfast, and they ate it. Matthew had surveyed the fridge, and they needed more groceries. "C'mon Maxy, we need to get more groceries. Then you need to do the work I assigned".

Matt and Max got dressed, and Matt took a credit card. The left the apartment, went down the elevator, and walked to the nearest grocery store. Matt started picking out some of the essentials, like milk, eggs, pasta, and fruit, while Max handled the snacks. As they went to the counter, they were stopped by a police officer. "Shouldn't you two kids be in school? Why are you here buying groceries?"

Matthew looked back at Maxy, then up at the officer. "We are home schooled. Technically self schooled, in a way. Our dad left us and our mom works all day, so we have to buy the groceries and stuff like that. She made this specialized education program for us. My brother here just started algebra last month, and I am on trigonometry. She says that these specialized programs make us learn better then others. Also, it's very flexible. In essence, we just have to do the required work left for us for the day by the end of the day, at any time we choose. She says that we are extremely advanced for our age".

The cop chuckled. "I'll say. My 17 year old daughter just started trig this year. You must be exceptionally smart, and your mom sounds like she is exceptionally smart too. Can you put her on the phone so I can tell her that?"

Matthew smiled. "No, we can only call her during work if it is an emergency. But what you really want is proof..." He took a bunch of papers out of his backpack. It was some of the work he gave Maxy to do. Matthew had not lied to him completely, most of what he said was actually true. And that work was proof, because Maxy really was on algebra. And there really was a specialized program. Only, he had made it, not their mom. He then looked to the store cleric. "He has seen our work before as well. He can vouch for me".

The store cleric confirmed it, as he had also asked about this the second time they came in alone. The cop seemed skeptic, but let it go. Matthew and Maxy paid for the food, and made their way back home. As they did, Max stopped Matthew. "It's there again".

Matthew looked into a window, and he could see the symbol. Two triangles, connected at a point, a mirror image. It was in his eye, rotating. The rotating thing was new, though. "C'mon, let's just get home" he told Maxy, continuing forward. "You need a bath anyways".

"Only if you take one too!"

Matthew grumbled. "Fine, we both will. But only if you don't be stubborn about it".

Well that was a lot easier then normal.