She ! rmly stamped it and watched the child run out of the library at full speed.

He ran down the concrete steps, book heavy in his arms as he tore down the sidewalk to get home. He didn’t see much of anything, just the sidewalk as it stretched out long in front of him; he didn’t even notice the empty playground.

The sidewalk lamps " ickered, only barely

noticeable as the atmosphere was slightly

alit from the setting sun.

At last, the child made it to the steps of his house and gasped for breath from his aching and hoarse throat. He made his way inside, and sat down in the kitchen to hurry dinner.

The child’s father was already setting the plates down, a look of concern passing for his child who had usually come home earlier than this. His father welcomed him home, eyeing the thick book the child had tucked under his arm.

The child went to put the book in his room, and returned to a quiet dinner between him and his father.

He chewed at a rapid pace, so eager to ! nish so he could get to growing up. Jeremy eyed the mug of coffee next to his father’s plate.

“What about us if he found someone... “Dad, do all grown ups drink coffee?”

Jeremy’s father swallowed his food and thought for a moment. “No, not all grown ups but it certainly helps.”

“Can I drink some with you?”

“Well, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea for someone as young as you son!”

“That’s okay, I want to be more like a grown up and do more things,” the boy stated. His father didn’t question such sentiment, he knew the child was aware of the arguments.

“Because your father found

It seemed that the month of July felt longer than it intended. It was justi! ed, however, when his mother asked him something that shocked the boy.

“Jeremy, how would you like to just live with mommy for a while?”

He looked up at her, bewildered by her sudden proposal. He gripped the cover of The Ring of the Nibelung.

“Why mom?”

His mother sighed and shoulders tensed for a moment, holding back to keep herself calm.

They ! nished the rest of their dinner in peace, and both set their dishes in the sink before retreating to their respective areas.

Jeremy tried as hard as he could to read through the pages, it was long yet incredibly dif! cult with such old language.

were foreign to the child, complex and confusing.

The boy struggled through many of the pages before leaning back in his bed and succumbing to exhaustion. The Ring of the Nibelung was gently pried from his hands and set on the lamp table.

This time, his father had tucked him in.

Understanding