"Uncle John talks to reporters all the time."
"That's his job."
"You talked to them Friday."
"Because I was already standing outside the school and there were facts that needed correcting."
Marcus looked at his phone. Notifications still arrived even after he turned off most apps.
"People say I changed the school."
David sat beside him on the couch.
"How does that feel?"
Marcus thought.
"Like they're talking about somebody else."
"Then don't let them decide who you are."
"What does that mean?"
"It means you're allowed to be Marcus. You can care about this and still care about robotics. You can be angry and still play video games. You can refuse an interview and it doesn't mean you're wasting an opportunity."
Marcus leaned back.
"Can I tell Tyler he ruined my life?"
"Probably not accurately."
"Can I tell him he made it extremely annoying?"
"That's supportable by evidence."
Marcus smiled. David was home, but not entirely free from work. His deployment had ended; his command had not. After several days of reintegration briefings and medical processing, he returned to Fort Myer on a reduced schedule while taking family leave. The first morning he put on his uniform for work, Marcus watched from the kitchen doorway.
"You going back already?"
David heard the question beneath the question.
"For four hours."
Marcus nodded.
"I'll be home before you get out of school."
Another nod. David set down his coffee.
"You can ask me not to go."
Marcus looked embarrassed.
"I know you have work."
"That wasn't what I said."
Marcus stared at the floor.
"I don't want you to go."
David stepped closer.
"Okay."
"But you have to."
"I have responsibilities. So do I have choices."
He picked up his phone and sent a message.
"What are you doing?"
"Moving the first meeting to video. I'll go in after lunch."
Marcus looked surprised.
"You can do that?"
"Sometimes."