Mom held my hand tightly as we went to town to buy some fish for tonight's dinner. Dad was going to make his famous grilled bluefish. It was super tasty! Especially when dipped into Mom's special hot sauce. I would've liked to have helped her prepare it, but I wasn't very good with a knife still. I almost cut my fingers off while cutting potatoes a few months ago. Luckily, dad blocked the knife with a butter knife.

The way he moved made me wonder if he was a knight once upon a time. But if he was, why would he decide to retire in the middle of nowhere? It made no sense.

"Hey, if it isn't Caroline and Duke," a voice called out. It belonged to the town chief, Meir. "What brings you here today?"

Mom giggled. "Oh, hello, chief. My son and I came down to get some fish."

He glanced down at me and smiled. "My, he sure is a tall boy! He might be as tall as my little Z one day!"

"If you call him little then I will overtake him for sure," I said with a smile.

Mom laughed nervously. "Duke, he's using little as in he's young, not as in short."

I crossed my arms. "Huh? That's kinda confusing if you ask me."

The mayor and Mom smiled awkwardly.

I put a hand above my eyes and glanced around the marketplace. There was no sign of the chief's kids. For some odd reason, they were the only kids who would play with me. I had no idea what was wrong with the other kids. They must've been jealous because of how tall I was! Or because of how strong I am!

"Oh, look, Lee, it's Duke!" a boy called out. I glanced at the lanky boy. A little girl with pigtails riding on his shoulders.

"Dice!" the girl said, jumping off of her brother's shoulders. She ran over and tackled me, nearly knocking me over. The girl sure packed a lot of strength despite that small frame of hers.

"Hey, Lee," I said, patting her head. She might've been my age, but she felt more younger than that because of our height difference.

"Can we play catch?" Her big eyes sparkled.

"Maybe later." I smiled. "Mom and I are shopping, and we don't have a ball."

The poor kid hung her head.

Z put her back on his shoulders. "We can play with Duke after we eat maybe. I'll make sure to grab our ball."

"Speaking of eating." Mom had the biggest smile on her face. "Would you and Diana like to join us?"

Meir smiled slightly and nodded.

Lee waved excitedly as they went on their way.

I blinked. "Mom, I know we have to get Dad's fish, but do you need anything for your hot sauce?"

"You're a good boy, honey." Mom ruffled my hair. "I got that taken care of while you were playing with Lee yesterday."

My cheeks got hot. "Mom..."

"Let's get his fish, so Dad can get ready."

"Okay!"

It only took us a few minutes to get to the fish stall. The man running it smiled when he saw us.

"Howdy, Caroline! Looking for something for Barron?"

"Bluefish," Mom replied.

He grinned. "On it."

Mom gave him some money after he bagged the fish. "Have a nice day."

***

Right as Mom and I were approaching the house, an arrow pieced the air, striking down a pigeon.

"Nice shot, honey!" Mom called.

"Welcome back." Dad put the now-dead pigeon in his basket before kissing Mom and patting me on the head. "Did you have a nice time at the market?"

I put my hands behind my head. "Lee almost tackled me to the ground earlier."

Mom squeezed my shoulders with a grin her face. "And you were grinning from ear to ear the entire time."

It was like my cheeks were on fire. "Mom!"

Dad patted my back. "I take it that means we'll be having dinner guests then?"

Mom nodded. "We should probably stop chatting on our doorstep."

"Good idea, dear," Dad said.

"I have some work I need to get started on." Mom kicked her shoes off. "Why don't you get some rest, sweetie?"

"I'll come get you when lunch is ready," Dad added.

I turned my head as I kicked my own shoes off. Not that I was tired...

I went and laid down on my bed. Mom and Dad probably just wanted me out of their way while they worked.

I did manage to doze off, though. The creaking door woke up.

"Lunch?" I rubbed my eyes as I sat up.

"Yeah." Dad patted my head. "Did you have a nice nap?"

I nodded as I followed him into the kitchen.

Mom put whatever she was doing aside. "I'm going to work more after lunch, so keep your dad company, okay?"

Dad shook his head as he set a pigeon on my plate. "Honey, you better eat a good lunch."

"I will."

I ate my lunch in silence. I didn't think there was anything I could say to make Mom slow down.

After Mom finished her food, she scurried out of the room before Dad could say anything.

Dad shook his head again before he said, "Could you help me with something?"

I flexed my muscles. "Of course, I can!"

Dad laughed and motioned for me to follow him into the attic.

I tilted my head. "What did you need in here?"

"A table." Dad looked around. "Since Meir and his family are coming over."

I went over to the corner when a blue glint caught my eye. It came from a stick with a sharp point like a knife. 

"Hey, Dad. What's that?"

Dad picked it up. "This is called a lance."

My eyes got big. "Did you use to be a knight?"

Dad laughed. "I never became one."

"What?"

"Let's get this table downstairs."

I groaned before we did.

Once we got it in place, Dad covered it with a table cloth.

"I hope Lee and Z get here soon."

Mom piped up. "With how excited she was, I'm sure Lee will want to come over soon."

"Diana even came by to ask while you were napping," Dad added.

I couldn't help but smile. Who needed a lot of friends when they had friends like Lee and Z?

***

Not even ten minutes later. Knock-knock!

Mom ran to answer the door.

Lee was in Meir's arms this time. He set her down in front of me, so she wouldn't try to tackle me into a hug again.

Z laughed. "Lee, you just saw Duke an hour or two ago."

The little girl pouted. "Dice is fun to play with!"

"Well, let's go play catch," I said.

"We brought our ball," Z said. "Lee wouldn't let me forget it."

I stifled a laugh. The kids in town had no clue what they were missing out on. Their loss.

"Don't play too hard!"

I looked at Mom sideways before Lee dragged me outside.

Z patted my shoulder. "Mrs. Caroline just doesn't want Lee to get too hot or worked up."

Oh... That would be bad.

Lee smiled before grabbing the ball and throwing it at me.

"Lee." Z took a breath. "You should say something before throwing the ball." He grabbed the ball I dropped. "Ready?"

I nodded.

We went back and forth until Dad came out to start on dinner.

Z got the ball Lee had dropped. "We shouldn't get too close to the grill. Maybe we should play somewhere else."

"Dad, can you tell us a story?" I asked.

"About what?" he asked.

"Like about that lance you have?"

Z's eyes were the size of golf balls. "You have a lance?"

"Oh, it's nothing special. I barely used it."

Lee had a big smile on her face. "Z wants a sword when he gets big!"

Did that mean Z wanted to be a knight? The kids in town weren't that good but they ran their mouths more than he did.

"But you did use it."

"I practiced, but I was never any good. I knew way better knights when I was traveling."

Why didn't Dad ever talk about them? I didn't even know he owned a lance!

"Why don't you kids go play some more? It'll be a little while before dinner."

We then went back inside.

"Z, will you read me a story?" Lee asked.

"If we can find one, sure."

"I think I have a book or two that Lee likes. Hang on."

I then ran into my room.

I had a shelf of books in my room set aside for stories Lee liked. I wasn't much better at reading than she was, but I still liked to do it with her. I liked sitting with her when we did it.

I grabbed the first book on the shelf. This one was a little girl in pink being followed by a coyote.

Meir took the book from me and I sat down beside Lee.

Meir was one of the best storytellers in town. He even did voices when telling us stories. He even made boring stories not boring enough that I could stay awake.

"The big bad coyote followed the little pink hood as she visited her grandmother alone. The poor girl had no idea she was being trailed."

Lee shrieked, hugging her brother.

I rolled my eyes. "Why are you scared? He hasn't gotten to the part where he eats her grandma and disguises himself as her."

Lee covered her face with Z's shoulder.

Z patted the top of her head. "There, there, Lee."

"T-think there's a coyote around here? Mom said they sometimes live in the mountains."

I crawled over to her and did my best coyote impression, causing the girl to jump.

I swung my head back and laughed. "You're such a scaredy-cat, Lee!"

Z glared at me. "Hey, Duke, mind going outside once Dad's done with his story? I'll like to have a little talk with you."

My smiled faded. He said talk, but I had a feeling he meant something less friendly.

We then went out front.

"If you hurt me, I'll tell Rae," I blurted out.

He glared. "Don't scare my precious little sister again."

***

When we went back in, Dad came and got us for dinner. There was nothing like his bluefish. Little Lee probably ate her body weight in fish and sides.

Soon after, Lee was falling asleep in Meir's arms, so it was time for them to go. She mumbled asking if there were any coyotes.

Diana stroked her head as they left.

I really shouldn't have scared her... Maybe I should get her a present or something...

***

Thoughts? Theories? Predictions?

~Shino out!