The story of Seth and Sarah’s courtship wasn’t nearly as dramatically romantic as Leo and Manisha’s, but their connection was every bit as cosmic. The blessings of his life never ceased to amaze him.
Rubbing his hands together, Leo could barely contain his hunger. “Time to test one of those burgers, I think.”
“I’ll call the kids before you start gnawing on my leg,” said Seth, smiling as he scanned the room for some sign of offspring that actually belonged to him. Unable to locate either of his sons in the closest grouping of children, Seth let out a loud bellow. “Leonard! Jared! Come and eat!” His yell made half the children in the room jump and the other half burst into laughter. Sarah sighed at her husband’s version of a dinner bell.
Already crowded, the promise of food seemed to fill the dining room instantly to capacity. The smell of grilled meats wafted through the air and what had to be just about every boy and girl in town stood in anticipation around the table. High-pitched voices of preadolescent children practicing the art of party conversation filled the room. Leo once equated the sound with seagulls fighting over the same discarded French fry, but the memory of a firm punch in the arm from Manisha dissuaded him from saying so again.
As usual, Jared was the first to burst onto the scene. It took a lot of fuel to keep this high-octane kid running, jumping, and otherwise horsing around. Covered with dirt and grass stains, he rushed to the table and sat down at one of the two seats of honor saved for the birthday boys. Several girls jockeyed for position, competing for a spot next to him. Seth wondered when his son would start to take notice that young women already seemed to be drawn to his energetic nature and increasingly athletic build. For now, Jared was oblivious and far more interested in packing down lunch so that he could get back to the more serious work of having fun outside.
With practiced efficiency, Sarah gave Jared an impatient look, which he felt more than saw at first. “Wash up before eating, dear.” She shook her head, wondering why he needed to be reminded each and every time.
Thoroughly embarrassed, Jared stood up quickly and marched to the kitchen sink, adeptly weaving between party guests along the way. “Awww, mom.” he complained.
“Sarah refrained from reminding him to use soap, sure that it would be pushing things too far with all of his friends here. However, she couldn’t help herself from sweeping his blond hair away from his freckled face as he passed by.
Just in case his other son was hidden like some sort of prop in a Where’s Waldo comic, Seth scanned the congested room. “Where’s Leonard? He knows this party’s for him too, right?” he asked. Seth and Sarah often talked about the differences between their son’s personalities. Jared moved at the speed of sound, needing to be reined in, and bandaged up constantly. Leonard, on the other hand, was serene, gentle and an insatiable bookworm. According to Leo, if they were a team of horses, the wagon would just go in ever-tightening circles.
“When is he ever on time?” snarked Jared. He again weaved between talkative partygoers as he returned to his position, sitting down next to the only empty chair remaining in the room.
As if materializing from nowhere, a boy with a dark complexion and thick, wiry hair walked quietly up to the sink and washed his hands. “Sorry, I’m late. I was showing some of my drawings and had to put them away,” he explained in a soft, even tone. Leonard had always been mature for his—or any age. Seth often joked that they left the hospital with a baby, but arrived home with a hundred-year-old man. Leonard worked his way toward his seat slowly, saying “pardon me” to everyone on the way from the kitchen to the chair next to his brother. Once he sat down next to Jared, the room erupted in an off-tune chorus of “Happy Birthday.”
Though he thought of that fateful day in Madison less and less as they years went by, today the memory felt fresh. If Kappel’s virus had never been released, Seth couldn’t help but wonder if more would be different today than just his son’s outward appearance. He suspected that the differences would still be more than just skin deep. That which sets us apart from the beginning likely molds us until the end.
An inoculation for future generations would be found one day, but in his heart, Seth truly wondered if things were better this way. The outbreak had caused new wounds and reopened old scars, but humanity was already healing. For the first time in recorded history, people were forced to look beyond the surface. Hate would never fully die as Niclas had hoped, but at least now a mere glance wouldn’t be enough to give it life. The new way of things was clear. To judge a person, one must first know the person.
Seth put one hand on Leo’s shoulder, and the other on Sarah’s as they sang along. He gazed at his sons proudly, thinking about how much his family meant to him. Looking around at the sea of happy young faces, he marveled at how diverse a group had assembled to celebrate together. He realized, however, that with any dream, there is a reality one must wake up to. He wished that the rest of the world could have made the adjustment as gracefully as those in this room had, but the world still had a long way to go.
Always Forward Until…The End
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SEQUENCE 77
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Sequence 77 Page 34