With that, John stepped back several paces, spreadings his arms wide. The
wind whipped at his sleeves, making them flap like flags.
"Mother Earth!" John shouted, "Grandpa is going to
take care of you, so you take care of him, your hear?"
He spun slowly around then, his arms still stretched wide, and he shouted
"Goodbye!" to the four directions. Finally, he brought his hands together in
one fierce clap and turned to his grandfather with the beginning of a smile
on his lips and the gleam of adventure in his eyes.
"It's time".
No sooner had John finished speaking when George's wrist communicator chimed
and his daughter's face appeared on the screen.
"Dad, you and John need to start heading back. I need
your help on a few last things."
"OK, honey," said George. "Your boy and I were just
finishing our lunch. We'll be home soon."
"Be careful you two," she said, and smiled before clicking
off.
"Does Mom know why you're staying, Grandpa?"
"She knows," he replied.
They proceeded to pack up the remnants of lunch and retrieved their
ultra-lites to protect them from the stiff wind which blew steadily off
the ocean now.
"Oh, John, one more thing," said George slyly.