KASE STUDY 

By Tessa Harvey

    What was happening here? Then he remembered pushing his father and guilt stirred his spirit. "Let's go visit nan and pops!" The girls looked delighted. Felix looked wary, almost happy, but worried. "Hey mate, High Five!" Luke reached out his hand, remembering just in time not to be too rough.

    He hadn't been a good father, he thought, nor a good son.

    Belle opened the door cautiously. "It's fine," Luke reassured her. "I owe dad an apology. Wordlessly, Belle opened the door wider. Kase stood up, his pose combative and watchful. There was a large bandaid on his chin. Had Luke made his own dad bleed? Suddenly he saw him as the old warrior he was. Once he had fought in Vietnam for his country, training dogs to track and protect in the jungle. And his country had treated these brave, battle-scarred heroes with disdain, returning them home quietly as though ashamed. "Dad, I'm sorry." His voice broke.

    Belle saw an opening and took it. Lifting a hand to her chin, she looked at the children thoughtfully. Three pairs of soft brown eyes regarded her blue ones. They may not look like Kase and I, she mused, not for the first time,but they resemble us - and Rosa, and they are also themselves.

    "Well," she began, "I was just wondering," - she paused and they were very quiet -"if you have hobbit grandchildren?"

    "Yes, yes, you do," Willow yelled. "We all have second breakfasts."

    Felix nodded enthusiastically. "But first breakfast first!"

    And they all laughed. "Quietly now," she admonished, "our dog is getting old."

And from the way the dog was wagging his tail and looking hopeful, Silver could see he wanted second breakfast too and she laughed quietly, happy again. The atmosphere in their home had worn them down.