Chapter Six - Milo Tells His Parents the News
On his eighteenth birthday, Milo had the party to beat all parties. His parents let him invite girls and, while he hadn't been very into them so far, they were fun to have around. The music was loud and obnoxious; they played video games and yelled and screamed as loud as they wanted. His mom had actually listened to him when he requested all his favorite foods, and she didn't even complain and say they were unhealthy—she just provided the goods. It was the best day ever. So far.
But Milo had one more thing to do before it all ended. After the last kid left, he jumped in and helped with cleanup. Well, he really only straightened the den where they had played games, and his room which his friends had totally wrecked. But he did take out the trash without being asked. When all was done, he sat with his parents at the kitchen table with one last piece of cake and a tall glass of cold milk. This was it: now was the time.
Licking his lips, Milo took a deep breath and announced, "I'm going to apply to Prime University."
His mother just sat blinking at him.
His dad dropped a bite of cake from his fork; it fell to the table with a soft plop. "You what?"
Milo nodded. "I'm going to apply to Prime University."
His mother's fork dropped this time, hitting her plate with a loud clatter.
His dad carefully set down his fork and clasped his hands in front of him. "May I ask the reason for this decision?"
"I want to go to Prime University so I can apply to the space program. I'd like to get into the program with the head start that the University can give me. I'm thinking of officer school."
"Fuck no!" his mother erupted. "You...you are not...NOT going to be trained to...to...do...THAT."
Milo ate a bite of cake and watched his parents. He'd expected this very reaction. "That's your only concern? That I'll be trained in sex. You would deny me the opportunity to go to the space program? To be set for life financially? To be able to set
you guys
up financially so you have no worries about retirement?"
When his mother gave another stuttering attempt to speak, his father interrupted: "Rayna, please calm down and let's talk about this."
"Fuck you Reeve." She stomped from the room.
Milo scraped the last of the frosting from his plate and licked his fork clean. "Most I've ever heard mom cuss."
"Milo." Reeve stopped and cleared his throat, taking a moment to consider what he wanted to say. "I know we can't stop you from applying but you are a bit young to make such a huge decision about your future—"
"And if I want to get into the space program then I have to start now. You know that dad." Milo leveled a look at his dad. It was true that, by law, they couldn't stop him from applying. But there was nothing to say that they couldn't and wouldn't make his life miserable for the next four months, until understudy school ended and the Universtiy term started.
Reeve leaned back in his chair and used his napkin to wipe up the dropped cake. "I know. I'm actually proud of you for making that decision. The space program is a very worthy future for you." He gave Milo a weak smile. "But your mother will only be able to focus on how you'll be getting there."
Polishing off his milk, Milo wiped the back of his hand over his mouth like the kid he still mostly was. He sighed, "I really don't see what the big deal is. So they teach me about sex. So I actually have sex for the first time with a woman they pick out. And? So? Would you prefer to take the chance of me fucking around with girls in a regular college and risk knocking one up and then be totally fucked for the rest of my life?"
Reeve rubbed his hands over his face. "Wow, don't hold back son."
"You know I could have just done it. Packed up and left without telling you."
"I know son, I know. I'll talk to your mother but I can't promise anything."
"Why is she like that anyway? Every time anyone even says Prime University she freaks out. What's the deal?"
Picking up his fork, Reeve used it to draw aimless patterns through the cake crumbs on his plate. "Since you're old enough to apply to that school I guess you're old enough to hear this. Her best friend was born with the mark. The only one born with one for...pssshhh...a hundred years, I don't know. When girls with the mark turn eighteen, they are taken over to Prime Manor and the mark is explained to them. Rayna really honestly thought that Vada would choose to ignore the mark and just live her life and be her best friend forever."
"I take it she didn't?"
Shaking his head, Reeve continued, "No she didn't. In fact, she made the choice early, just about the time you were born. She decided not to get married, not to have kids, to just enjoy life and...men. Then she decided to go ahead and move to Prime. She left when you were about five I think. Your mom hasn't heard from her since."
Milo kicked back in his chair and pursed his lips out. "So I could actually end up fucking mom's best friend."
"Oh god son! Just don't even...just no. Don't...don't say that again. Ever." Reeve jumped up, gathered up the plates and rinsed them for the dishwasher.
Milo giggled, "So if I come home on school breaks is she going to have a fit every time?"
Leaning back against the counter, Reeve shrugged. "I don't know Milo." He studied the blond mop-headed man-child in front of him; watched him rub a finger over the chip embedded in the back of his wrist. "You're going to keep it in? Keep on being...drugged to keep from...you know."
Milo stared back. "Just say it dad, they drug us so we don't want to...
you know
. At least until just before our big day. Going to come cheer me on? Give me some of your personal pointers, tips, and tricks?" He grinned, showing the dimples that he hated.
"Geez kid." Shoving away from the counter, Reeve took the steps to Milo and ruffled his already unruly blond hair. "I think the women at that University will be teaching you more than I'll ever know."
"See how I'm already making good decisions? Just think about how I'll excel in space officer school." Milo smirked.
