What A Dream Wants

"Okay."

They played catch.

"Let's play tag!" Max said, jumping up and down.

"Okay."

They played tag.

"Let's play hide and seek!"

"Okay."

They played hide and seek.

. . .

The sun was about to touch the horizon, the fading sun shifted the blue sky into sparks of ruby and gold. The clouds, illuminated by the light of the setting sun, turned a radiant orange.

It was...

A sunset.

"It's getting late. Let's go back to the town," Steven said.

"Oh okay, let's go back!" Max said cheerfully. "I'll lead you there!"

. . .

By the time they got to the town, the sun was still in the midst of setting.

"There's still some time left!" Max said, "Want me to show you our town landmarks?"

Steven nodded.

. . .

"Okay, one of our coolest landmarks is this gigantic rock in the middle of the village. It fell from the sky. Say hi to the rock."

Steven looked at the rock. Steven said hi to the rock.

"Over here, is the town hall. It's where the adults gather and do boring adult stuff!" Max whispered, "Hopefully when I grow up, I don't become boring!"

Steven nodded.

They walked around the village, with Max pointing at anything and everything.

"That's the barbershop. The auntie is really nice."

Max pointed.

"That's the smithy. The blacksmith works there."

Max pointed.

"That's the mansion where the Lord lives!"

Max pointed.

"That's where I live!" Max said, pointing a cottage. He ran inside.

Steven followed suit.

"Mom! Dad! I brought a stranger home."

A woman was inside, her dark black hair tied loosely.

"That's nice, dear." The women gave Max a hug. "Hello, you must be... Mr. Estevan?"

'News spreads quickly in this village, huh...' Steven thought to himself before replying:

"You must be Max's mom, it's nice to meet you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you too." Max's mom bowed politely. "My husband, he's still working in the fields today, but he'll be back any second now. For now, why don't you join us for a cup of tea."

"Dad's not back yet?" Max pouted.

"Sweetie, he'll be home soon," She said, as she went up to fix a cup of tea for Steven.

"What kind of tea?" Steven asked.

"Black tea." She said, giving him a cup off her platter.

The tea leaves swirled in the cup. He drank a sip. It was warm. Soothing.

"Thanks, Mrs...?" Steven asked.

"Oh, call me Mrs. Miller," she said, drinking a cup of her own.

"Mom! Did you know that he's a noble?" Max shouted.

"Oh, I'm merely a minor noble," Steven said softly. "I hold no position in the governing of this country."

"It's fine, just call me Estevan," Steven said.

"Now, that I look at it. Your clothes are really white. Are those... gold buttons?" Mrs. Miller asked.

Steven wished he had never acknowledged he was a noble.

. . .

"I'm home!" A brown haired man walked in.

"Dad!" Max said, running up to him and giving him a gigantic hug.

"Honey, we have a guest today." Mrs. Miller told him. "He's Mr. Estevan."

"Good evening, Mr. Estevan," Mr. Miller addressed him, "It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too."

"Honey, we're going to Hughes' house today." Mrs. Miller told her husband.

"Awesome, my brother cooks great! I sure do miss his cooking!" Mr. Miller said.

"Honey..." Mrs. Miller stared.

Mr. Miller coughed.

"You cook scrumptious meals, too." Mr. Miller laughed awkwardly.

"Okay, well let's head there now. Come on Max. Follow me, Mr. Estevan." Mrs. Miller said, leaving Mr. Miller in the room by himself.

"Wait for me…?" Mr. Miller raised his hand gawkily.

. . .

They walked to a house, where lanterns were lit. Hughes was at the entrance.

"Hey, Jack. Hey Mr. Estevan." Hughes greeted Mr. Miller. "Everyone's in the backyard already."

"Hey Hughes," Mr. Miller replied.

"Hi Hughes," Mrs. Miller said.

"Hon-" Mr. Miller started to say.

"Oh, that's right! Mr. Estevan, I'll introduce you to everyone, follow me. Max, you too." Mrs. Miller said, softly pulling Max.

They went into the house.

"Brother, She- She isn't talking to me." Mr. Miller sighed grumpily.

"Your wife's very nice, did you upset her?" Hughes asked.

"All I said was that your cooking was great and that I missed it." Mr. Miller pouted.

"You don't say that to your wife, Jack," Hughes explained, "For a married man, the best cooking should come from his wife or mom. Knowing that the people who love you, spent time to make it, makes the food warm your heart. Nobody should be insulted by their cooking."

"I see." Mr. Miller nodded.

"Even if I do cook better."

. . .

"Hello everyone, this is Mr. Estevan." Mrs. Miller introduced.

The crowd murmured greetings.

"That's the blacksmith, Mr. Smith, and his wife Mrs. Smith. That's their son Jess."

"That's the barber, Ms. Jackson."

"That's my dad and my mom," She said, pointing at a middle-aged couple.

"That's my father and mother in law," She said, pointing at another middle-aged couple.

"That's Mr. Walter and his wife, Mrs. Walter."

Steven greeted everyone.

They greeted him back.

There were piles of food on the tables.

"Alright, now that everyone's here, let's start the feast!" Hughes said, walking in with Mr. Miller.

Dancing and partying commenced. Everyone was talking and chatting. For one night, they could relax. Steven put some food on his plate and sat down on the grass. Fireflies flew around him, buzzing and shining their lights. The cool night breeze gently parted his hair. He watched as Mr. Miller approached his wife and apologized. In the end, they hugged.

On the other side of the yard, Max was playing tag with Jess.

"Mr. Estevan, you barely touched your plate," Hughes said. "Are you not hungry?"

"Yeah, I'm not that hungry. It's fine, I'll finish what I took." Steven said. He took another bite.

"You're making it sound like a chore," Hughes frowned. "My heart hurts." His eyes teared up. "Does my food not match up to what a noble eats?"

"No, your food is delicious. I just don't eat that much." Steven anxiously replied.

After a while, Steven finished eating.

"I have other, more urgent, matters to attend to, goodbye," Steven said. "It's been a wonderful evening with all of you. Thank you all."

The crowd said their goodbyes.

"Goodbye," Mrs. Miller said.

"Estevan! You'll come back right??" Max asked, pulling his sleeve.