Breakfast with the James

"Start the speech off with a joke or a poem, Faith." It was Hope's older adopted brother Finn, The Poet. "I've got one for you."

He stood, raised his fork to his mouth like a microphone and began.

"Ahem... A Lament for Our First National Poet
Poor Mr. Jefferson, you'd think
The two-dollar bill would be worth more."

Her mother tapped her hands together as if to clap, Finn bowed and returned his fork to his pancakes.

"Thanks, Love, but I think I'll stick to the usual stay in school get a good education message."

Faith was a current Representative running for Senator of Massachusetts in the Fall. It was Summer nearing the end of the school year and today she was to give a speech at a neighboring town's high school.

"How was meditation this morning, Love?"

"Interesting, mother." How was she to approach bringing up the Dragon? Quantum Physics was welcomed table talk, as was politics; her family was all quite intelligent, but a dragon? A mythical symbol, some religions spoke of them too.

Her grandfather, 'Gramps,' was a renown preacher. He was due to visit in a week. The Genius already decided it was best to speak with him first on the subject.

"Interesting to you, Hope James, is always a lot more than just interesting. Share, honey."

"Well... there's not much sense to it. Images and unconscious things, mother. I thought I'd discuss the whole thing with Gramps."

"Lord knows your Grandfather would love to speak all things religious with you."

Hope gave two nods of her baskets and continued the pancakes she'd perfectly sliced into quarters.

"You know, My Only," it was John her father. "You're always free to express yourself here. We might surprise you with our wisdom."

"It's all right, father. I want to process all this first. Then, I'll talk more about it."

"All right, Love," Faith again, "just don't ever be frightened to say what you're feeling or to ask questions. You're not the only one who finds you interesting, you know." Big smile.

"Schools gonna find you interesting wearing that rainbow shirt." Finn with his High School Senior smirking mouthful of pancakes said.

"Listen Finn, just because I look good in rainbows doesn't mean I'm attempting to define my sexuality."

"Hope James!" John put down his coffee.

"I'm just saying, father, the only statement I'm making is that I look good and feel confident wearing rainbows."

Faith stood, picked up her plate, smiled, "My girls growing up, you know." She walked over and kissed Hope on a basket. "I'll drive you to school today, honey. It's on the way to my speech."

"Okay, Mama," two nods of her baskets.

Faith set her plate down on the floor. Langston came over and cleaned it.

"When you two lovely gentlemen are done eating if you'd be so kind to put the remaining campaign signs in my car, I'd appreciate it. When you're finished brushing your teeth Hope, I'll meet you in the garage."

"Okay, Mama," again two more nods of the baskets.