Wreckers: A Denver Boyd Novel George Ellis (book series for 12 year olds .TXT) 📖

was an avid reader of literature, whether it was hundreds of years old and in book form, or something more recent on his handheld.

“I know, I know…I tried reading that one book about the dinosaurs in the amusement park,” I said. “It’s just easier to watch the movie.”

“Well in that particular case, the movie is almost as good as the book. My point is that I once read that humans have an instinct to explore. And I think that’s true. But I also think we have an even greater instinct to use our imagination. Before we’re spoiled by knowing something, we’re very good about having opinions and dreams about it. You get what I’m saying?”

“Sure,” I replied. “You think sitting in the same bar day in and day out is more enriching than living in space.”

He shook his head. “You know I’m not saying that. Even if I was, though…maybe! I mean the idea that Norm and Sam and Diane could feel fulfilled living in their little corner of the universe without thinking they’re missing out on something –”

“You think they’re happy?”

“Ok, it’s a sitcom. Good point.

“And what’s wrong with sitcoms?” Gary said, butting in. “Some would argue they were the height of cultured entertainment.”

“Nobody would ever argue that,” Uncle E said.

“I’m arguing it right now,” Gary countered.

“You don’t count,” I interjected. “Uncle E, are you sure we can’t like, put him to bed or something? Or at least turn him off when we’re hanging out?”

“Turn me off?” Gary whined. “I was here years before you! Years, Denver! E-dog and I go way back.”

I looked at the camera. “E-dog?”

My uncle shrugged as if to say don’t ask. “Fine, Gary. Sitcoms are the pinnacle of entertainment. Can I move on with my argument now?”

“You may proceed, sir,” Gary said.

Uncle E gathered his thoughts as he chomped on the last bite of a candy bar. “Where was I? Oh, right. Take actual people who live in a neighborhood and have their daily routines. They care about each other. Spend time with friends. Enjoy simple stuff like family dinners or birthday parties. That sounds pretty great to me. They aren’t worried about feeling like they’re always missing out on something better because they’re stuck on that damn rock. They were happy with what they had. Completely content.”

I considered his point. While it was true that it’s easier to be happier when you don’t know there are more and possibly greater adventures out there, it was also true that you may be one of those people who feel confined by being stuck on Earth.

“Nobody felt stuck on Earth before we knew it was possible to leave the place!” Uncle E shouted. He wasn’t angry. He just happened to get really loud and animated when he was excited about something.

“Oh, I see,” I said. “Ignorance is bliss.”

“You’re quoting the Matrix?!” he bellowed, laughing. “You can’t quote that movie to me. I introduced you to that movie. I mean, fine, they have a point. I’m just saying when the world got bigger, I’m not so sure we got happier.”

“I’m not saying we got happier, either. I just think if you gave me the choice of taking the blue pill and living with blinders or taking the red one and risking a little unhappiness, I’m gonna choose the truth every time.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have shown you that damn movie,” Uncle E groused.

“If it makes you feel better, I can take the Stang off your hands and you can go back to Earth to have birthday parties and barbecues with Earthers the rest of your life,” I said.

“It would not make me feel better, point in fact,” he said. “What would make me happy right now is if you got up off your lazy butt and grabbed me another candy bar from the kitchen. I’ll start another episode of Cheers.”

“You sure you don’t want to watch Neo kick some ass?” I asked.

Uncle E just groaned as the theme song for Cheers started up.

* * *

I never got to see my mom in person again. She died about a month after Uncle E and I set out for Mars. We put off the funeral until we got back, as my uncle and I were her closest family in the verse. When the day came, my father and Avery were unable to make it.

It didn’t come as a surprise.

On the somber trip back from Mars, my uncle explained that he was going to leave me the Stang when his time came. I was shocked by the enormity of the promise. Because it had been constructed over at least 10 years, trying to pin down an exact cost or value of the Mustang 1 was impossible. But basically Uncle E could have said he was leaving me 250,000 credits and I would have been less taken aback.

Me, captain of the Stang? It was a wild concept. Of course, when he told me, I assumed it wouldn’t happen for many years, so the idea was less strange to think of me at his age, in my forties, taking over the ship once he retired to Mars or some old folks’ station.

“I mean…why?” I asked. “Are you sure?”

My uncle laughed. “What else am I going to do with it? Give it to a stranger?”

“Oh, right.”

Uncle Erwin looked at me and shook his head. He turned serious and put a hand on my shoulder.

“Because I love you, kid. And I love my sister.”

Apparently, my mother had given him half of her savings to help fund his building of the ship, in exchange for the promise that someday, he would pay me back with the earnings. He had decided the best form of payment would be the ship itself. I thanked him, but also told him I didn’t want to collect on his promise for a long time. With my mom gone and my relationship with my dad and brother severed, Uncle E was all I had left in the verse.

Chapter 10

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