Wayne and Horace walked through the parking lot to Horace’s car.  Wayne talked non-stop about his evening.

“Did you see those two girls I was sitting with?  I was about to make some progress when you walked in.”

“You’re too young to be ‘making progress’ with women.”

“I’m 16 years old.  Dad was 16 when he married Mom, and she was only 15.”

“Their situation was completely different, Wayne.  It was a different time and place.  Dad also held down a job at 16.  You can’t even get your bed made up every day, or do your homework for that matter.”

“I hate school and I hate living at home.  I’m ready to move on.”

“Well, you’re not going to get very far if you’re not willing to work at it.  The very least you could do is finish high school.  Mom wants more for us than what she and Dad had.  They had a hard road, and look at what Mom’s going through now that Dad has passed.”

“What…and after high school, be like you?  Hold down a job, take a night class at the community college?  Take care of Mom and Jane?  You have no life, Horace.  None at all.”

“It depends on how you look at it Wayne.”

They had arrived at Horace’s car.  It was an older model that had been his Dad’s.  Horace kept it running with spit and determination.  It may have been old, but it was immaculate and purred like a kitten.  

“Well how I look at it is this.  I’m not going to spend my life doing what other people think I should.  That’s what this time in history is about.  Breaking out of the mold, looking at life differently, not being afraid to experiment.  I’m going to go places you and Mom never dreamed of.  You watch me.”

“You won’t go far with only 50 cents in your pocket Wayne.  That’s just the truth.  Get yourself set up to take care of yourself, then go be what you want to be.  And I think ‘this time’ as you call it is less about breaking the mold for you and more conquering as many females as possible.”

Wayne grinned in spite of himself.  Then he suddenly became more sober.

“Yeah, well, that is part of it.  Realizing that you don’t have to stick with one person forever, being open to all the possibilities life has to offer.  Besides, what do you dream about Horace?  Do you think of anything other than taking care of Mom for the rest of your life?  What is it you want to do?”

“I want to teach.  You know that Wayne.  That’s what I’m hoping to do.  Get my certificate and teach shop.  Teach kids how to do simple things to take care of themselves, how to build things and make things from what others call throw away scraps.”

“Man, that just sounds so boring.  What kind of dream is that?  Where is the adventure?”

“For me, Wayne, it is what it’s all about.  I don’t think you understand it just yet.  Maybe someday you will, maybe someday you won’t.  It may take me 10 years to get there, but I will.  And I’m going to be good to those kids I teach and hopefully they’ll walk away with more than just a lazy Susan they put together to get credit for taking the class.  That’s the point Wayne, that’s the point.”  

Horace was actually a little flustered at this point, which was unusual for him.  Wayne stared at him blankly.  

“Look,” Horace started, “We’re home now.  Be good to Mom.  Don’t give her a hard time and make a scene. Just this once.  Let it go.  Walk in there and act like the man you say you are.”

Wayne stared at the dashboard in front of him.  He and Horace got out of the car. Wayne slowly walked up the sidewalk to the house.  Horace opened the door and they stepped inside.