"Now let's talk about the plans I have for coming back."
With that, Patrick also let go of the tension of the previous brought by the negative subjects and concentrated on what was coming.
"Apart from seeing you guys to avoid or deal with the grief my death would have caused, I want to make some arrangements before fully focusing on my journey."
Patrick smiled a little:
"I'm happy for the first part but for the second part, what kind of arrangements are we talking about?"
"I have always disliked this familial house and the troubles the lack of financial means caused. But, more than that, I loathe the fact that we were not successful enough to allow our parents to be leisurely and profit of their old age after the efforts and sacrifices needed to raise us and provide the necessities for us so-"
Just as he was starting to get excited, they heard a call from outside:
"Patrick, come eat with your friend."
After being cut off in the middle of the conversation, they looked at each other speechlessly before the one called by name answered loudly enough to be heard in all the house:
"OK, mom. We will come in a moment."
Turning back to Lucas, he addressed him:
"You heard her so make it fast."
"No, we can continue later. Let's not make her wait. What's more, I think it's better if I see her sooner."
Looking at him for a moment, Patrick shrugged:
"Alright, it's your call, let's go to the kitchen to help her."
Leaving the room, he advanced toward the kitchen while looking around at this house he grew up in but couldn't bring himself to like.
It was modest with a few rooms in desuetude that used to be occupied by his uncle's and aunts decades ago.
The water in the house was cut off by them years ago, causing his mother to have to go get it by herself outside every night after coming back from the market so as to leave them brothers the needed freedom to review their lessons and do their homework when they were still going to school and later, so that they concentrate on their jobs that would ensure a better future for them.
Breathing in deeply, he rapidly arrived at the kitchen and saw the burning stove with a pot letting out noises of burning liquid.
His mother was squatting on the side pounding some spices certainly needed to finalize what they would be eating.
When she heard the footsteps behind her, she took a glance before standing up in shock and glee.
You could see that she used to be beautiful, not the educated and cared for kind of beauty but more like the simple village girl type of beauty.
However, the sufferings of life have made her look older than she really was with streaks of white hair amidst the black. She was not tall, just about 1.60-65 m and, seeing her stooped figure at just 50 years old due to all the hard labors, he felt a sting in his heart.
While thinking about all her sacrifices, he greeted softly:
"Hey, mom."
He could see her process her shock after getting confirmation, even if she almost instantly recognized him in spite of his changes in appearance.
"Lucas ! Why didn't you tell me that you were coming back? My poor son, look at you, what kind of sufferings did those barbarians put you through in the army? You almost don't even have any flesh on your bones anymore. Just give me a moment and you will be able to eat. You will be able to have as much as you want."
After stroking his cheeks and pulling his hands for a while, horrified at how her handsome boy changed, she went back to taking off the pot from the stove.
Lucas just gave his assent, glad that he was rather introverted. Since he tended to isolate himself, he did not call home everyday while stationed outside so, while his radio silence must have worried her, it was not the first time due to the frequent outings. That helped him avoid breaking the already scarred heart of this saintly woman.
'Thank to the world for entering a new era.'
He was expressing his gratitude for being able to come back safe and sound when he was brought out of his thoughts:
"Son, will you stay for long or will you go back soon?"
"Unfortunately I won't be able to stay for long, mom. Just for a few days then I will go back."
"What? Why can't you stay longer? You know I have never approved of you joining the army. Why don't you stay and not go back?"
"Mom, if I were to do that, I would be labeled as a deserter and they would have the right to trial me and put me in prison."
With a gasp she hurriedly corrected herself :
"That's not what I am saying . I am talking about quitting through the right channels."
Smiling at her concerns, he replied:
"You don't have to worry anymore, mom. I actually got a new job and I have left the army already. After making some preparations, I will leave. The job has less danger and is very well paid but since there are some confidential stuffs I may lose contact for some periods."
Seeing as she was still worrying, he changed the subject:
"So, where is dad?"
This was effective since his mother sighed and said:
"He must be with some of his friends. You know how he is. I hope you won't make the same mistakes he made in his life. You need to think for the long-term. Put some money from your new well paid job to the side and buy a house. Ensure stability before thinking about having fun. I don't want your life to turn out like mine or your father's and I want you to be able to fully provide for my grandchildren, not like how you suffered through everything. And where will you be? In the country or out of it? How long will you be gone? And-"
Lucas smiled wryly. He managed to change the subject but now he had to take some naggings.
While the concern was heartwarming and all, he could only change the subject again. He could not endure his brother mocking smirk anymore and might start thinking about a payback if he kept it up.
But, thinking it through, he needed to change the subject so, he allowed himself to not hold back a devious smirk of his own:
"Hmm, mom? I think Patrick is failing to endure his hunger since he is making a face behind you. How much longer before we can help him get back to normal?"