What does Home mean?

semantics.

I couldn't help my growing curiosity.

I kept looking at my dad...

Every time he waved back at someone.

"Dad...

Who are you, really?" I asked.

"I'm Darrel Blaine Carter, age eighty one.

Your dad."

"Let me rephrase that.

How were you able to make a law and people actually obey it?

Everyone who sees you smiles and waves at you.

What gives?" I asked.

"Oh, well.

I guess the cat's out of the bag.

The seven humans, myself and the other six, helped to re-establish this city with seven morph allies.

When the topic of laws came up, I demanded that humans and morphs have equal rights with one exception.

No human may ever operate a vehicle within the city's second wall.

It's built far more heavily than the outer wall, anyway, so letting them drive in and park is how it should be.

During the war, the main tactic employed by humans was to drive through an encampment and run over as many as possible.

The survivors of that war still live here.

How might they feel if they saw a human in control of a vehicle?

Even if that human is myself, there's no guarantee that it wouldn't make them relive that horror." He said sadly.

I could actually understand what he meant, too, though I never suffered the situation itself.

I found it to be enlightening.

"Okay, so.

If you're one of the founders, why do you not live here?" I asked.

"You might be an orphan if I were living here.

Then, again, I wouldn't have been followed and that man might never have spotted your mother.

Nothing is set in stone, Josie.

Anything could have happened between then and now.

Your father was my best friend and I wanted to see him.

It was a strange twist of fate that allowed me the honor of taking you and your mother into my home.

Even stranger, still, that a war orphan grew up to be a widow and fell in love with me.

I am blessed to have such a wonderful family."

I snickered.

"Mom is three feet ten inches tall.

You're six foot three.

How did you even fit?"

"Josephine!

That is none of your business!" He snapped.

"Uh, what if I might like to marry a human?" I asked.

"Still, though.

Don't ask questions like that..!

Geez!" He crossed his legs and looked decidedly uncomfortable.

"Sorry." I said.

"I need to find a restroom." He said.

I pulled the truck into a parking lot near a business.

Shutting the engine off, I got out.