“And what would you like to be when you grow up, Ripley?”

“I want to be a dragon.”

It was more nonsense, and he didn’t appreciate giving career advice to 7-year-olds.

“Why don’t you pick something more practical, honey?”

“You mean like a dinosaur? I was thinking about it, but Mrs. Johnson said dinosaurs were extinct.”

“Watching androids build walls? Are there any jobs where I actually do
something?”

The android paused. “A day as a headmaster at a school?”

Later, another android greeted Brad at the school gates. “Mr Earnshaw,
come this way.”

“What will I be doing?”

“You’ll be giving the human day teachers a motivational talk on how
important their role is.”

“Do they teach?”

“The children are busy with android led classes.”

I looked out at the lake, its opposite shoreline no longer visible under the moonless night sky. The family lake house was well secluded, shrouded in forest nearly twenty miles thick.

“It’s what he would have wanted,” I answered, glancing down at the lifeless figure in the wooden canoe, hands gracefully folded, with a wreath of crumpled newspaper haloing his head.

With a heavy sigh, Joshua waded the canoe out to water as I lit several matches. He smirked.

Its strength bore them two children in turn.

A prophet, intuitive and quick.

A defender, strong and kind.

Content together, all offered their talents so the world could partake of their bliss.

Beauty blessed creation, allowing all to enjoy its earthly splendor.

The prophet gave insight to decipher and atone for man’s errors.

The defender offered courage and strength to the masses.

Death bestowed his touch to all, releasing them from life’s toil.

Under their hand, humanity found constants, forever extant as long as man lived.

Still, even on the outskirts of the small Kerry village the women’s toilets were dutifully labelled with the Gaelige ‘MNA.’ It wouldn’t do for traditional/folk festivals to be less than authentic.

The next generation of the attending family carnivals had finished their setting-up chores and, thankful of the break, watched with some amusement as the drunk approached with strained gait and increasing urgency until finally bursting into the ‘Ladies,’ zip down.

Screams.