"Where's Da? I want to talk to him."

Ma just shakes her head sadly.

"He just couldn't stand to disappoint you, so I said I'd handle the talking. I think he feels like a failure," she says.

"He's not, it's just... where is he?"

"At the pub he left at first light."

Shit. Da had been going to the pub a lot lately, though this was his first day trip there. In retrospect he'd probably been drowning his frustrations over the situation with his farm and his lingering pains with ****. You figure you'd best make sure he's alright and give him a piece of your mind while you are at it.

As you enter the mostly empty establishment you spot your father at once staring deep into his tankard as if the secrets of life lay somewhere at the bottom. Your father is a broad chested hairy man with deep dark brown hair, his face weathered but masculine with a well trimmed beard of matching color. His eyes match yours and your brother's being of a brown hue. He has always been considered handsome and popular around town and you wonder sometimes if he hasn't had some dalliances outside of his marriage here. You used to get along quite well with Da. He always played tough when it came to the work that needed doing, but otherwise was a jovial fellow. Even when he drunk in the past he'd been goofy and endearing in his inebriation. At least he had been before the accident a few months back after which he had been sharp, sullen, and distant.

"Da," you say sitting down at the bar stool next to him.

He stiffens his eyes darting to yours in guilty panic, before looking away letting out a deep sigh and relaxing his broad shoulders. He still isn't looking at you or speaking unprompted but he doesn't look like he's going to bolt either.

"So were you just going to spend my entire birthday drinking yourself under the table? Because I sure as hell want to talk about this," you challenge him. Perhaps it's not the best tactic, as he takes a big gulp from his tankard, but you are getting progressively angrier as he continues to avoid looking at you.

"It won't change anything. Talking. It's done." he brusquely declares.

"You can't just decide these things without me even getting a say. You say I'm an adult now but you don't tell me when your selling the land out from under us. It's... it's fucked up!" you manage to keep an even voice at first but by the end you are shouting.

You had been expecting Da to snap at you instead he seems to crumble into his tankard.

"Da why didn't you tell me things were this bad," you ask forcing your voice to remain gentle now.

"Shame," he grumbles in way of answer.

"And did Ariana know about this?"

"Told her last night. Was mad like you 'bout the deception but I think she likes the idea overall. She's just like your mother only ever stuck it out this long for my sake," he finally brings his gaze to yours, "Just like you right, you don't want to work the family fields anyway."

"No," you admit, "I've always wanted more than this."

He chuckles darkly, "It's okay, always knew the only one in the family who ever gave a shit about farming was me."

He gives you a lopsided grin and you can't help but return it.

"Now how 'bout I buy you a birthday pint?" he asks.

You nod, "Sounds good, Da."

You spend the rest of the day reminiscing with your father in the dingy pub, only returning home when it comes time to have your birthday supper. It's all your favorites and you feel your heart warming toward your parents again, and an excitement building as well. Da was right, you want more than just farming, this new adventure could turn out to be amazing.