GS-The turkey was still warm when he said it. I had not returned home…

laughed because I thought he was joking.

He wasn’t.

I explained the scholarship, the engineering program, and the research opportunities. I talked too quickly because I could feel his attention closing.

“What exactly do you think happens after that?” he asked.

“I build things.”

“You can build things here.”

“Not the same things.”

His face tightened.

Dad did continue reading …