Round Six - Knox

Noah and Ruth were getting used to life without their father. It was strange not having him around but at least they still had each other, as well as Kaylynn and Danny.


Danny made time to teach Noah to play basketball. Noah was adequate at it but didn't show any outstanding passion for it or any other sport, but he liked spending time with Danny.


Ruth grew up into a beautiful but flighty young lady. Her previous bookish nature was thrown to the wind in favour of being a party girl, and being at a prestigious academy and thus surrounded by people with money only helped that side of her personality. She wanted presents and parties and nights out clubbing.


Noah remained studious and had a great interest in science and learning in general. When Ruth tried to get him to join her sneaking-into-nightclubs missions he would always decline and instead watch the stars on the newly-built balcony with his father's old telescope.


They were still close even though they were heading down completely different paths in life. Ruth would beg for "help" with an essay and Noah would roll his eyes and agree while telling her to keep it a secret; he didn't want the whole academy asking him to do their work for him.


"Have you done your homework?" Kaylynn asked Ruth one evening as they sat down for dinner.

"No," admitted Ruth without a hint of remorse. "Why should I? I'm a teenager, it's not like the Child Protection Services are going to come and kick the door down because I'm not getting top grades anymore. I have much better things to do."

"You always used to do your homework without me asking," sighed Kaylynn.

"That's because I was a little swot."


Danny made sure to call his father and sister every day. He was ready to graduate from high-school and was incredibly excited about the possibilities his future held.


As well as running up huge bills on the telephone, he enjoyed working on getting to his peak fitness level. He would be old enough to start playing sport professionally soon and he wanted to make sure he was the best around when the talent scouts came knocking.


Danny graduated, cutting his hair short and donning some slightly suaver but still relaxed outfit choices.

"Why've you got to leave and be all grown-up with a job and things? Jobs suck," said Ruth with complete conviction.

Danny assumed she was joking and laughed. "Jobs aren't all that bad. They're great if you can find a vocation you're passionate about."

Kaylynn was less amused.


Danny moved out to one of the apartment complexes; he was renting one opposite Hiro's sister and her friend. He said goodbye to his stepgrandmother, his aunt and his uncle and set off for an independent life, leaving Kaylynn alone with her increasingly difficult teens.