Duncan shook his head.  “You wouldn’t be taking advantage.  Mom and Dad are already taking some to co-workers.  The floor freezer is nearly packed.  So I am going to check with all the neighbors and try not to let any go to waste.  If noone cooks, I guess I’ll have to pack it up and take it to a shelter.  I have a brown thumb to be honest.  I kill plants just looking at them. But I sort of got carried away and over did it.”

Duncan led Isla toward the back of the house to head out to the backyard.  “Teacher?  Uhm, probably.  But I plan to teach at a university.  I tried to pass myself off last year as an ordinary student.  But I think people are seeing through that.  I am an official tutor with my own office.  Physics and Chemistry.  You know, it is NOT generally considered cool to be too smart.  Uhm, I play football too?”  He laughed a little.  “I have been helping other students since I was 6.  I just learn fast; that’s all.  I’m only taking 3 classes this year - and an internship - and working on college stuff.  For classes though … Guitar, Theater … and … uhm … Dance.”

He looked embarrassed at the last one.  “Don’t ask me how I am going to manage that last one with a limp.  But I am trying to take classes that I can’t just read a book on and be the expert.  And ... you know … social stuff.  I’m forcing myself to be around people.  Smartest guy in human history had an IQ of 300.  Lots of degrees by age 6, polyglot.  His parents got him a position at Stanford.  And then he tanked and faded into obscurity.  He never learned how to work with people.  He was arrogant and self absorbed.  Who cared if he was right?  Noone wanted to listen to him.  I decided to take a lesson from that.  I got my GED back at age 13.  But I stay in school with people my own age and try to blend.

“Main reason I am thinking of teaching is that most of the best opportunities for research are in academia.  My internship is with Sandia Labs.  Dad put his foot down about me working on any sort of attack systems.  Defensive systems only.  The Millers don’t talk about it much - especially around Mom, but I know why.  They lost their first son to the military - overseas.  I’m adopted.  I thought about going into the military myself.  But … I don’t think she’d handle it if anything happened to me.”

Duncan decided to change the subject again, mentally kicking himself for allowing himself to approach a depressing subject.  “Anyways … the Millers’ backyard.  Over to our left we have veggies coming out our ears.  To our right we have … ?  That’s right, more veggies coming out our ears.  To our sides up against the house and along the back wall?  Yes, that’s right … still more … well some are fruits.  Then we have the trees, the strawberry bed, worm bed, greenhouse…”  He pointed at a geodesic dome.  “And that is Dad’s toy.  Professional telescope.  Mom lets Dad splurge on an occasional hobby.  He wanted to study some advanced astronomy … and it is a lot safer that him learning to skydive or race for pink slips.  Do not repeat this, but Dad called it Mid Life Crisis Insurance.  I call it Mom’s security deposit on her own splurging so Dad can’t complain.”

+++++++++

Back in the house Jonathan decided to take over the conversation.  He could read his wife’s mind.  She had taken one look at Isla and saw her future daughter-in-law and grandchildren.  He had joked once that he was surprised she hadn’t started a website to put Duncan to pasture and charge stud fees.  The teasing had got him smacked playfully.  Then she had asked if he thought that would work.  He had teased a little further and asked how HE would do on the site.  She had taken the bait and told him he could have made a fortune, but was off the market.  He had reassured her be agreeing wholeheartedly and said someone had out bid all the rest.

He decided to get Adam away from Isabelle before she started to really notice the new neighbor’s bearing.  It was probably too late.  But he had to try.  “Adam, why don’t I give you the nickel tour and do a little male bonding.  Isabelle was working on some stuff for later today.  She was taking her kitchen back from Masumi.”

Masumi interjected and ask if anyone wanted any refreshments, going back into butler mode.

Jonathan’s ‘man cave’ was the shed.  He had a very impressive array of tools, complete with 3D printer and a state of the art computer.  In the center of the shed was a classic muscle car.  It was in the process of being restored.

https://youtu.be/iaHbTdMPbvM

“1957 Chevy Bel Air.  Isabelle allows me 2 hobbies that are all my own.  For this one I am not allowed to race them, just restore.  Duncan is helping me with this one.  That experimental he drives, he and I worked on together.  Some of his friends from college helped too.”  Jonathan seemed a little distant for a moment.

“What branch were you in?”  The question came out of the blue.  “If I were to guess, I’d say Marines.  I work around them a lot, plus some Air Force.  And … our first son was one.  I have to ask you a favor.  No war stories - not around Isabelle.  She hasn’t got over it not really.  Duncan has helped a lot.  Duncan figured it out.  We took him in as a foster child a year ago and adopted him as soon as we could.”