“Can anyone tell me why geothermal energy is better than hydropower energy?” Professor Katz questioned aloud to the class. All of which either had their heads down taking notes or stoically looking down at the professor from the elevated desks. Professor Katz swept his elderly gaze across the class, ignoring the eagerly hand waiting to be called on.

“Mr Stedfaster!” Marlow jumped, not expecting to be called on.

“What was the question?” A few snickers echoed through the quiet class as Professor Katz rolled his eyes.

“Mr Stedfaster, why is geothermal energy better than hydropower energy?”

“Because geothermal power plants are a terrible short term investment?” This was met with an eye roll before Katz pointed at the raised hand.

“Because geothermal energy can run as long as there is heat in the earth’s core, unlike hydro energy, since it needs water to generate power.”

“Correct Cindy, now since spacex is going to colonize Mars why won’t they use geothermal to-”

“Professor Katz?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“It’s five’o nine.” That was the straw that broke the camel's back, as hundreds of students near simultaneously began packing their bags.

“Oh it is! Don’t forget finals are creeping up, I’ll see you all next week, where we will be going over some questions on the exam!” Katz shouted to the departing students. Weaving his way through the packed hallway, Marlow almost made his way to freedom.

“Hey Mark, get over here!” Pablo called out, already waving Marlow over.

“It’s Marlow.”

“Sorry, I have a guy named Mark in another class. Listen, Alisa, Hannah, and I were thinking about putting together a study group. For this final, is that something you’d be interested in?” Butterflies flew rampant in Marlow’s belly. Being called on twice in one day, he might as well start digging his grave.

“I-I have already joined a study group.”

“Oh really? With how, maybe we could partner up and have one big study party!”

“Oh yeah, let’s do that. My dad’s out of town for the weekend, we can totally do it at my place.” Hannah chipped in, already whipping out her phone.

“We already made plans, It’s a close-knit group.”

“Ah, sorry then, see you later then.”

“You too.” Backing away from the group, Marlow rejoined the flood of students exiting the building. Attempting to commit the lie he just told to memory. Hoping that Pablo wouldn’t bring up the subject again next time they meet. Since all Marlow wanted to do was just go home.

Young adults rushed to their car as soon as they exited the building, attempting to evade the rain as much as possible. Marlow numbered amongst them. Fiddling with his keys as he booked it across the parking lot, he still managed to get completely soaked as he got in his car. It had been a downpour for a few weeks now. Some were thankful, others less so.

Pulling out his phone to put on some funky tunes, he was greeted by some messages from his sister. Rolling his eyes, he let out a small laugh.

“I’m home!” Marlow shouted, trying to be heard over the storm. Slamming the door behind him, he took off his coat. Grimacing as the puddle at his feet that exponentially grew when his coat came off.

He looked around the living room, for some of the towels they kept handy since they arrived. Not finding any towels immediately, he grabbed one of the numerous throw blankets on the couch to dry the pool of water at his feet.

“Welcome home, Mar!” Joy replied from the kitchen. The sound of frying meat hitting Marlow’s ears. Taking off his boot, he strolled into the kitchen, waving hello to his dad downstairs as he passed.

“How was class today, honey.” his mom asked.

“Hi mom! It was good we learned about geothermal energy and how power plants convert it into electrical energy!”

Sitting down at the table, he bumped Joy’s outstretched fist. Before noticing that she was tapping her phone, the sibling signals to check his messages.

Joy- Do you think you can grab me a tiger’s blood slushie on your way back, from that one place by Pat’s Pancakes.

Joy- I’ll pay you back.

Joy- plz.

You have 2 miss calls form (Joy)

Joy- PICK UP!

You have 6 miss calls form (Joy)

Joy- PICK UP!!!

(New) Joy- Btw, Dad’s not in a good mood, something about one of his co-workers going out of town without notice?

Avoiding his sister's greedy gaze, he stared into the oven. Trying to figure out what was cooking. It looked like pizza? No, too lumpy to be that. Chicken? No, they still have leftovers from last night.

“Did you get the thing?” Joy inquired, her eye’s digging holes into Marlow’s head.

“What thing?”

“It’s nothing mom. Joy was just wondering if I could pick something up for her on my way home. What’s for dinner?”

“It better not be one of those shakes up at Pat’s that you’re always getting, those things can spoil your appetite. Especially, since I put my heart and soul into these roasted cheesy potatoes.”

“I... ugh… didn’t. I was too busy driving to look at my phone.”

“Good, Robert! Dinner’s ready” Mom smiled, turning around to pull out tonight's meal. As she did, Marlow sent a quick text to his sister.

Marlow- It’s in my truck, u own my 4 bucks.

Marlow- me*

Putting his phone away, he helped his sister clear and set the table. Folding napkins as their father crested the stairs. Making it seem as if they were waiting for him all along. Instead of just doing it last minute, as they had for over a decade.

After waiting for dad to sit down, they dug in. Filling the silence with small talk about plans for next week, finding out that mom had signed both Joy and Marlow up for a pottery seminar, at the library. To help them ‘get to know more people’ and to ‘get out there’ on the dating scene.

Much moaning and groaning later, the dishes were cleaned, and the table was cleared for the nightly game of UNO. Picking up his dealt cards from his father, Marlow smiled, he’d got one red reverse card, two sevens cards a green and a blue, and four plus four cards.

“Everyone ready?” His dad uttered, getting an affirmative nod from everyone at the table. He flipped over the top card of the deck, revealing it to be a blue two. The moment it touched the table, his dad immediately slammed a red two down on it.

Passing the turn to mom, she tossed a red six onto the pile. As soon as it landed, Joy played a red seven. The instant she did, Marlow threw his blue seven onto the stack. Hoping that his father didn’t have any blues, since he had just played one of the four sevens in the deck, and he was holding the other one.

Unfortunately, fate didn’t smile on him today, or any day this week, really. Because next thing he knew, his dad had played a plus two card. Then his mom played a plus two card. Smearing as the drawing of four cards passed to his sister.

Joy simply turned to her younger brother, looking him dead in the eyes as she played another plus two draw on the pile. Meanwhile, Marlow chuckled as he also passed the burden onto the next person, by playing a draw four card.

To everyone’s surprise, dad played another draw with two cards. Then his mother did as well, then his sister played the last draw of two cards. Much to everyone's chagrin, Marlow played a draw four card passing the draw twenty pile onto his father.

“Well… shoot.”

Was all that his dad said before the table broke out in laughter. The rest of the game slid by, with Joy taking the win, by getting into a skipping trade with their father. Allowing her to downsize her hand size faster than mom and Marlow.

Passing the reminder cards back to dad, Joy took off, heading back to the living room, saying something about finishing an essay for one of her classes. On the other hand, mom had taken off to put away leftovers. Leaving just Marlow and his dad.

“So, how are your classes?”

“I’m doing good, all A’s and B’s. Except I have a C in chemistry.” Getting a certain look from his father. He tried to amend his statement.

“I’m not too worried about it, the professor in that class hasn’t finished grading all the assignments in the class. In fact, he’s still grading stuff from midterm, actually.”

“This wouldn’t happen to be the same professor that also has all those extra credit assignments. Right?” Marlow mentally panicked, as his dad straightened the well-worn UNO cards.

“Well, every professor at Wolverines is required to have at least two extra credit assignments. And since this class is a hard class, the professor has been extremely lenient with his extra assignments.”

“Is that so? JOY!”

“YEAH!”

“YOU TOOK THE SAME CLASS MARLOW’S TAKING, YOU KNOW GEOLOGY, RIGHT?”

“YEAH!”

“SO ARE THERE A BUNCH OF EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS IN THAT CLASS?”

Marlow's heart sank. He could literally feel his blood being pumped through this body. His only saving grace right now was the fact that his dad was too busy meticulously flipping every card around, so that they were facing the same way while also being right side up.

“YEAH! REMEMBER, YOU HELPED ME SPELL CHECK MY PAPER ON CARBON MONOXIDE!”

“Oh that’s right.” Instantly, Marlow’s shoulder dropped. Feeling the relief as the weight of attention moved away from him.

“Have you checked up on the farm today? I know Joy checked on it this morning.” Just as quickly it came, the feeling of peace left even faster. He’d forgotten to check up on the farm on his way home.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Well, go do it now, before the roads get watered down, again!” Mom replied, halting her progress. To point a fork at Marlow before making the shooting motion out the door.

Grabbing his drenched jacket, he caught a wink from his sister before heading out the door. Starting his car, his windshield wipers began the tireless onslaught against the down pouring rain. The clouded sky was so dense it snuffed out the sun, leaving streetlight, hologram boards, reflectors, and headlights to help guide Marlow to his destination.

Getting out of his neighborhood, Marlow flicked his old radio, turning it on, into an ad of all things. Raving about the suddenly popular massive multiplayer online role playing game, Eternium.

At this point, it had become so iconic over the past few months it had essentially turned into the new Raid, Shadow Legends. Except that the game actually looked good, and looked like its trailer footage. Little known streamers and gamers had become overnight stars the instant they put out their footage.

Of course, like any good thing, it cost an arm and a leg. So watching it was the next best thing for the majority of the population. With the most recent news being about the game wide defeat of the Wolfman race.

Being the broke college student that he was, working for minimum wage. Meant that he’d probably be able to get his hands on it, within the century. But for now he was just trying to listen to some tunes on his way to the family farm.

Finally finding a station that wasn’t on commercial break, he leaned back in his seat, pulling to a stop at the red light. Thunder rolled across, briefly illuminating the land sky, before smothering it with darkness yet again. Directly ahead of him, Marlow thought he saw a cat in the middle of the road, between the yellow lines. Possible waiting for traffic to ease up.

Not wanting to hit the lost kitty, he lightly pressed his foot on the gas, getting a honk from the car behind him for his action. Driving past the intersection, his headlights did reveal a rather gigantic cat. When the cat turned to face him, it looked like it had three eyes. Having to focus on the road, he averted his gaze.

As he passed it, he could have sworn it had three eyes, instead of the two normal eyes, the cat usually supported. Mentally pushing that mystery aside, he realized that he was drifting and twisted his wheel to correct his course.

The rest of the trip sailed smoothly, having pulled off the main road, Marlow took the long bumpy unpaved road to the barn. Figuring that the daily check shouldn’t take too long, he left his car on. It’s not like anyone is out here anyway. They’d be soaked to the bone if they were out in this storm. Time to go check on the animals.