Jules stopped and turned back. “Wells.” He called after his friend.

Wells stopped to look back.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Wells nodded his head, then continued for his home.

And so it is that both boys have now laid a course of action which shall determine their futures, as well as the direction of this story as we continue to unfold it for our dear readers.

Chapter Three: The Coming of Age and Choices

The years seemed to melt away like butter on a hot surface, but time was not so friendly to some. Even as the war between worlds continued out to sea, with casualties no longer just involving the Brits, the French, and even the Germans became pulled into the catastrophe.

Jules at the ripe old age of sixteen, who had not forgotten all that Wells had foretold to him, woke up one morning to the sound of his mother crying. He had leaped from bed to find his sisters gathered around her, as his father came out of his bedroom, dressed in a military uniform.

At that horrible moment Jules felt as if his entire universe had gone dark and dreary. All the light of his life threatened to be overwhelmed by a much darker force than he cared to think about. He ran up to his father and threw his arms around him. “Don’t die father!”

His mother began crying even louder, and then his sisters. Jules Senior smacked the flat of his right hand on the kitchen counter,  making a loud smacking sound. Everyone, startled by the force of the blow, stopped to look at him.

His face was lit up with a very warm and loving smile. “I regret to inform you that I have absolutely no intentions whatsoever to die, either today, this morning, or tomorrow, or the day after that!”

Jules looked up, but he wasn’t convinced. He could tell his father’s lies by now, and his eyes were blank and dull. Jules said nothing. His sisters were quiet and he didn’t want to alarm them further by announcing what he could see.

Jules Senior gave Jules a big hug, then spread his arms and hugged the sisters. Last, he put his arms around Marie and held her close. “I’ll be back by the weekend. See to it that the kids remain in school. Their education is very important, Mon Cherie.”

Marie nodded, then tipped her face for his usual good morning kiss. Instead he kissed her on the forehead, and walked her to the door with him, holding her close Jules and his sisters watched as the two exited their home and descended to the path outside.

Jules ran to the door, followed by the others, where they gasped. Men, just like their father, were exiting homes up and down the street. All were dressed in military uniforms. Jules Senior, sensing their fear and horror, turned one last time to look at them. “Remember, I love you always. Always will. And always have.”