that guy.”
Jason couldn’t help smiling. “He was pretty big.”
“I’m tougher than I look,” Caesar responded. “Don’t let these good looks fool you. Beneath this pretty exterior is a tiger!”
Jason shook his head, no longer wanting to dwell in the past when the present had him buzzing. He chose to summarize the rest. “Eventually too many people noticed the bruises and stuff, and Child Protective Services stepped in. That’s when I was seven years old.”
“What about your mom?” Caesar asked.
“There’s no chance of me going back.”
“Maybe she’s not with that guy anymore. Or—”
“That’s enough about my life.” Jason said this firmly, but he tried to inject humor back into the conversation. “Tell me about the almighty Caesar. What’s life as an emperor like?”
Caesar shook his head ruefully. “You have no idea how often I get teased about my name, although I suppose it is appropriate.”
“How so?”
Caesar moved his plastic tray to the neighboring table and leaned forward. “I really am going to inherit an empire. My parents have groomed me since day one to take over my father’s business.”
“I don’t even know what he does.”
“Flight computers,” Caesar said, sounding unimpressed. “Black boxes and some other specialized equipment that gets shoved into airplanes. Not just civilian but military as well. That’s where the real money is. Anyway, ever since I started high school, the pressure has really been on for me to follow in his footsteps.”
“Is that hard?”
Caesar waved a hand dismissively. “Nah. I’ve got it made. I don’t take anything for granted, trust me. I’m not spoiled. Stories like yours show how random life can be, how lucky anyone is to have a family, not to mention a successful one. I study my ass off and my grades are near perfect. That’s what my parents want. I’m supposed to get into Yale and make the right contacts there before I return to learn the ropes from my father. In return, I get to do whatever I want.”
“That’s not spoiled?” Jason asked.
“Maybe it sounds that way to you,” Caesar said. “I told them church is too much, that I’ll get straight A’s, but I need some time to myself. I honestly think my father is happy to let me run off with my friends, because being social is a big part of those military contracts. You don’t get them without being charming. He’d probably say us being in this food court right now is practical training. Am I charming you?”
Jason shrugged. “Maybe a little.”
“Then I’m halfway there.” Caesar stole a bite of sweet and sour chicken from Jason’s plate with his bare hand. After chewing thoughtfully and sucking the tips of his fingers clean, he continued. “You have to understand how my parents function. They like to decide what their kids do, so I let them. I’m giving up my freedom of choice, and sure, the life that awaits me will be comfortable. But it won’t be my own. I won’t pretend I’ve got it hard, but I pay a price for the things I have.”
Jason made sure he didn’t look convinced.
“How old are you?” Caesar asked.
“Almost sixteen.”
“Almost?”
“My birthday is next week.”
“Oh, wow. Okay, what do you want to do with your life?”
“No idea.”
“Well, I don’t mean to play the age card on you, but when you do figure it out, ask yourself how easy it would be to give up that dream.”
Jason noticed the tension on Caesar’s face. “So you’re saying you don’t want to run your father’s business?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Why? What was your dream?”
“Doesn’t matter. Listen, I know Peter hates me, and maybe the rest of you guys do too, but there’s nothing I have that you can’t. Amy knows this. She’s smart. My parents want her to be the perfect little princess, and she plays that role to perfection. When they’re not around, she’s kind of weird.”
Jason thought of how one of their dollhouse dramas had
Jason couldn’t help smiling. “He was pretty big.”
“I’m tougher than I look,” Caesar responded. “Don’t let these good looks fool you. Beneath this pretty exterior is a tiger!”
Jason shook his head, no longer wanting to dwell in the past when the present had him buzzing. He chose to summarize the rest. “Eventually too many people noticed the bruises and stuff, and Child Protective Services stepped in. That’s when I was seven years old.”
“What about your mom?” Caesar asked.
“There’s no chance of me going back.”
“Maybe she’s not with that guy anymore. Or—”
“That’s enough about my life.” Jason said this firmly, but he tried to inject humor back into the conversation. “Tell me about the almighty Caesar. What’s life as an emperor like?”
Caesar shook his head ruefully. “You have no idea how often I get teased about my name, although I suppose it is appropriate.”
“How so?”
Caesar moved his plastic tray to the neighboring table and leaned forward. “I really am going to inherit an empire. My parents have groomed me since day one to take over my father’s business.”
“I don’t even know what he does.”
“Flight computers,” Caesar said, sounding unimpressed. “Black boxes and some other specialized equipment that gets shoved into airplanes. Not just civilian but military as well. That’s where the real money is. Anyway, ever since I started high school, the pressure has really been on for me to follow in his footsteps.”
“Is that hard?”
Caesar waved a hand dismissively. “Nah. I’ve got it made. I don’t take anything for granted, trust me. I’m not spoiled. Stories like yours show how random life can be, how lucky anyone is to have a family, not to mention a successful one. I study my ass off and my grades are near perfect. That’s what my parents want. I’m supposed to get into Yale and make the right contacts there before I return to learn the ropes from my father. In return, I get to do whatever I want.”
“That’s not spoiled?” Jason asked.
“Maybe it sounds that way to you,” Caesar said. “I told them church is too much, that I’ll get straight A’s, but I need some time to myself. I honestly think my father is happy to let me run off with my friends, because being social is a big part of those military contracts. You don’t get them without being charming. He’d probably say us being in this food court right now is practical training. Am I charming you?”
Jason shrugged. “Maybe a little.”
“Then I’m halfway there.” Caesar stole a bite of sweet and sour chicken from Jason’s plate with his bare hand. After chewing thoughtfully and sucking the tips of his fingers clean, he continued. “You have to understand how my parents function. They like to decide what their kids do, so I let them. I’m giving up my freedom of choice, and sure, the life that awaits me will be comfortable. But it won’t be my own. I won’t pretend I’ve got it hard, but I pay a price for the things I have.”
Jason made sure he didn’t look convinced.
“How old are you?” Caesar asked.
“Almost sixteen.”
“Almost?”
“My birthday is next week.”
“Oh, wow. Okay, what do you want to do with your life?”
“No idea.”
“Well, I don’t mean to play the age card on you, but when you do figure it out, ask yourself how easy it would be to give up that dream.”
Jason noticed the tension on Caesar’s face. “So you’re saying you don’t want to run your father’s business?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Why? What was your dream?”
“Doesn’t matter. Listen, I know Peter hates me, and maybe the rest of you guys do too, but there’s nothing I have that you can’t. Amy knows this. She’s smart. My parents want her to be the perfect little princess, and she plays that role to perfection. When they’re not around, she’s kind of weird.”
Jason thought of how one of their dollhouse dramas had
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