Stories from Naoh’ra Rabntah

Meeting the McGraths

Aunt Paula met them at the door and pulled Matt straight into a hug.

“You look thin. Are you eating?”

Uncle Brian stepped in next, one arm around Matt’s shoulders. “Paula, the boy could probably carry me up a flight of stairs. He’s fine.”

“Good to see you both,” Matt said, hugging them back.

Paula turned to Lucy and hugged her before she could say hello. “Since high school, right? It’s been too long.”

“Feels like another lifetime. You haven’t changed a bit.”

Brian chuckled. “She’ll be glowing all week now.”

“I say that every time,” Lucy said under her breath. Paula laughed.

Brian steered them down the hall to Matt’s old room. Fresh sheets, towels on the dresser, and the same baseball posters he’d left up when he moved out.

“Paula’s been in here all morning. You’d think the queen was visiting.”

“I heard that,” Paula called.

“How’s your mom doing these days?”

“She’s good. She’s with my sister’s family now.”

“Right. Heard she moved in. Figured that house would get passed on sooner or later.”

“She sure doesn’t miss the driveway,” Lucy said.

Danny wandered in from the back of the house, headphones around his neck. He spotted Matt and charged.

“Hey—”

“There he is.”

Matt caught him on the second step and hauled him into a one-armed headlock.

“You still growing, or am I just getting old?”

“You’re ancient,” Danny said, shoving at Matt’s arm. “Let go, you caveman.”

Matt released him, still ruffling his hair. “You started it.”

“Missed you too.”

“I know. Come meet Lucy.”

Danny gave her a once-over.

“Didn’t expect you to look so normal.”

Paula sighed. “Danny.”

“What? I’m being welcoming.”

“Lucy,” she said, extending a hand.

“Danny,” he said, shaking it. “Been hearing about you for weeks.”

“All good things, I hope.”

“Debatable.”

“Don’t encourage him,” Matt said.

Danny set the table while Paula argued with Matt about portion sizes. Lucy stayed out of it. Brian opened a bottle of wine.

A bowl of chicken soup went down in front of Matt, then one in front of Lucy. Matt gave Paula a small smile as she patted him on the shoulder. Lucy thanked her quietly.

Danny watched most of it in silence.

“You know,” he said, “I’m still deciding if you’re cool.”

“Tough critic.”

“I have standards. Matt’s too nice. He needs my supervision.”

“Since when?”

Danny ignored him. “So, Lucy. Who would win in a fight? A medieval knight or a samurai?”

“What era knight, what era samurai, what terrain, and who picked the weapons?”

“Fifteenth century. Both of them. Open field. Their own weapons.”

“Then the knight. Full plate armor by the 1400s was basically tank plating. A katana can’t get through that. The samurai’s best option is grappling, but a knight trained for that too.” She took a fry from his plate. “Next question.”

“I—hold on. What if the samurai has a bow?”

“You said their own weapons, not ranged. But sure. A longbow at distance gives the samurai a chance, except English and French knights drilled against archers for two hundred years, so he’d better not miss.”

“Fine. Star Wars. Best lightsaber fight in the franchise.”

“Empire. Luke and Vader on Cloud City.”

“No way. Darth Maul. Episode One. It’s not even close.”

“Darth Maul has choreography. Cloud City has stakes.”

“Maul fights two Jedi at once—”

“And you don’t care about either of them yet. Luke just found out Vader is his father. Every swing matters.” She took another fry. “Maul looks cool. Cloud City breaks your heart.”

“You didn’t tell me she was cool,” Danny said to Matt.

“I figured you’d find out the hard way.”

“Okay, you pass.”

“I pass?”

“You qualify. You’re in.”

“Should I expect a certificate?”

“I knew you were gonna say that.”

Paula smiled. “Welcome to the family, Lucy.”

Brian shook his head. “You know, I still can’t believe you two ran a whole gambling ring in third grade.”

“It wasn’t a ring,” Matt said.

“You two were pocketing lunch money from half the school. Don’t try to rewrite history now.”

“I was just the manager. He was the talent,” Lucy said.

“You took a cut of my winnings.”

“I ran the business. There wouldn’t have been anything to cut without me.”

“Classic racket,” Brian said.

“This is the first I’m hearing about this,” Paula said.

“You should’ve seen the principal’s face. Had to sit through a whole lecture about ‘inappropriate use of school property.’”

“Wait—Matt got sent to the principal’s office?” Danny said.

“Technically, we both did.”

“Well,” Lucy said. “Worth it?”

“I got detention for a chess hustle, and now I’m marrying you.” Matt grinned. “Yeah. Totally worth it.”

After dinner they drifted outside. Matt and Lucy side by side down the front path, streetlights overhead, Danny trailing behind.

He knew Matt better than most people ever would, and Matt had never been more like himself than tonight.

Lucy nudged his shoulder. Matt reached for her hand without looking. She squeezed back.

Danny had his answer. Lucy was more than alright.

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