When they woke up, it was getting dark, so their parents set the table for dinner.

-At last, after a long time, we will have dinner together -said his mother tenderly.

Kaleb smiled at them and decided to take a bath. After washing and changing, he went down to the kitchen, where his family was waiting for him and dinner was already plated on the table. The boy sat down and ate. It was his favorite meal. Baked salmon with a side of broccoli and potatoes. For the first time he was having a dinner that was more than decent: it was warm.

When the plates were halfway done, Kaleb's father, Carl, spoke up:

-Hijo, I cannot express how grateful I am that you are here. You don't know all the days of agony we went through, not knowing where you were. But now you're here with us, and we don't expect that to change -he exclaimed.

-I'm happy to be back too -Kaleb said-. I missed you so much -he added-.

-Us as well, hijo. But... -the father paused and swallowed; then without letting go of neither his fork or knife, he turned his gaze to Kaleb, who at that moment had a mouth full of salmon.

-Tell us, where have you been all this time? -asked the father, who upon saying this was hit on the arm by Kaleb's mother.

-Carl! -she said in an angry tone.

-I'm sorry, Vanesa, but I want to know where my son has been -he grumbled.

-It doesn't matter where he was. He's with us now and that's all that matters -said Vanesa.

-No, it's okay mamá. I... -Kaleb said-. I was recruited by P.E.A.C.E. -he lied.

-The world security agency? -asked the father, surprised.

-The one that works with all the superheroes! -said little Victor, his younger brother.

-Yes, the same. It was some kind of secret summer camp and I couldn't get in touch with you for security. -he lied again.

-Look at that, Vane! -said the smiling father-. My son is a defender of the nation! -he exclaimed proudly as he ruffled young Kaleb's shower-damp hair.

The rest of dinner was filled with questions from his siblings, about whether or not Kaleb knew of famous superheroes like Sunblast or VillainSlayer. Until it was time to go to sleep, and they all met again in a hug and said goodbye affectionately to go to their respective rooms.

Back in his own room, as Kaleb was getting ready for bed, he spoke to you again:

-I... I wanted to thank you -he turned to look at you-. Thanks for getting me out of that horrible place. I owe you -he said with sincerity and sounding, for the first time, rested.

Then he folded down the covers and spoke again.

-You're wondering why I lied to them? Right? -then there was silence-. For one thing, I didn't lie to them at all. I did get into a P.E.A.C.E. camp, but it's not the agency where I work. In fact, I don't even know if it's an agency. We all called ourselves "those without hats" but, commonly, the few who knew us called the agency "Podemos Bailar". I met them in that camp, well -he corrected-, rather, they recruited me in that camp. Since I started helping them, I learned secrets of villains and heroes that neither P.E.A.C.E. nor Black Hat want to come to light. I guess if those two are alike at all, it's that they're both extremely protective of their secrets. My superiors told me that it was better to get away from my family for awhile, because the information I obtained could put anyone at risk just by knowing it. So for the sake of my family I won't share it with them, not after finding them after so long. Which leads me to ask you, if you really want to know that information. If this is something that even knowing that, you still want to know, I can explain everything tomorrow morning -said the boy as he got into bed-. Thanks again -he whispered as he closed his eyes.

 

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