Jake stared, looking each boy in the eye as he mentally recited their surnames, Pembleton, Montague, Whitman, Clayton, Erickson, Raleigh, and Feters. Pembleton turned his head toward the exhibit, “can you believe we’re really here, this observatory is amazing”, stretching out a finger to the closest exhibit. For a fraction of a second, Jake dropped his defenses, this was a side of Pembelton he’d never seen before and in his surprise, he was subdued. Is this an olive branch, Jake thought.
“I know! Did you know that Unum…”
Pembleton interrupted, his attitude iceberg cold, “Unum, our second chance to get things right, a new place, new society, better rules. Maybe they’ll get it right this time…and finally make sure the bottom feeders never work their way up, right? Better yet make it so they won’t be there at all, it’s a pricey trip”, he rubbed his thumb, pointer, and middle fingers together in a circle. Then he waited for Jake’s counter…