first day of school

September 2038 - Jack Cooper is 59, Jillian Cooper is 56, Jackson and Rose Cooper are 32, Darien and Trip Cooper are 8, Hadley and Christopher Cooper are 5 (Jacob Smith is 5).

Rose can't help but tear up when Hadley and Christopher get on the school bus for their first day of kindergarten.

At school Christopher and Hadley meet Jacob Smith, and he invites them over to his house. Jacob loves science as much as Christopher, and they have a lot of fun looking at Jacob's astronomy books. But Hadley is bored by her geeky little brother and his equally geeky friend.

"Did you have a good time?" Rose asks when she picks them up.

"Yeah!" Christopher says. "Jacob has lots of books and posters about space."

"I don't want to go over there again," Hadley pouts. "It's boring."

"Well next time Christopher can go to Jacob's house, and you can stay home," Rose says.

"I can?" Hadley asks.

"Of course baby."

They're both quiet while they ponder this. They've always stuck together more than Darien and Trip ever did, and the idea of doing something separate puzzles them.  Rose wonders if it's because of their personalities, or because they're the youngest. Regardless, it'll be good for them to branch out and follow their own, separate interests.

When they get home, Hadley goes to play with Darien. Christopher starts on his homework right away; after dinner he goes outside to look through the telescope.

"Come on, kiddo," Jackson calls from the backdoor. "It's past your bedtime. The stars will be out tomorrow night."

*****

Mornings at the Cooper house are always barely controlled chaos.

Jackson isn't sure how he and Rose ended up with such a smart little scientist. Christopher's only five, and he's already started playing chess. They play every morning before school.

Trip, on the other hand, isn't nearly as responsible as his little brother. He's smart, but most mornings he's still finishing his homework.

"I can help him," Jack offers. "You and Christopher shouldn't miss your game."

"Thanks Dad." Jack wasn't a very involved father when Jackson was growing up, but he tries to spend time with his grandkids.

Luckily, Darien and Hadley can entertain each other before school. Even though they're three years apart, they're best friends. Darien is very patient and sweet, and Hadley worships her big sister.

Once the kids are all at school, the house is almost unnaturally quiet. Jillian has been using the opportunity to focus on the garden, and she recently joined the Garden Club.

"Your garden is still a little sparse," Tiffany Zarubin points out. "You'll need to expand it quite a bit if you want to win recognition from the Garden Club."

"Of course," Jillian agrees. Her life so far has been all about her family; she's been so focused on being a wife, a mother, and a grandmother, it's been a long time since she's focused on herself. But with all four grandchildren in school and her daughter-in-law managing the house, she finally has time to pursue her own interests and hobbies. "I'm planning to add a rose garden next spring."

"That sounds lovely," Tiffany says. "I think you're going to be an excellent addition to the Garden Club."