The first chapter

June 17^th, 1987.

It was a warm summer night, quiet but for the occasional shrill outburst of excited sparrows, who according to Matt Parker’s dad held their singing practice at the same time every day. Five year old Matt lay on his back and stared wide-eyed. His brother and father did the same next to him. The sky was a bruised purple, with streaks of pink that collided to paint a sunset that would delight any master impressionist. Diamond stars pierced the dark sky like cosmic beacons, beckoning the wishes and hopes and dreams of all those fortunate enough to gaze upon them. This was Matt’s favourite time of day. An enthusiastic star-gazer, his father Alan would take Matt and his older brother John to the roof, where they would spend hours pointing out their favourite constellations, and discussing their days. It was the time of day where each one of them forgot their problems, and truly enjoyed one another’s company. Both boys idolized their dad, and it showed. Tonight’s conversation was serious. Alan sighed deeply, lay back on his mat and started. Both boys knew his tone of voice so well. This was his serious tone, and they listened intently.

“You see Venus up there?”

Both boys nodded; it was their favourite planet. Alan had told them how early mariners used the planet, known as the morning and evening star, to guide their ships through bristling, stormy seas. The fact that it had a surface temperature of 482 degrees Celsius cemented its legendary status for the boys.

“Well, tell me, does it look like it’s moving?”

“No”, came the subdued reply.

“The fact is boys, Venus moves around its orbit at an average speed of 35 km per second. Not per hour, per second!”

Alan waited for his words to have the desired effect, and then continued.

“So, what’s my point?”

Matt shrugged and looked at his dad expectantly. “Venus moves fast?”

Alan laughed. “Not quite, son, but that is part of it.” In fact Alan hadn’t yet decided the point himself. He loved imparting his philosophies on his sons, but tonight he was drawing a blank. And then it came to him.

“You see, it’s the same thing with life. Life is moving quickly, as fast as Venus, but we don’t see it. To most of us, life never changes, it doesn’t move. But every second that passes, every minute that we’re sitting on the roof talking, life is…happening. Life is happening. And you’ve got to take advantage of every minute of it, every second. Conquer your fears, have no regrets. Follow your hearts and pursue your dreams with all you’ve got. Most people don’t realize how precious every second is, but it is precious, and you must not waste it.”

Alan stopped himself before he got carried away. Matt looked at his dad and thought he detected a hint of sadness in his smile. He put his tiny arm around his dad and smiled. Seeing his sons’ smiles had become one of the moments Alan cherished most.

“Dinner’s getting cold!” came the familiar shout from deep within the house. One of Kate Parker’s particular foibles was insisting that everyone be seated around the table to eat dinner every night. That was just how proper families behaved. But she knew how important these summer nights on the roof were to her boys, and resignedly dished up dinner for herself, put the remainder into the warming drawer, and retired to the couch to watch TV.

The boys spent another hour on the roof that night, talking, laughing and telling stories. It was a night Matt would remember for the rest of his life.

It was the last time he saw his father alive.

--------------
Have a good weekend folks.