A family sits around a small table in an even smaller dining area. An older black male in overalls sits at the head of the table. All around him are his three kids - two boys and one girl - and his wife. All heads bowed as he spoke a prayer for his family.

"Bless us, oh Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord and savior." the older man, Hap, prayed with a voice that was firm. "And, Lord, thank you for the sun you been sending to make the cotton grow and for the health of all here present. And, Lord Jesus, please watch over my boy, Ronsel, wherever in creation he may be."

The man barely got the last words out before his prayers were answered. 

"Amen." Ronsel said. He leaned a bit on the old door frame. Eyes snap up to his direction wide with disbelief. "Well, ain’t nobody gonna offer me some supper?" He smirked.

The girl, Lily May, shot up like a flash and into Ronsel’s arms. Florence was immediately driven to tears as she wrapped her arms around Ronsel and covered him with kisses.

"Oh..My baby…" Florence gushed. She took her son's face in her hands and couldn't stop smiling if she wanted to. "So grown." she commented.

"And handsome too." Lily May smiled.

The taller of the two boys, Marlon, works his way up to his older brother and gives him a good squeeze.  Ronsel returned the hug with vigor. "Marlon, here's catching up with me! How tall are you?"

The small group that formed around him soon erupted into a million different questions. Ronsel didn't have time to answer one before another was sent quickly in its place. 

"Quit fussing over him now and let him say hello to his father." Hap finally voiced through the confusion. They parted, allowing Hap to get a good look at Ronsel. Ronsel rushed up and hugged him tightly. Hap holds his son, tears welling. The older man fell into his own emotions of seeing his son for the first time in four years.

"I knew you’d come. I prayed for it." Hap chanted.

'It is good to be home.' Ronsel thought. To be back home with parents and siblings once again is like a long answered prayer. Europe was nice but nothing beats his family. Though, the implications of him being home long since hovered over his head like a German missile. Those implications are confirmed when he finds himself sitting on the front porch of their little shack. It was late. Millions of stars filled the sky that night. A cigarette hangs loosely in his fingers. He hadn't been one to smoke before, but with all he has seen and been through, he is allowed a cigarette from time to time.

"Did you get enough to eat baby?" Florence asked from her seat in her old patio chair.

"I’m stuffed. Used to dream about them biscuits, Momma." he laughed. Ronsel probably ate four or five of them and still made room for some rice.

"I dreamt about you too." Florence said.

"What did you see?"

Florence shaked her head and shivered at the thought. "You back with us now. Safe and sound."

Ronsel nods. His eyes glanced over to his father only to see the missile falling in.

"Be nice to have another pair of hands. With you home we might can make up what we lost after my accident. Payoff the lien, get a new contract, go back to being tenants next year-" 

"Maybe he got plans of his own, Hap. Let him find his own mind." Florence cuts in. 

Hap gives her a small look. "But it is true. Might I say, by next year Ronsel wouldn't even be with us working. Found himself a nice alpha to spend his time with. Have him forget what work is or give him some pups and keep his hands busy from helping his folks here." Hap goes on.

Florence shakes her head. She looked like she was about to respond but Ronsel beat her to it. "Oh, no. Yeah. I mean, of course. I’ll stay awhile. It’ll give me time to figure things out. Put the war behind me." He replied. It pained him to pull that smile. But his father looked so happy hearing that, it was the least he could do.

The conversation had to wait as headlights of a truck coming down the road pulled their attention away. The truck pulls into the yard and the younger man from the general store, Henry, gets out. Hap and Florence exchange a look.

"What does he want now?" Florence muttered. The man made his way up to their porch. He casts a look between Florence and Hap and then to Ronsel. Ronsel bends his lips waiting for the man to speak.

"Evening, Hap. Florence.", Henry greeted.

"Mist McAllan. This is our son, Ronsel, I told you about." Hap said. He pointed proudly to his son. Most fathers would be ashamed to have an omega son. Not a real man in many eyes. Not Hap though. Hap was proud of his son and loved him just the way God made him to be. It warmed the older Alpha's heart to see what a good young man he has become.

"We’ve met." Henry's eyes linger on Ronsel. "I’d better speak to you alone, Hap." He said, and looked back at Hap.

Ronsel could see where this was going by a country mile. "I ain’t a child. Sir. You got something to say to my father, you can say it to me too." He said as he stood on his feet.

"All right then." He settled his lips. " You’re asking for a heap of trouble by acting like you did earlier at Tricklebank's. And I know you don’t want trouble, least of all for your family here."

His parents' eyes were now fully on him. Ronsel averts his eyes to the floor and kneads on his lips with his teeth. 

"What’d you do?" Hap asked with a base in his voice. 

Ronsel felt like a little child. Like the boy he used to be before he left to fight in the war. "Just tried to walk out the door is all." He muttered.

"The front door," Henry corrected. "And when my father corrected him he made a fine speech. Put us all in our place, didn’t you?"

"Is that true?" Hap digged. Ronsel gave a slow nod. "Then I reckon you best apologize." he ordered.

Henry waited and Ronsel glared. But, Ronsel knew he had no 

choice. He couldn't be causing his family trouble in the short time he has been back. 

"I’m mighty sorry, Mr. McAllan." Ronsel forced out.

Henry nods. "My father’ll wanna hear it too." 

Hap spoke quickly, "Ronsel will pay him a visit after church tomorrow. Won’t you, son?"

"Yes…" Ronsel said. Hap needled the young omega out the side of his eye. Ronsel relents. "...sir."

"Good. We’ll be expecting you, boy." Henry said. He turned and strolled back to his truck. But, he did have time to make one more comment. "Omegas should learn to hold their tongue more. Makes them far more pleasant."

Hap could feel the anger radiating from the young boy. He knew his son like he knew the land. His community here may not treat him like it but others would. It followed him around like a scent. His scent. No matter how much wars he could fight or medals he has won, he was still just a nigger omega.

"No point in fighting ‘em. They just gon’ win every time." Hap tried to comfort his son. The sound of the truck peeling out faded down the road. 

Ronsel looked at his father. "Not used to walking away from fights, daddy. Not anymore." He stated.

Ronsel eased past his father. Florence catches Ronsel’s hand 

at the door, squeezed it. A mother's worry knows no end. Ronsel kissed his mother’s hand, patted it as he moved off. Hap and Florence exchange wordless worries in the dark. Unsure of what path their son may lead.