...2027...May 30th, Sunday...

..Chicago...Illinois...

"Roger, I need some help with the groceries," I call, taking out two bags of groceries.

Every day the groceries are getting heavier. Not just because Jane likes her fair share of barbies but maybe it is just my joints aching. I can hear the distinctive sound of a motorcycle from the garage along with loud rock music blaring up on high volume.

"What?" Roger asks. "I can't hear you!"

Ten years old and he is acting rebellious.

"Damn it,you are still a child!" I shout. "Stop growing too fast on me!"

"I will help you, Uncle T!" Jane cheerfully said, skipping out of the house with her pigtails bobbling up and down by each movement.

I wonder how Roger can stand not to tug at them whenever he has the chance. The kids know me by the name Uncle Thomas Reese. They think I am just an Uncle raising his brother's two kids on his own because 'Grandpa died and so mommy and daddy went on a vacation'. But I fear Roger is questioning me being his biological relative while his twin sister does not. Jane gets out a bag from the back end of the van. Spotty, the new dalmatian pup, barks at me at the front porch. Spotty does this to me every single day. I smell different, so what?

"Shut up, Spotty," I said, dropping a small chew toy to the pup.

Spotty pounces on the chew toy.

I get into the house.

"Come on, Roger!" Jane said, cheerfully. "You need the exercise!"

Vroom,vroom, vroom.

"Got enough exercise as it is!" Roger shouts back.

I sigh putting the groceries on the table.

V-Vroom went the motorcycle.

"Roger!" Jane shouts.

"I will be back after dark," Roger shouts back. "I promise!"

Roger zooms down the Chicago street along with the music box blaring on out a rock song. I wonder just then if I should allow my aging mechanism to start working. Jane and I get the rest of the bags into the house emptying the van. It is thanks the hacking skills bestowed upon me by who ever sent me to this time that I was able to make a identity for us as a family and get a job a a security officer as a job for a vastly important building at night. Today is not one of those days I will be on duty. I work from Monday to Friday.

"Uncle T," Jane said as I meddle through the bags. "Are we aliens?"

I laugh opening the fridge handing out the new gallon of milk.

"No," I said. "What makes you ask?"

"Mosta' of my classmates in Middle School don't have attractive Uncles," Jane said. "Much as my Science Teacher Miss Hilly wants to go out with you."

I stop putting a bag under the sink in a box for poop scooping.

"...Jane," I said,getting upright. I turn towards Jane raising a eyebrow.  "Is that why I keep getting calls from Miss Hilly?"

"Yes," Jane said.

"When did you learn the word 'attractive'?" I ask.

"From a Pokemon game  Santa Clause got me last Christmas," Jane said.

I sigh, putting up a new set of pudding into a cabinet above the microwave.

"Jane, why would you give her my phone number?" I ask.

"Most of my classmates have Uncles who are married," Jane said. "You are single and there is something wrong with that. Some of my classmates have two uncles, two aunts, two grandma's,two grandpa's,and two of each."

"I get it," I said.

Ring,ring, ring came my phone in my pocket.

"Answer it!" Jane shouts.

I take the phone out of my pocket then flip it open.

"Ello," I said. "This is T-11."

"...Uncle, that is not your name," Jane said.

"Sorry,that was my nickname from my bull riding days," I said, with a wink to Jane.

Jane rolls her eyes putting up the rest of the groceries.

"Hello, handsome butt," Miss Hilly said. 

"I do not have a manly handsome butt," I said. "Nice try at flirting."

"I can do so much more if you will come to my house and have dinner with me," Miss Hilly said.

"Is that a offer for a date night?" I ask.

"Yes," Miss Hilly said.

"Say yes,say yes, say yes!" Jane excitedly said.

"When is dinner?" I ask.

"At eight," Miss Hilly said.

"Wee!" Jane cheers. "Woohoo!" She hops up and down. "I am going to have an Aunt!"

I lower the phone.

"Just because we are having a date night doesn't mean you are getting a Aunt,Jane," I said.

"Uh huh,"  Jane said.

"Nah uh," I said.

"It so does, Uncle T," Jane said.

I hear Miss Hilly's laughter  over the phone so I put it back up to my ear.

"Okay," I said. "I will give it a shot."

"See you there, sunny boy," Miss Hilly said.

I press the red button on the phone slipping the phone back into my pocket.