"Stay behind the barrier, son, any closer and you could accidentally be joining them."

"Who are they, dad? Why are they just walking over the edge? Won't they get killed?"

"Most assuredly. They are a group of people who hold strange beliefs."

"What do you mean?

"Let's go and get a soft drink and I'll try to explain."

Last Chance Eats and Drinks was the macabre name of the little café next to the protective barriers. The boy grabbed a table close enough to watch the strangely complacent people, strolling in random groups, as they went over the edge of the world.

"Here we go," father said, as he sat beside the boy. "Ice cold lemonade and a French crueller."

"So why are they doing that?" The boy pointed.

"It's a group of people that, for some reason, can't see what's right in front of their eyes. They all belong to something called The Round Earth Society."

"Round!"

"Yes," the father laughed, "I know. Crazy right?"

"But if it was round, wouldn't we just fall off?"

"Of course, and that's the crazy part. They think that by just walking over the edge, they won't!"

The boy thoughtfully chewed his crueller, and sipped some lemonade. "When they fall over, where do they go?"

"You know when you look at the sky at night, and it's all black with stars and the moon? That's where they go. They're out there somewhere."

"But are they really dead?"

"Certainly. You can't walk off the end of the earth and expect to live. I happen to be one of many who believe they just keep falling - out there among the stars."

The boy looked at the sky and frowned. "Why can't we see them falling now when it's light out?"

"Ach - these are questions for when you are older and understand better. Right now you should be enjoying your youth, not worrying about the likes of them."

They both watched another couple of dozen disappear over the edge.

"Why don't the policemen stop them?"

"Because our constitution protects the right of- of- and . . ." Exasperated, he gathered the empty cups and wrappers and marched them to a waste container.

"And what, dad?"

"And nothing. Forget about those people and focus on what you should be doing now, and that's getting home to help your mother with the shopping."

******

"Why did your dad take you there?" The young girl with the bouncy ponytail asked, opening her lunch bag.

"He said I needed to be aware of the bad influences that are around us in our daily lives."

"And he thinks those people are a bad influence."

"Well, yeah. I mean they are walking right off the edge of the earth." He gave her an eye roll that suggested she was slightly clueless.

"My grandparents went over two weeks ago." She bit into her sandwich, unperturbed by his reaction.

"What! Oh, I'm so sorry . . ." He turned and stared at her. "Are they- do they believe that round world thing?"

"Of course. It only makes sense."

"Oh, now wait a min--"

"I'm not arguing with you, Jeremy. It's what I believe. You believe whatever you like."

"But, Katherine, it just- I saw people falling over. They are all up there now." He pointed up, reiterating his father's words.

"That's just not true, but I said I wasn't going to argue. And for the record, my beliefs aren't a bad influence."

She put away her half-eaten sandwich, got up and headed back to class.

"Careful you don't find yourself upside down on your round world." He called, staring after her, and wondering how someone so pretty, and smart, could be . . . could be what, he wondered, his eyes searching the sky above?