Luca pulled the refrigerator door open and peered inside. The shelves were empty of all but a few bottles of water. “Hey, there’s nothing to eat.” Tan turned his head slightly to see the boy, and quickly regretted it as the nausea swept over him again. He splashed some water on his face, and took a deep breath. “There’s some canned food in the cupboards, I’ll make you something to eat soon.” “I want pizza, with extra cheese, and pepperoni,” replied Luca. Tan groaned. “That doesn’t sound good to me right now.” Luca closed the door on the refrigerator. “How about spaghetti with lots of tomato sauce? Or maybe some fried frogs’ legs and smushed up slug brains?” Tan stared out the galley window at the horizon, it seemed to help a little with the nausea. “You can stop now, I know what you’re doing.” Luca giggled. “How about a chocolate milkshake with chocolate chip chunks?” Tan splashed some more water on his face. “I’ll skip on the chocolate milkshake.” Luca fell silent for a long moment before speaking again. “Jack’s grandpa says you’re my guardian. Do I have to call you, dad?” Tan heard the shift in the boy’s tone. Luca was angry and hurt. Tan could hardly blame the boy, it had three weeks now and Luca hadn’t really had a chance to grieve the loss of his parents. Everything had been taken from him without warning. The boy couldn’t possibly understand everything that had happened. Tan didn’t turn around, he didn’t want to face those accusing eyes. “No, you don’t have to call me dad.” “Why? Don’t you want to be my dad?” asked Luca. “Look at your clothes,” replied Tan. “What’s wrong with my clothes?” “Nothing, they’re quality.” Tan turned his head just enough to see the boy from the corner of his eye. “And Jack told me how expensive that bear is. And look at how tall and strong and healthy you are. Everything about you shouts, I had parents that loved me very much.” Tan paused to let the boy say something, but Luca remained silent. “From the moment you were born, you were obviously your parents shining star. They took good care of you and earned the right to be called your mom and dad, but I haven’t earned that right. You will see them again someday, and so will I, and when I do, I want to be able to look them in the eyes and say, I took care of your boy the best I could.” Tan turned his head back to the window. Luca was silent for so long that Tan thought the boy had left. “Hey Tan, here.” Tan swallowed the nausea down and turned around. Luca had his arm held out with his palm up; in his hand was a small plastic package with something orange inside. Tan reached out and took the plastic bag. Luca dropped his arm. “They’re earplugs, I found them in a drawer. All boats carry them for when you’re working in the engine room. What hand do you write with?” Tan wasn’t sure where Luca was going with this and raised a brow. “My right hand.” Luca nodded. “Put one earplug in your left ear.” Tan didn’t really want to play whatever game Luca was playing, the nausea was threating to overwhelm him again, but it was probably best to just humor the boy. Tan pulled the package open and inserted one of the earplugs in his left ear. “Keep it there,” said Luca, obviously satisfied. “I’m going to sleep now. I’m taking helm watch in four hours after Jack.” Luca turned away and headed back up the stairs to the helm. Tan shook his head after the boy was gone. It was hard to know what a boy was thinking sometimes. He was about to pull the earplug back out when he noticed the nausea was gone. He touched the side of his ear and glanced at the stairs. Luca hadn’t been unfriendly for the last three weeks, but he had been reserved, if not a bit cold towards Tan. Had Luca just declared a truce?