In week three of online school with all extracurriculars canceled, they are now in episode V of Star Wars. The kids’ phones are at their sides. They have watched an episode per night–one night they made popcorn, another they made sundaes with packs from Peaceful Meadows. They have watched in chronological order, supposedly as George Lucas intended.
Darth Vader slices off Luke’s hand, and Luke works his way to the ledge of the bridge in the Sky City. And here comes the big reveal of the man’s whole childhood.
“Obi-wan never told you what happened to your father.”
“He told me enough. He told me you killed him!”
“No. I am your father!”
The man looks at his children. Graham yawns. It’s 9:30 pm. Of course, they have watched it in order, so of course, this is no revelation.
“It’s hard for you all to imagine how stunning that moment was when we all first watched it,” says the man.
Lindsay glances at him. “Huh.”
The man sighs.
The Living and the Dead, by Gordon Laws 