“And may God watch over us. Amen.”

“Amen.” Three voices spoke in union after Preacher Michael Hopkins finished saying grace, after that each person picked up their forks, more than ready to eat.

                Lukas Hopkins looked at each of his parents, as usual his mother looked perfect, each hair on her head placed in just the right spot, her makeup painted onto her face by the hand of an artist. His father looked professional in his black and white uniform. His older sister even looked perfect today, a lot like his mother. He looked back down at his food, picking at it as he listened to the news… His dad liked to listen to the news while they ate, it gave him ideas about what to preach about.

“And it is believed that a mutant was involved in the murder of these two citizens.” The female report spoke into the mike she was holding, lights flashing behind her.

“Another sinful crime committed by them.” His father spoke bitterly, beginning to cut into his meat.

“They said it was believed… That doesn’t mean it’s true.”

               The sound of silverware hitting plates stopped as his entire family stared at him. Luke didn’t look up, he just kept his head propped up with his hand and his elbow on the table, all the while poking at his food with his fork. He heard his father clear his throat then, he knew that if he looked his father would have his hands folded on the table in front of him and his plate pushed away.

“What do you mean, Lukas?”

Luke sighed, “I mean that if they said something like, ‘it is believed that this man was involved in the murder’ you would give the man the benefit of the doubt, but because they said a mutant might be involved you instantly believe it.”

He felt the air thicken as his father spoke, “But their mutants, Lukas. They are not of God.”

“I thought you preached just last week that all things were of God.” Lukas pointed out, finally looking at his father.

“They are different.”

“It’s not like they chose this.” Lukas raised his voice a hair, feeling his temper shorten.

“Lukas.” His mother whispered his name in a warning tone.

“They are still different from us.”

“They bleed the same blood us!” Lukas dropped his fork, standing up suddenly, “They feel the same pain as us! They feel sadness! They feel happiness! They are the same!”

“Lukas Isaac Hopkins!” His father stood up as well, “Whatever has brought this upon you better leave before I make it!”

“You think you can control everything! What would you do if Holly was a mutant!?” He gestured towards his sister, “Or mom?! Or you even!?” He pointed at his mother then at his father, “What if I was a mutant?! What would you do dad!? Would you turn me out, abandon me?! Leave me on the streets to fend for myself?! Or would you give me to the government to let them experiment on me?!”

His father was silent.

“That’s what I thought!”

                Lukas turned away from his father, running up the stairs. He half expected for his father to come up after him, but he didn’t, Lukas slammed the door as he entered his room, still fuming as he sat on the edge of the bed, hurling the closest object across the room, and then punching his pillow, screaming into it. Thirty minutes later his mom came into his room, sitting on the edge of the bed, when she tried to place a hand on the side of her sons face he scooted away from her, staring at the wall.

“What’s gotten into you, Lukas?” Her voice was soft and concerned.

“You and dad are always talking about standing up for what you believe in.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“You always tell Holly and me that you’ll accept us, no matter what.”

“That’s also true.” She didn’t like where this was going…

“But as soon as I say something I believe in, you both act as if I’m speaking in the devils tongue.”

“Lukas.” She sighed, “You know that’s not true-“

“Yes it is!” Lukas sat up, turning to face his mother, “You saw the way dad looked at me! I saw the way you looked at me!” He was silent for a moment, “If you don’t practice what you preach maybe you shouldn’t even say it at all.”

                He ignored the hurt and shocked look on his mothers face and turned, laying back down on his side. He didn’t mean to make his mom upset… But it was the only way he could get his point across.

“I’m going to sleep now.”

“B-But aren’t you hungry, you didn’t even touch your food at dinner.”

“No. I said I’m going to sleep.”