Coming Of Age Day

Karse had spent the day with his age-mates, (age mates, not friends, once his parents had died no one had really known how to talk around him and so distanced themselves and his older brother certainly didnt help him adjust either) putting up decorations in the old hall where their ceremony would take place. Now he was at his home in his pj shorts, they were actually a wrap his mother had given him as a present from some planet she had visited once, Karse thought it was comfy and now he liked to sleep in it. He had already laid out his nice clothes and was combing his hair when his brother came in, his face set in a familiar scowl. Karse said nothing as he waited for his brother to say whatever it was he planned on saying.

"I want you out."

Karse put the comb down and turned swiftly to face his brother, "What? Out?"

"You're considered an adult now, no one will think anything of it now if you leave." He snarled.

Karse knew he shouldn't be surprised, there was no love lost between the two, although not for lack of trying on Karse's part. Even so, Karse still felt struck, but was determined to hide it. "Fine, I'll pack my things and start looking tomorrow."

His brother shook his head, "No, I don't think you understand. I mean out, tonight. And "things"? You don't have things, everything in this house is mine."

Karse started forward, shocked. "But mom and dad-"

"Died. And they left me the cave. And that means everything in the cave." He poked Karse hard in the chest with every word.

"No thats not-"

"What fair? Life isnt fair! Im doing you a favor little brother, this is how real life is."

Karse shook his head in frustration, "Fine, I'll go now. I hope this is what you really want because you will never see me again!" Karse's resolve had broken with those last words and he could no longer hold his emotions in check. He stormed out of the cave that had been his home forever and never looked back.

A few hours after Karse had left, he made his way to the ceremony Hall, it would look strange if he left town without anyone seeing him at the event and dropping he was leaving. He didnt want anyone thinking his brother had done something suspicious, Karse really did care, thats why it hurt so much despite their bad relationship. Karse just wished he understood his brother better, and why suddenly was he being kicked out? If his brother had been planning that, he surely would have been taunting him with it before now.

He paused at the entrance, his shorts would look a bit silly next to everyone in their nice clothes... He plastered on a big goofy smile and went in. After about ten minutes of pretending to be happy and joking about his "comfy" shorts he actually began to enjoy himself and soon he wasn't pretending and his big goofy smile wasn't just show. By the end of the night he had several well wishers waving goodbye to him, some who had given him small gifts to start him on his journey of "self discovery" which was what he had told people he'd be doing. No armed with a little cash, a smile, and a much better attitude, Karse set out to find his place in the world.