“No one’s ever going to save the earth because they know castles,” Tommy said.

“And who’s going to save the earth with Bernoulli’s principle?” Sam asked. His voice a tad more desperate than he intended. It was supposed to sound clever, conclusive.

“Maybe not the world, but you can keep planes from crashing,” Tommy said. “At least it helps people. Tell me, who does medieval history help?”

Sam snorted. “Only an ignorant person would ask that.”

“Ignorant,” Tommy said, “is thinking that science doesn’t matter.” He held up his science fair entrance badge for emphasis.

“At least I have an imagination,” Sam shot back. “You don’t, and never will. I’d be more embarrassed about that.”

He knew as soon as he said it that he shouldn’t have. His younger brother looked at him, stung.

Sam knew he should take it back, apologize. But as soon as he wanted to, another voice wondered why? Why should Sam be the only one who had to just buck up and take it? But there was his brother, hurt, eyes looking, surprisingly like they were about to cry.

“Look,” Sam said, “I’m sorry…”

“You know what?” Tommy said. “I may not have an imagination but at least,” his voice wobbled a little bit “at least I’m not a jerk.” He threw his science fair badge to the ground, and walked away.

Sam sat, his feelings a near fatal mix of guilt and self-pity. Why was Sam always the but of the jokes? Wasn’t it about time Tommy got some hard truth? He knew this thought to be unfair of course. Tommy was younger. But still. Why couldn’t Sam have just been normal? Why couldn’t he be good at the things every one was good at? He stared at the chess board he had set up on the floor. Sadly, no one ever wanted to play it with him.

Sam heard a knock on the door. He didn’t respond. The knock sounded again, and then, when there was no answer, Glem poked his head in.

“Hey,” Sam said. Desperately trying to wipe the tears from his face.

“Your Mom sent me to tell you that supper’s ready,” Glem said. Sam shook his head. “No? I sorta thought so.” So they sat. Sam on one bed, Glem on the other, silent. Sam heard the sound of pans rattling in the kitchen. Aira saying something very energetically. And still the silence ticked on.

“You know,” Glem said. “I didn’t tell you what I did about your brother so you could go to town on him.”

Sam looked up. Glem wasn’t angry. He wasn’t disgusted. He just looked disappointed. And…was that sad? Somehow that look bothered Sam more than anything he had said.

“Yeah,” he said. “Sorry.” Glem’s eyes squinted just a bit, like he was weighing how much Sam meant what he said.

“Well, I’m not the main one you should be apologizing to, but…thank you.”

More silence

“You gonna go eat?” Sam asked.

“Not yet,” Glem said. “I have something for you.” He held up a bluetooth, and handed it to Sam.

“Legends of Rodarium?” Same asked, amazed. “The soundtrack? But that’s basically impossible to get.”

“I got it,”Glem said. It’s expensive. Turns out they only released a limited supply for a special anniversary.”

“Such a good show,” Sam said.

“The best,” Glem agreed. “End’s a little shaky though. Why do the good guys never learn? Don’t spare the bad guy. It’s dumb. But other than that…best medieval fantasy ever seen on screen.”

“Can I…listen to it?”

“Um, yeah. Why do you think I showed it to you? This is for you,” he handed the Bluetooth to Sam.

As soon as it started, Sam felt a surge of excitement. “It’s seems like…” he hesitated,

“Like you’re actually in the story?” Glem said. The music was rich and deep, a kind of mix between Renaissance- medieval and modern orchestral. Sam could almost hear the clanking chains of some drawbridge, the sound of monks chanting in a far off monastery. Wide shots of green fields and dark, leafy forests filled his mind. He felt a kind of adrenalin growing inside. He felt alive.

The song finished, just as Glem’s phone vibrated.

“Aw man. I gotta go. Keep the bluetooth. It’s yours.”

And that night, Sam fell asleep, hand on the new bluetooth, dreaming of knights and castles, and wishing that they were real.

•               *        *       *

He woke up in mind fog, having slept so deeply, he forgot where he was. The beach house seemed strange to him. The floor felt foreign to his feet. Sam stalked out into the living room. All was silent. He listened, but heard nothing but a ticking clock. He walked to the screened in porch, and listened to the sound of the waves. The moon shone across the water, a trail of chalky white. And Sam knew, he had to see the beach. He grabbed the Bluetooth player. Always good to have some music.

Quietly, he slipped into his sandals and opened the screened door.

“Where are you going?”

Sam nearly let the door close with a bang. It was Tommy. “Just a walk on the beach,” Sam said, stiffly.

“Hang on,” Tommy said. “I want to come.”

“Um, okay.” Tommy had just closed the door when they heard another fierce whisper.

“What are you doing?” Of course. Aira.

“Look, Tommy said. “Sam and I are going for a walk. You should stay here.”

“Why?” she asked defiantly. “Because I’m too young?”

“Yup!” said Tommy. They were about to walk away when Sam looked back at her again. Standing, hands on the screen door, big eyes about to cry.

“Put your flip flops on,” Sam said. “You can come.” Tommy groaned.

“And anyway,” Aira said, “I think I left some of my nail stuff on the beach earlier today.”

The beach was deserted. The water lapping against the shore in gentle quiet murmurs.

“It looks like you could walk the moon’s beam all the way to the moon,” Aira said.

“You sound like Sam,” Tommy chuckled. “But you’re right.” They walked all the way to the shore. Looking out into the black empty of the water beyond, Sam felt like he was in a different world. Passages of the CD seemed to be floating through his head. It was only then he noticed, that he still held the Legends of Rodarium case in his left hand.

“Sam,” Tommy said, “I just wanted to say I’m s—”

“Uh Sam?” Aira tugged at his pants. Look behind us.” Sam turned around. The beach seemed to have elongated. What should have been thirty feet of sand, had turned into hundreds of yards. He couldn’t even see the beach house.

“How long did we walk?” Sam asked.

Tommy checked his watch. “We’ve been gone about 5 minutes. It’s midnight right now.”

A warm breeze blew. The waves seemed to whisper. And all the hair on the back of Sam’s neck stood up. There, standing where there should have been a very large, and admittedly remarkable sand castle, stood a medieval citadel.  It soared up, twenty, thirty feet above their heads. Huge towers, massive walls. A large banner floated from the battlements. A deep moat wound its way around the castle, like a protective serpent.

“Sam,” Aira said, “what is that?”

“That,” Tommy said, “is Sandaxtron.”