SE III

"Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great too." — Mark Twain

"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. The slogan 'Press On" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." —Calvin Coolidge

***

Before Xenia could ask the kids a barrage of questions he immediately wanted an answer to, a pale lady who was covering her mouth with a towel called out his given name.

"Xenia," the lady weakly uttered. "It is time for lunch. Your father's already back home."

"Your mother's calling for you, Xenia. Arlan and the rest of us will go home then too."