There is something to be said about the life cycle of a human.

First, there is the baby phase, when one is growing from an infant to an adolescent.

Then, there is the adolescent phase, when one grows from a teenager to a full-grown adult.

And, finally, there is the adult phase, where one truly comes into being as a full man or woman.

The boy by the name of Kenneth Stone was in the aforementioned adolescent phase, and, in this phase, there is something that could, perhaps, be called true maturation.

In this form, a child stops to behold his parents as "gods" and begins to search out other forms of meaning in his or her life.

That could mean, but is not limited to, fighting, avoiding his or her parents, taking their own advice, going their own way, and et cetera.

Why do adolescents do this?

Simple.

If the parents cease to be gods, if the parents don't know everything, then... perhaps there is meaning elsewhere.

This, perhaps, is the true meaning of maturation.

Learining to go your own way.

Moving away from the, not chains, but rather, self-inflicted constraints one puts on one's self to get closer to his or her parents.

The simple lesson here being, I am my own person... not my parents.

Perhaps trying to find oneself is truly the greatest sign of maturation.

That is, of course, not to say that the parents lose all effect on their child.

On the contrary, they remain quite useful, as guides through those confusing and trying times.

Such is life.

Such is the way of humans.

As for Kenneth Stone, he was experiencing one of the trademark signs of maturation, that being... growing tired of his parents' nonsense.

Gordon: And she said... what?

Believe it or not, there they were....

Mother, father, and son.

All in the sitting room, eating Julianne Hunter's specially prepared cooking.

Frida and Gordon Stone....

Both extremely happily waiting on every word that was said.

Now, to fully understand this situation, one must understand Kenneth's own thoughts about this prior.

As usual, before he entered the house, he'd already written a list of lies he could have told them to account for the sparring.

They included, but were not limited to, we'd gone for a really big party, somewhere...

... the location would depend on the situation,

or that they'd had a small get-together...

or... that it was Max's birthday...

or... that he'd poured himself one too many energy drinks and passed out.

Anything to explain him missing for the better part of the earlier hours of the day.

However....

Gordon: Ohhhhh! I can't believe she said that.

Frida: Right, hon. She's just so amazing!

.... it was as though the only thing they cared about was... the one, the only... Julianne Hunter.

Ken: And then, she explained to us how she learned to do that.

What Ken was referring to were all the things Julianne said she'd learned from the "old coot."

Gordon: Every little thing.....? Hmmm. That old man is incredible.

Frida: Uh huh. It's no wonder she's so talented.

Gordon: Mmm, hmm. You got that right.

In a sense, it was an odd sentiment.

First off, on arriving there, he'd found his parents waiting in the living room.

He would use the word waiting... to describe it... because he could tell... they were both sleep deprived.

As to how and when they did sleep, he had no clue.

And, second, perhaps almost hilariously, he could not remember the last time he'd been so honest about what he was doing behind their backs.

Withholding truths, he was, sure.

He wasn't going to say anything about the sparring.

However...

.. in an odd sense,

... he could relax.

Sure, he was aggravated by what was going on, them being so interested in something he saw as trivial, that being a movie star.

However, he was also somewhat... chilled by the situation.

After all, he did not need to lie.

He could, simply, tell the truth.

And after what was an incredible hour....

Gordon: Man, oh man! Now I wish we'd come along too.

Frida: Me too, hon.

Gordon: I'd have so many questions.

Frida: Mmm, hmmm.

Gordon: Like, in "Rise Of The Sunset," did she mean she was changing her life, or was her life simply changing, when she said... "I'm turning over a new leaf."

Frida: Uh huh....

Gordon: The movie director said that she personally changed that script.

Frida: Mmmm.. hmmm.

Gordon: And you know that genius wouldn't do that for nada.

Frida: I agree, hon.

And the beat went on....

The teen held back his sighs, simply waiting for them to get done with all their "nonsense."

This, to him, was a travesty.

However, at the very least, he did not need to pretend to like these movies.

But, to his shock...

Gordon: By the way, son?

Ken: Hmm?

Gordon: Did you have fun?

... a reminder of the fact that he was living on Earth.

And, on Earth, his mother and father loved him.

He was almost shocked to hear that.

Frida: Right, hon. (to Ken) Y'know, it's important to us that you have fun. You don't need to go to those parties if you don't need to. After all, I know we love her, but you don't need to.

Gordon: Mmm, hmmm. Right on, hon.

And then the older man looked to his son.

Gordon: Hey Kenneth, eyes up.

This is it. The legendary dad talk.

Gordon: Listen.... you're becoming a man.

Frida: Mmm, hmmm.

His wife affirmatively nodded.

Gordon: And part of being a man... is walking your own path.

Frida: Mmm, hmm.

Gordon: So, don't go around doing things to people please, alright? Even if those people... are us.

The jolly look on his face was completely gone.

Now, he was many times more serious.

Like a construction worker, before placing a support beam onto something.

There was much to be said about the man by the name of Gordon Stone. Insightful he was. Truly, and in more ways than one would think.

Frida: Right, hon.

And then... the heralded.... mom talk.

Frida: You gotta be who you gotta be. So... go into the world and do what you gotta do.

She said this, nodding every once in a while...

Gordon: What we're trying to say is... I hope you're not doing this so we can hear more about Julianne Hunter. If her son is bothering you, or even her... don't worry about ot. Just stop talking to the kid. Works every time.

Frida: It even worked for me.

Gordon: Hey, those people had it coming. Name calling and all that. Anyway...

His eyes turned back to his sons.

Gordon: ...I hope you understand, Ken. So... did you have fun?

Now, for Ken, this was a particularly odd moment.

Not only did he have fun, seeing all he got to experience, but also...

... seeing how much his parents cared....

... seeing how much his parents worried about him.

.... there was only one thing for it.

And it was not a thing Ken thought to do.

Instaed, it was a normal human functionality.

Ken... smiled.

Ken: Yeah, I had fun.

And his smile was a broad one indeed.

Perhaps the broadest one he'd had in a while.

As for his parents...

Gordon: That's what I like to hear.

Frida: Me too....

Gordon: Anyway...

And, of course, continued the conversations about Julianne Hunter.

But this time, Ken wasn't as upset.