Caleb balls his fist up, his teeth clenched with anger.

“We have a card?! For how long? Are you just too drunk to tell me about something that could change our life?” Caleb’s voice is sharp with betrayal.

Pa starts to break eye contact with Caleb. Almost backing away from his enraged son.

“You think it’s that simple, boy” Pa gathers himself a bit and takes another swig from his mason jar. “It’s a blessing,” he meets his son’s gaze with tired eyes. “But it has a cost.”

Pa starts walking to the house and motions to Caleb, “Follow me.”

Caleb walks through the front door and into the worn kitchen. He sees his dad grab another mason jar from the cabinet and set it next to the one he’s been drinking from.

“Another drink huh, Pa? All those nights we went hungry, those times that we could have lost the farm, you had something that could have helped us?” Caleb unleashes his anger on his father.

“I did help us!” Pa snaps back “You think everyone out here has a well with clean water? We have water in the middle of nowhere just because we’re lucky?”

“The well? Pa, what does this have to do with our well?”

Pa reaches over and grabs the empty mason jar and the jar he was drinking from.

Caleb watches, in awe, as his dad pours the dark liquor into the new mason jar. As soon as it hits the bottom of the jar, it turns crystal clear.

“The card that I have can turn any liquid into drinkable water. It’s the only reason this farm has survived as long as it has.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Caleb stares at his dad in stunned silence.

“I know this is a lot, Caleb.” Pa swirls the glass of clear water. “I should have told you about this years ago, but some cards come with a cost. It ain’t just free to use.”

Caleb sees his dad pour more whiskey into his mason jar and take a swig.

“This card gives you clean water, but it’s hungry.” Pa taps his mason jar. “The card requires alcohol to work. I don’t want to be drunk around you. I don’t even like the stuff. I hate falling over while I try to help around the farm.”

Pa stares into his whiskey jar, “but the card calls for it.”

Caleb watches his dad hang his head while patting his pockets for a cigarette.

“Pa, why didn’t you tell me?” Caleb softens his voice, seeing his father struggling to open to him. “We could have done something.”

“And what? Fight off scavengers and every damn card hunter that might come sniffing around?” Pa’s voice cracks in frustration. “You were too young to fight the vultures off, so I moved us out here.”

“I just...” Caleb watches his dad light his cigarette and take a pull. “This place ain’t fit for you anymore. It’s just dust... and memories”

Pa takes another swig of his whiskey and winces.

“Do you think I should look for this new card? Caleb begins to find calm strength in his voice.

“Yes.” Pa blows his smoke towards the kitchen window. “You are strong and clever, Caleb. You ain’t a damn fool like a lot of these folk. Hell, ain’t it worth trying?”

“What will you do when I’m gone?” Caleb can feel his eyes burning.

Pa chuckles, “Son, don’t worry about your old man. I’ll be just fine here. I might even clean this old house up for your return.”

Caleb saunters over towards the front door. He can see the livestock that he’s been taking care of for years. The smell of the sweet funk from the barn stings his nostrils. He pulls a cigarette from his front pocket and lights it.

“I could see what is outside of this farm for once. Hell, I might even make a few bucks and buy my own place. Could buy me a little cabin like in those old books I had Pa read to me.” Caleb narrows his eyes and ponders a life of his own.

“So?” Pa calls from the kitchen.

Caleb takes a long pull from his hand-rolled cigarette and blows the cured tobacco out of his nose.

“Alright. Let’s give it a damn try.”