( WP ) A young man is raised by his mother in relative obscurity . Upon attaining his manhood , he discovers that his father is a great man , if not the greatest man who ever lived . Describe their meeting and the father 's reason for neglecting/ignoring his son .

Today was *the day! * I was excited, and nervous, and I had no idea what to expect. But it did n't really matter what I wanted, because it was everyone else's big day, too. 
 
 I just get to be up close. 
 
 I look up into the sky, and the rest of the world does the same. And we see a glint, and then a spark. And soon, the starship's landing craft comes into view. It's falling at such a vast speed, but it looks like it's moving *so* slowly. 
 
 But soon the ship is wide, and massive. Smoke is coming off it. And I've got a front-row seat. It's strange how hot the ship is when it finally touches down on the landing pad. Fire trucks are around and they start to hose it off, which causes even more smoke to flow off the craft. 
 
 Most of the press moves to the tent, waiting for the press conference, but I'm transfixed on the door. He's in there. And I finally get to meet him. 
 
 And the door opens, and out steps my father. He's a big man, but muscular. He has a long, flowing beard, and his brown hair matches mine ( in terms of its scruffiness ). As he walks out of the ship, a huge amount of scientists, politicians ( including the President, and Vice President ), lots of military members, and crew members down at NASA all stand up for the returning hero, and begin to applaud. 
 
 But the man of the hour does n't look at them. I see him frantically searching the area. And then he stops, looking at me. I wave at him, in a small way, and he smiles back at me in return. He walks by the reception of famous people, and walks directly over to me. 
 
 `` Erik...'' was all he said to me. 
 
 `` Hi Dad... Have a good time on your trip?'' I had *weeks* to come up with something better, but it was the only thing that came to me. 
 
 He laughed. He laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes, and he bent over and hugged me tight. `` Oh son, I missed the hell out of you. I'm sorry I've been away for so damn long. And I'm sorry to hear about Cassandra... Your mother was fierce, and... well I'm sorry I've been away.'' 
 
 He let me go and I just looked up at him. Not even sure what I was supposed to do. 
 
 He turned to the President who was walking toward him, with a wry smile on his face. All I could think, though, was I was number 1, and the president was secondary. *How cool is that? * 
 
 I stood next to him, and I felt like a little kid again. My parents always talking to important-looking adults, and me just tagging along. I'm not *much* older, now, but hey... I'm 14. Practically an adult, anyway. But they were talking about mission parameters, and the different things he saw. After 10 minutes of talking, though, he finally looked like he wanted to get away. 
 
 `` Excuse me all, I have a press conference to get to.'' He put his arm around me, and steered me through the group... and back towards the ship. `` Erik... I have a special job for you.'' He was talking to me like I was younger, but I let it slide. He *has* been gone for almost 10 years. `` Go into the ship. There's someone waiting there. And I think its better if she meet with one stranger, first. She can meet the whole damn world after. Ok? I'll see you after the conference.'' He playfully hit my shoulder, and turned, walking toward the press conference. The huge group of soldiers, scientists, and politicians all followed after him, with more things to ask. Soon I could n't hear them, anymore. All I could hear was the wind blowing. It made me feel slightly more alone... 
 
 I turned back toward the ship, and approached it. It still felt warm, but not as much as it had when it landed. The door was still open, so I simply walked inside. 
 
 `` Hello?'' The inside had computers everywhere, lots of screens and lights, all blinking. I heard no response. 
 
 The cockpit had two seats. Directly behind it was a door, which opened as I approached. In here was a small hallway, which lead to another door. The ship seemed to be painted in whites and grays. The second door opened as I approached. In this back room was a set of beds. There were three, but only one was occupied. By the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. 
 
 *She's blue... * was my first though. Her skin was very pale, and it seemed to have a tinge of blue, instead of one of rosy red, like a human. Her hair was long, and flowed down her her face. It was blue, too, and it seemed to splash across her face, like a wave. She had what looked like make-up on. Red eye shadow, and her lips seemed to be enveloped in a glossy blue. I could n't tell what she was wearing underneath the blanket, but it seemed to be skintight, as her shoulders were protruding from the blanket, and they were enveloped in some type of suit. She was wrapped up in it, like a present. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed to be fast asleep, though I never saw her move, even to breathe. 
 
 I tried again. `` Um... hello?'' 
 
 Her eyes opened. They were bright red, and almost glowing with light. She turned her head quickly, and upon seeing me smiled wide. `` Another human! So, we have arrived at Earth then?'' 
 
 `` Uh... yeah. This is Earth. My name's Erik. My d-'' 
 
 `` Erik! Oh you must be The Captain's son! He's told me all about you.'' She got up, and I was right. Her suit seemed to be skintight. But it was strange. The suit seemed to be pulsing with light. As she breathed in, her suit got brighter, and as she breathed out, her suit became dim. 
 
 `` Oh? Only good things, I hope, haha.'' 
 
 Her head tilted a little. `` Of course! Why would he talk about bad things?'' 
 
 I shook my head. `` Bad joke, nevermind.'' 
 
 `` Oh... sarcasm, right. I'm really bad with that...'' She shook her head now. It was so utterly human, I laughed at her. She just laughed right back. 
 
 `` This is weird... So what... who are you?'' 
 
 She smiled at me. `` Ah, he has n't said anything. Maybe I'm a surprise, hm? My name is Kenar. I am supposed to be a gift... for you! To honor Captain Zil!'' She had such a bright way of saying it, that it knocked me off guard. 
 
 `` A... gift? What!?'' 
 
 She smiled again. `` Ah, yes. The Captain did mention you would react in a strange way. On our planet, gifts like this are not common place. It is a great honor to receive, you must understand.'' 
 
 `` Yeah, but... I mean you're a *person*, right? Is n't that slavery?'' I was starting to regret even coming. Not that she's not beautiful, but c'mon. She's a person! 
 
 `` Slavery?'' Her head turned to the side. `` Ah, you are thinking I am being forced. No, this is not so. I am not yours to order around, nor am I forced to stay with you if I do not like. I am to be your friend, and companion. If we part, so be it. But I think we will be great friends! It is good to meet you, Erik Zil.'' She stood up, and stretched out her hand. I took it, and she pulled me into a hug. 
 
 `` Come! Let us meet the Earthlings! She started to run down the corridor, pulling me as she went.
