“So long, Pop. I’ll be back,” says Fred.
“Well, it’s – – glad to have you home, my boy,” says Pat.
“Good to be home, Pop,” says Fred, as he leaves through the porch door. Hortense and Pat watch him leave.
At the Stephenson house, Al is handing souvenirs of the war to his son.
“Here – cap,” says Al, handing Rob a Japanese hat. He reaches down on the floor. “This is a samurai sword, Rob,” says Al.
“Thanks very much, Dad, ” says Rob, awkwardly. He examines the hilt of the sword.
“Here’s a flag I found on a dead Jap soldier,” says Al, holding out a piece of cloth. “All that writing on it is signatures and good luck messages from his relatives.”
“Yes, I know, “says Rob. “The Japanese attach a lot of importance to their family relationships.”
“Yeah,” says Al, “Yeah, entirely different from us.” Al makes an awkward pause.
“Say, you were at Hiroshima, weren’t you, Dad?” says Rob, excitedly.
“Uh-huh,” replies Al.
“Well, did you happen to notice any of the effects of radioactivity on the people who survived the blast?” asks Rob.
“No, I didn’t,” says Al. “Should I have?”
“Well, we’ve been having lectures on atomic energy at school,” says Rob. “and Mister McLauglin, he’s our physics teacher, he says that we’ve reached the point – ”
Millie enters the living room.