Have you perhaps heard of mastery of an art?

  Perhaps swordsmanship, perhaps racing, perhaps trying not to get upset by your boss?

  In all these things exists something I'll call "the first real test."

  What is a test?

  It is, simply put, a question of your skill.

  Can you lift that weight? Can you run that race? Can you murder that man? Can you not try to poison your boss's coffee?

  These are all easy or difficult questions depending on the person.

  However, there exists something I call "the first real test"

  What is it, you may be wondering...

  It is, simply, the exact same question as those stated before, but with a twist.

  The twist being, you don't actually know what may happen.

  Can you lift that weight?

  Well, if you've seen that weight before and lifted it before, it makes sense that youd have no worries. But, what if you'd never done so before?

  What of you had no idea of what you were doing? What if you'd never run that race before? In fact, worse, what if you'd never run a race before?

  "The first real test" to me, is a question.

  Not of doing, but of doing while not being certain of the result. Can you do it, even if you have no idea? Can you try it, even though you have no idea of what is to come?

  Julianne Hunter had at some point learned this in her life. If one wants to achieve, at some point, one will need to put oneself out there, cast caution to the winds, and hope that they're right.

  No, not just hope, but also believe.

  To believe even when nothing seems to make sense, when everything speaks contrary to what you think.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "The first real test" is a question of faith.

  Do you believe?

  In any case, Julianne made such a choice at that very moment.

  Julianne: Well, I've had a long day, so I'm going to take a shower. You kids be good now.

  Rose: Ok, Mrs Hunter. Bye.

  Julianne: Bye Rose...

  She bid the children adieu with a smile.

  Now, here was the problem.

  She had no idea as to whether or not they would stick around. Absolutely no idea.

  Maybe they would call it a night and head home, maybe they would stay. Who knew?

  What she did know was that she couldn't force the result, and by removing herself, she couldn't control the situation and keep them from leaving any longer.

  She walked away with a smile, but in her heart, she desperately hoped they would stick around for a while.

  After all, she couldn't bear to see Max after his friends left him mere moments after she left. That sad look in his eyes. It haunted her.

  But she knew she had to go. After all, she couldn't stay any longer. That much she understood.

  Julianne: (thinking: Ok... deep breaths Julianne, deep breaths.)

  But before she could even make it to the stairs, she heard...

  Max: Hey Ken...

  And then, there was a pause...

  Ken: Hmm. Sure.

  And at that point, her son dashed up on the stairs before his mother could even make it there.

  Julianne: Hmm?

  And then, he dashed right back downstairs carrying something. It was his Playbox.

  And he then begun to set it to the T.V screen, with Ken getting up from his seat and stretching.

  Luke: You're playing a video game?

  Ken: Yeah.

  Luke: Which one?

  Ken: Warring Dimensia 2.

  Luke: Oh...... Mind if I join you guys?

  Ken: Hmm. No problem.

  And with that, Ken and Luke walked over to the couch.

  As for the girls....

  Rose: C'mon Tiff, youve just gotta try it. I promise. Its the bestest cake ever.

  She was holding onto a slice of red velvet cake.

  Tiffany: (sighs) Alright... But just a little.

  And from the sitting room, Ken called....

  Ken: Save me a piece too!

  Rose: Huh!? I thought you were full.

  Ken: Well, ... I changed my mind.

  Rose: Mmmmmm. Ok.

  She grabbed a dish full of cake from the fridge and gave a piece to Tiffany and later went off to give one to Ken.

  As for Ken, he, Max and Luke all reclined on the couches as the games starting screen played.

  Julianne Hunter almost winced, but she caught herself. It would be alright. These people actually liked her son, after all.

  It was a joy to her that she could finally drop the burden of worrying about him from her shoulders.

  And so, silently, she walked upstairs and left off to go take a shower and unwind.

  It had been a long day and a longer night.

  But it was worth it.

  As she walked to the showers with her towel, she smiled, thinking about how much fun they'd be having, how much fun her son would be having.

  All that hell, but it was worth it.